BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to ''Cheap shot': New Orillia bylaw bans tents, shelters on city land,' published July 19.
As an individual who works with the homeless, I am highly against this bylaw. It is a disgrace to the city and our most vulnerable citizens.
Just because someone is homeless does not make them less than. These are men, women, and children and even families who have nowhere to go. They are doing the best they can within their given circumstances.
To deny someone a shelter to protect them from the elements is a disgrace to humanity and beyond disgusting.
When you don't provide a dog with a shelter you're seen as an animal abuser. Yet, it's perfectly acceptable in our society to deny human beings a home? What is someone called when they deny a human a shelter or home? The tents are their homes.
Every day being on the streets is a challenge. Every day is or could be life or death. Where are their rights? What makes them non-human?
Has the mayor or any city councillor even taken a moment to talk to the homeless — really talk to them? The mayor and city councillors have a warm place to lay their head at night and a place to call home.
Rent is outrageous. We are in a housing crisis; people are drowning in debt and starving. But if a homeless individual puts up a tent, they get consequences or fined; they are already struggling to survive every single day as it is. Why not make them feel even lower than they already do?
How can the mayor and city councillors sleep at night knowing you are hurting people you claim to be citizens of your community.
What is community? Community helps each other no matter the situation. Community steps up when someone is in need ... unless you're homeless that is. Then you don't matter according to our city council.
If you're homeless you don't deserve protection or safety, you don't deserve a place to call home, you don't deserve to be recognized as a human being.
In closing I would like to say I am ashamed to be a citizen of Orillia. I am ashamed that the decisions being made are deemed acceptable. I am ashamed to be a part of humanity because when I last checked we all bleed red no matter our circumstances and we all have feelings, and we all deserve the ability to feel safe and we all deserve the same acceptance as the next person.
Equality ... what is that? Certainly not this!
Venessa Walker
Orillia
