Homelessness will never go away, but we must do our part

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Re: Burnaby's silence on homeless issue deafening (Column, NewsLeader, Jan. 11)

My job for the last 25 years before retirement was that of a union representative. At every meeting, I used to remind my members “they are the union” and I was simply a person they chose to elect and pay to be their advocate.

So if, at any time they thought I was slacking from being their voice they should use their voices to wake me up.

In his column about homelessness, Chris Bryan bemoans the lack of response from readers, reminding me I forgot to put into practice what I used to preach. Yes, we elect politicians to use their voices on our behalf when there are issues to be solved. But if they don’t do their job then it is our duty to make our voices heard by writing, calling and visiting said politicians and wake them.

Homelessness is a horrific and shameless problem we face, and though I believe it’s a problem we will never eradicate, I do believe if we all do our part the problem can be brought to a level where the less fortunate are safer, and retain their integrity and hope in turning their lives around.

So I, for one, apologize for being just too lazy to take the time to make my voice heard on this subject.

That said, what ticked me off a bit about the column was when Mr. Bryan wrote “I’m also ticked that nobody… not one single person, not even the folks who get worked up about pipes, garbage pickup or even etiquette” responded.

All issues are important issues, so, let’s not insult and/or discourage readers from writing in, about whatever they may find important to write in about.

Frank Di Cesare

Burnaby