Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple
Since this type of discussion was not welcomed in the main downtown development forum, i've created this thread. Hoping that it can spur on some meaningful discussion on the topic of homeless shelters, safe injection sites, and the general state of our downtown as it relates to the homeless issue.
I want to discuss ways we can help the situation, what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong.
I understand it's a touchy subject, but criticising the city's handling of it should not be a taboo subject. I am extremely against any further development of homeless shelters in our downtown, including safe injection sites. It's just not the right path forward in my opinion for the neighbourhood, and makes the area less attractive for future development. I am also in the opinion that giving people in need things (drugs, etc) is not the solution. The solution is getting them on their feet financially (giving them a meaningful job).
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I think its a worthy discussion to be had for sure. Every time I drive through Hamilton it's one of the most obvious and noticeable issues that I see. On the one hand there's the potential of the downtown, the gentrification and the restoration of great buildings while introducing new modern ones.. this is all great, but one can't ignore the elephant in the room. So much of Hamilton looks incredibly poor, run down, dirty.. Dundern Castle for instance, why are the grounds so disgusting and unclean?, the building is in decay if you walk around it.. why has it gotten to this point? That should be a landmark for all the right reasons. Its a telling sign of the state of affairs of the city itself. The city has to do a better job of addressing these issues, there are lives at stake and there isn't a sweep it under the rug solution to be found here.
Thanks for bringing this up.. and you are right.. it should not be a taboo subject. It's a subject that needs to be addressed. I too am interested in what people's thoughts are, particularly native Hamiltonians.