We spend on convenience yet those in need miss out

I AM as shocked as everyone over the death of this little girl and the plight of homeless people.

It is galling that a city as wealthy as the Gold Coast with ‘only’ 1600 homeless people cannot find the resources to help.

We don’t mind spending money to further the conveniences of wealthy residents like shopping centres, bars, cafes and casinos etc.

That is the problem. It does not matter how good you are at your job if you can’t provide shelter, food, medical assistance, etc. that are needed to solve the problem you are presented with.

I have a good friend who is a social worker in a country town with a crisis of mental health issues related to a lack of resources.

A person gets out of hospital having attempted suicide and you have to find them a safe place to stay even for one night or they are in crisis and require a mental health professional or a hospital bed urgently but there is none available. What do you do?

You stress yourself to the eyeballs trying to find a solution and lose sleep worrying about the person when you can’t.

We as a community have to give them the resources and moral support they need, not blame them for a problem that is not of their making.

They are valiantly trying to manage under unrelenting stress with little financial reward or acknowledgment or support for their own mental health.

It is time this city and this country put people before profits.

Write to your MP, Councillor and Mayor. Wendy Coe you have nothing to regret and thank you for a job well done throughout your life. Let’s all do something! DIANE DAZE