City councillor moved to tears by letter of woman whose daughter is addicted, living on street
Unlike most discussions of correspondence at Salmon Arm council meetings, the Aug. 8 session was an emotional one.
Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond made note of two letters focusing on homelessness.
One from A. Yates dated July 21 referred to the Ross Street Plaza and the growing number of people without homes who they said are taking up occupancy there.
“As someone who works downtown, I can’t sit outside and enjoy the square on my lunch break, it is dirty, I feel unsafe and uncomfortable. I am not as encouraged to support the wonderful restaurants and cafes downtown because of this.”
They said they don’t know what the answer is, “but doing nothing can’t be the right thing to do.”
The second letter was dated Aug. 2 from H. Janzen.
“I am not only a long time resident of our city but the mother of an adult homeless person. Since the pandemic the amount of homeless people in Salmon Arm has at least doubled if not more,” she wrote. “The RCMP, Interior health, ambulance, Fire Department, Bylaw, and City works cannot keep up…”
