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LETTER: Time to follow Medicine Hat's lead on homelessness

'If Medicine Hat can do it, why can the County of Simcoe not do it?' reader asks
2022-05-17 typing pexels-donatello-trisolino-1375261
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The latest reports indicate that the homelessness in our area is again an issue brought about by the ending of the temporary programs that were functioning during the pandemic.

Meanwhile Medicine Hat, Alta., declared zero functional homelessness for 2021 and suggested they can maintain this. Furthermore, Medicine Hat claims that in total (i.e. social, medical, policing costs), it actually saves money. It appears that Medicine Hat solved the homeless issue by providing individual housing with individual support by a team of people from medical, social, and police fields. Shelters, which are commonly promoted, stop people from freezing to death but are not a long-term solution.

In our area the county is the government mainly responsible for housing. So, the question is, if Medicine Hat can do it, why can the County of Simcoe not do it? This writer has the impression that the County of Simcoe is overly concerned with up-front costs and afraid of short-term tax increases instead of looking at the issue over a longer time period. The result is that, while up-front money may be saved, the root cause of homelessness is not tackled. This in turn actually increases long-term costs.

With elections coming in a couple of months, I suggest the voters ask the candidates who vie for a county seat: Why do we have people sleeping on park benches?

Konrad Brenner
Ramara Township

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