I'm writing about our city's homeless
citizens. For those who honestly need assistance, I'm more than
willing as a taxpayer to help out. But I have also seen the
system abused, and this simply infuriates me as it hurts those
who rely on the many services our city has for the
homeless.
I have a relative who is an alcoholic. I
believe the only reason he is still alive today is due to the
frequent 30-60 day jail terms he is given by the courts for
minor offences. While he serves his short jail terms, he is
able to get three square meals per day, medical treatment and
regain his health long enough to be released and restart the
cycle again.
He can't maintain an apartment as he drinks
his rent money before his landlord receives it. Then again, why
should he have need for a place to live? Our facilities for the
homeless provide free food, shelter and clothing. He dresses
better than I do. His monthly disability cheques enable him to
go on vacations into oblivion. When his booze money is all
drunk away, he uses the homeless centres.
I wonder if anyone regulates what these
"homeless" people actually do every day? A lot of them ask
people for spare change daily. Do you realize
what kind of money these people make at the
end of the day?
I help those who are truly in need. But those
who aren't must be weeded out because they are hurting those
who are honestly in need.
Mark Berry
Sudbury