‘Tent city’

Dear Editor:

I’m not sure whose Guelph ward this is, but this is a situation that all councillors must be made aware of.

I became aware of a “tent city” when I volunteered for a clean up behind the Canadian Tire on Woodlawn Road. There are camps located on the south side of the river, east of Gordon Street just opposite our favourite tourist spot: the Boat House. This needs to be addressed. The residents of this active tent city need to find more appropriate accommodations.

Is there a network of support workers that can approach these residents and respectfully reach out to them offering more appropriate accommodations? Do we have a support network and accommodations? Can we organize a group to clean up this mess?

When I see this, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief. This is Guelph, a small but affluent city.

Does it appear certain decision makers voted in to represent “our” voices make a very poor decision to prioritize traffic flow over human compassion by investing multi-millions of our tax dollars on a frivolous bridge that has been closed for over two and a half years - despite massive public opposition?

Those multi-millions could have been spent to help human beings who are at their lowest and in desperate need of our help.

It takes a village. Our city can do much better.

Sandy Nicholls,

Guelph