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Letters  

Yes, we are worried

Last week, concerned members from the neighbourhood of the newly proposed harm reduction, supportive housing facility at 2025 Agassiz Road were granted an insight into how government agencies and big business really operate.

BC Housing, in conjunction with Interior Health, the John Howard Society and City of Kelowna, held an open house at the Ramada Inn. It was advertised as a forum for residents to obtain information on, among other things, the Journey Home program and how exactly this new facility would fit into the plan to reduce homelessness in Kelowna.

Those neighbours have serious doubts about this program and held a peaceful protest outside the event. 

Afterwards, we went inside to check out the open house. To our great surprise, we found out the hotel management was so afraid of the possibility of violence and disruption, they had hired extra security to quell the uprising. The average age of the protesters was at least 70. I guess some people are deathly afraid of grey power. There were no violent outbursts.

Once we entered the room, there were people representing various agencies, standing in front of professionally prepared story boards explaining the merits of the proposed new facility and telling everyone this was going to be the answer to their prayers.

Anytime a dissenting opinion was offered, that person was met with raised eyebrows, a chuckle or an outright laugh and a comment like: "We are all professionals, and if we tell you that everything will run as smooth as silk, you need not worry." 

Well, we are worried.

The open house was run like a circus – all show and not much substance. 

They are already encountering problems with the newly opened facility on Commerce Street, so why wouldn't we be worried about the one slated to go into our neighbourhood?

We fully believe in helping people break their habits. But, we don't believe we should enable them to continue using drugs.

We look forward to the upcoming public hearing on this matter because there are numerous moral, economic and legal questions that need to be answered.  

Dave Bradshaw, Kelowna



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