I agree with Less Talvio that Housing Minister Rich Coleman’s idea to legislate the homeless into a shelter has potential for disaster written all over.

This compassionate legislation is a recipe for lawsuits against both the police and the government themselves.

The harsh fact remains, just who would be held accountable for upholding such a law? The police, of course.

But how can any police force begin to know where the transient homeless population spreads their bed each night anew? Imagine the uproar if in a time of sub-zero temperatures one transient were to be overlooked.

And God forbid, should one happen to perish, no doubt the relations of the deceased will surface ever so quick to file a lawsuit against the police.

I see lawyers licking their chops already.

It is not fair either to expect shelter workers to become law enforcement officers. Their jobs are hard enough as it is.

But then there is the other side of the story. How come so many people live on the streets in today’s society?

I truly believe that the government should upgrade and re-open the former Riverview facility to get the mentally ill off our streets.

I cannot help but wonder what percentage of homeless are mentally ill, and just how many others choose this lifestyle, even though their families try their utmost to get them off the street?

I wonder sometimes, does society owe such folks a living?

Talking to a few steadfast former street dwellers one day, I asked what it took for them to change their lifestyle.

“Human kindness, a change in mindset, and help from above,” was their reply. That’s the other side of the story.

In such sad state of affairs, what can any government do? Indeed, what can, or should, any one of us do?

Gertie Pool