Re: “82-year-old living in city shelter,” Oct. 30.
Since the article appeared, Cool Aid has received an outpouring of support for Ginette from community members and other agencies. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have contacted us with offers of support. We continue to work together to secure appropriate, affordable and supportive housing for Ginette.
Sadly, Ginette’s circumstances are not unique. At Rock Bay Landing, we provide temporary shelter to more than 100 people every night, and every day we must turn people away because we are over capacity every night. Every night, there are hundreds of people in our community who are homeless.
We need support for all of our clients and a concerted community effort to provide safe, affordable housing for all, food security for all, and a welcoming and inclusive community for all. I am heartened by our community’s response to Ginette’s story, but urge you to remember that these stories are happening every day, hundreds of times over, and they all require our attention.
We need the support of government — local, provincial and federal — to fund the building of more supportive housing and the expansion of support services.
Study after study shows that the most cost-effective way to support people experiencing homelessness and living in poverty is to provide housing and supports that work for people.
Judging by the response to Ginette’s story, I’m confident we as a community have the compassion, willingness and ability to do just that.
Emma Cochrane
Co-ordinator of Client Services
Victoria Cool Aid Society
