Letters to The Sun, October 4, 2022: Columnist articulates a common sense approach to homelessness

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Re: Has homelessness been eliminated in Vancouver? That is how

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Finally, someone is articulating a simple strategy to alleviate the mess we have in the Downtown Eastside. Sometimes, in the midst of political posturing and kicking the can down the road, an incredibly simple solution comes along where you smack yourself in the face and say, “Hey, why didn’t I think of this before?” We have spent many millions of hard-earned tax dollars trying complex solutions to no avail. Thank you, Ian Mulgrew, for articulating a common sense approach to this seemingly intractable problem.

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BC bureaucrats, look at this win-win solution and address this shameful plague in our wonderful city.

Roy Prevost, Burnaby

As BC homeowners, we must applaud and support this innovative suggestion by Mr. Mulgrew to help get the homeless off the streets to a better outcome.

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We hope that the government and the opposition parties support this type of initiatives that can improve the lives of these people and therefore of society. If this is done in all urban and suburban areas, our homeless problem could possibly be alleviated and become a model for the rest of Canada.

We support waiving our homeowners grant if it is used solely to fund this type of work. David Eby, we will support your leadership efforts and vote for the NDP in future elections if you add this to your platform and we will deliver if you become a leader.

Ron and Soma Moodley, Surrey

Condo insurance should be an election issue

Housing is a hot topic in the upcoming municipal and provincial elections. What’s missing from that important speech is: How do we solve the condo insurance fire that’s getting more unaffordable year after year? Many homeowners are desperate because private insurance won’t cover them, even with exorbitant premiums. Rather than pay lip service, I’d like to see initiatives taken by different levels of government to ensure that all condo owners can get affordable insurance by adopting something like the ICBC model.

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This is an integral component in the affordability equation. After all, what good is more supply if you can’t afford to stay in those housing units?

Dr Frederick Kwong, Vancouver

Celebrating how older people contribute to our communities

October 1 was International Day for Older Persons and an excellent opportunity to recognize the valuable contributions older people make every day in BC communities.

The United Nations had designated this year’s theme as “The Resilience and Contributions of Older Women” to highlight the vital role women play in supporting everyone through the aging process. Whether it’s caring for a spouse, a friend, a neighbor, or a grandchild, the woman demonstrates that her role as her caretaker has no expiration date.

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Our communities continue to be enriched by the volunteer efforts of older people in general and older women in particular. When we look at who is in charge of senior centers, meal-on-wheels programs, and hospital aides across the province, we find that they are mostly seniors and women.

Longer lives and lower incomes are the hallmarks of older BC women, and today let us give thanks and celebrate their resilience and generosity.

Isobel Mackenzie, BC Senior Advocate

How about more ‘bang for buck’ recipes?

I have read several articles about people struggling with today’s food costs. Some people have never been taught how to cook, let alone how to cook cheap, healthy meals. I wonder if the food column could step in and provide some simple recipes that give a great return on your nutritional investment.

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Cynthia Heinrichs Vancouver

We have to change with the times in the way we eat

This document has been providing meal suggestions that are tasty and affordable. In addition, they are usually healthy and nutritious. These are easy to prepare.

However, the media prefers to focus on high inflation and how people cannot buy food or go to restaurants. The media also features bar and restaurant owners who say they are struggling to make a profit and hire staff.

Unfortunately, too many people believed they had the right to buy whatever was on grocery store menus. There was a belief that there was a ready supply of vegetables, meat, dairy products, grains for bread and cakes and cookies. Warnings that climate change could have an impact on food production were not heeded.

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It is obvious that people will have to change with the times. Perhaps preparing and eating healthy food will make people start thinking about the genuine struggles of malnourished and hungry children and adults in Africa, Pakistan, and of course North America and our city.

Kathleen Szabo, Vancouver

Letters to the editor should be sent to [email protected].

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