View From the Homeless Streets

Re: City’s social needs identified, documented

Your headline concerning the travesty of a report from the Social Planner is misleading in that it suggests that there is more than fluff and filler in the report. The report contains nothing of a definitive nature. It does contain the claim of extensive study and consultation from which no ideas or recommendations apparently emerged. This total lack of any substance also means that the articles closing line: “More details will be published in Thursday’s edition of the Abbotsford News” is pointless since there are no details to report. (Details: to report or relate minutely or in particulars; to name or state explicitly.) For months the city refrain has been: ‘we cannot act until the Social Planner reports what it is that we should be doing’. What were the brilliant plans and ideas brought forth from the Social Planner?

That the following recommendations proposed in “Abbotsford Cares: Agenda for Social Planning in the City of Abbotsford”, be approved:

1) organize a Social Sustainability Advisory Committee;
2) develop a Social Development Master Plan;
3) develop an Affordable and Accessible Housing Strategy; and
4) respond to opportunities for city involvement in social development

It appears that the best plan they could come up with is that the City administration continue to sit around doing nothing except claim they are doing something and trying to appear to be taking action to fool the public. The final line “respond to opportunities for city involvement in social development,” seems to suggest that the only hope for addressing any of the City’s pressing social needs and problems lies outside the City administration. Outwardly it appears the City’s plan is to sit around until citizens or groups begin to take action on their own, giving the City a chance to “respond to opportunities.” Unfortunately, experience suggests that any response from the City is more than likely going to be negative and add to the problem(s) being addressed.

Looking at it, this entire episode resembles nothing so much as a Farce (A ludicrous, empty show; a mockery), which would be humourous if the consequences were not so disastrous for those who so desperately need help. Seeking Leadership and Action from City leaders and administration, the citizens madly treading water in an effort to merely survive, were instead tossed an anchor. Moving this travesty from Farce to Tragedy.

James W Breckenridge
Abbotsford.

# posted by James W Breckenridge : 12:36 PM