Editor. The News:
Dear residents of Maple Ridge, please stop enabling addicts. You are just perpetuating and exacerbating the problem.
The problem isn’t housing. The problem is that the homeless in Maple Ridge are homeless because they choose drugs over housing.
There are many housing and recovery options out there.
The only stipulation for housing – don’t use while living here.
Some places will not take clients unless they are 24 hours clean, and some will not take clients until they are detoxed. It is the same for recovery homes. Some are glorified flop houses and are not much better than the street. But some are well cared for.
As far as I know, all recovery homes work with the client with funding their stay or are funded by the government. The client spends zero dollars. They just have to have the will to stay clean.
I have a husband who was a Christian counsellor at one of a relative’s non-profit recovery homes. That relative is also a recovering crack addict. I went through hell with that relative when he relapsed last year. For the first time, I witnessed what users go through and what options are available for recovery. Tough love is what worked to get him straight. Tough love, a busy life, and a support group.
Two problems I see are a drug-using community and a lack of detox centres.
I would solve the ‘homeless problem’ by creating a detox centre that works with recovery centres for referrals. Once in recovery, the clients can then work on their issues, have positive support for recovery, then look for second stage housing and work.
I would also arrest those who are under the influence, charge them with public intoxication, and place them into detox.
Sylvia Davidson
Maple Ridge