I don鈥檛 live in Victoria, but have spent a lot of time there in recent years. The homeless there are obviously in greater numbers than where I live in Campbell River, but the situations are similar. Here in the old downtown part along Shoppers Row, there are a lot of homeless people.
Problems arise to the extent that paid security guards patrol at all hours of the day. I have engaged with many of the local street people since I moved here and as of yet have had no bad experiences at all. That鈥檚 not to say they don鈥檛 happen.
What about training and employing six well-paid security guards/street counsellors who could not only report problems but help solve problems? Pay them double the minimum wage or better to help attract dedicated employees.
It would more than likely save the taxpayer in the long run. It seems to me that the vast majority of people view the homelessness problem from a disassociated perspective, and little is truly known about this growing sector in sa国际传媒
James Powsey
Campbell River
