Affordable housing and the opioid crisis

DEAR EDITOR:

It is beneficial to the whole community to have affordable housing for young people and families on low income.

I personally support government and community efforts in that regard. However, there are two different issues here.

We also have an opioid crisis. Many Penticton residents would like to see a different approach applied in circumstances of mental health and addiction.

Sherry Ure from Pathways Addictions Resource Centre wrote a short letter before Christmas stressing that there is a strong need for detox and treatment. Though safe injection sites provide harm reduction and supportive housing may help, these are short-term solutions. It is vitally important that all levels of government address the need for residential detox and treatment.

Local dealers who enable this crisis should be arrested, jailed, and held accountable for the destruction they cause.

Drug addiction and mental health challenges are both illnesses. People affected should have access to treatment and community support in their recovery.

I agree that for supportive housing, a pause is needed.

Connie Redknap

Penticton