Instead of offering housing solutions, Suzanne Anton and the NPA have chosen to insult people in the Downtown Eastside as a way to oppose a new housing project for homeless women, and she should apologize, says Vision Vancouver.
“Providing housing for teenage girls who are risk of being homeless should be something that all politicians support,” said Vision Vancouver Councillor Geoff Meggs. “It’s extremely disappointing to see the latest NPA negative attack directed at some of our most vulnerable citizens. What’s even more disturbing is the contempt Suzanne Anton and the NPA have for people who work and live in the Downtown Eastside.
“It now makes sense why Councillor Anton voted against the City’s new affordable housing strategy in July. Clearly she is out of touch with the realities of the city and especially of our most vulnerable citizens. While we’re trying to find solutions for the Downtown Eastside, the NPA only criticizes and attacks.”
Yesterday, the official NPA twitter account wrote “Neighborhood of pimps, dealers, needles and violence - would you want your daughter here?” and linked to an article in the Vancouver Courier opposing a new housing project in the Downtown Eastside.
The housing project the NPA opposes is run by Atira Women’s Resource Society at 120 Jackson Street. It will provide housing and support for up to 18 young women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Downtown Eastside.
Approved by city council in March 2011, Atira is partnering with BC Housing, the Vancouver Foundation, and the Streetohome foundation to provide the supportive housing. Support services will also be provided on-site with staff from BC Women’s Hospital and the Inner-city Youth Mental Health Team.
“For Suzanne Anton and the NPA to insult everyone who lives in the Downtown Eastside by saying it’s only home to pimps and dealers – how would that make you feel if you lived there?” said Meggs. “Yes, the DTES has serious challenges, but it is also home to thousands of hard-working families, along with businesses, artists and community groups who are proud to live there and contribute to building a better city.
If Suzanne Anton really feels that only pimps and dealers live in the Downtown Eastside, I suggest she go down to the volunteers at First United Church, the cooks at the new Save-on-meats, or the youth mentors at Bladerunners and tell them that to their faces. Either that or she should go down to apologize.
"The NPA won't stand up for those that are less fortunate, but they will label you a drug dealer or a pimp just because of your postal code. It’s just wrong, and Suzanne Anton should say so and do the right thing and apologize on behalf of the NPA.”
Vision Vancouver is proud to support the new housing project at 120 Jackson, as supportive housing for homeless women, particularly teenagers, is desperately needed in Vancouver.