Pubdate: Wed, 17 Feb 2010
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wOQxPi2c
Website: http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Karen Dennis

LET'S ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE OF LIFE'S REALITIES

Re: Rooming house location questioned (Letters, Jan. 27)

I must respond to letter-writer Heather Wright regarding a proposed
rooming house that would be across from an elementary school.

I am sad and frustrated every time a housing, drug and alcohol or a
mental health facility initiative is brought forward and it gets shut
down because there is a school, a day care, or any other children's
facility in the area.

If this is going to be how it is decided where human beings will live,
receive care and get healthier, we may as well give up trying now as
there will always be a reason to not use a targeted location.

Another sad reality is that for more than half of elementary school
children, what they witness and experience in their own homes is far
worse than seeing people living in a rooming house rather than on the
streets.

Many youth are far too familiar with alcohol, substance use and the
repercussions of abuse in their own lives. For children to see that
people do choose to make lifestyle choices whether it be a rooming
house or seeking help at a needle exchange could be a very good thing.

Unfortunately, many children of substance users or alcoholics who grew
up experiencing abuse end up taking a very similar path.

Isn't it time we were honest with children about the things they see
daily in their lives, on TV and the computer. Isn't it time we were
honest that needle exchanges and rooming houses help people.

They already know there are drugs and homeless in our community so why
not emphasize the positives?

I hope some day I won't have to see, read or hear about another
wonderful project that would assist many dozens of individuals to
change their lives, get healthy and be happy. We are entitled to that
kind of life.

Karen Dennis

Executive director,

Victoria AIDS Resource and Community Service Society 
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