Homeless and refugees are different problems

Re: “Funds for rabbits could feed a lot of people,” letter, Sept. 6; “Remember that charity begins at home,” letter, Sept. 9.

I am irked by recent letters from readers who seem to think that funding for rescuing feral rabbits or refugees could be better spent on the homeless here in Victoria. Where have these readers been? In the past, numerous articles have been written about the deep-seated causes of homelessness. No quick injection of cash is the answer.

We Canadians are compassionate and generous — if a fast flutter of cash were all that was needed, would we not already have sent homelessness packing? Even if the concerned readers opened their own homes and bank accounts, it would not solve the problem of homelessness, even for a few.

Homelessness is caused by (to name a few) the breakdown of extended families; the lessening influence of religion; the failure of educational systems; the closure of mental-health institutions; the lack of political will (for example, the closure of employment centres for unemployed over 55); and sometimes homelessness just comes down to the individual who has been without a permanent address for so long, he/she does not want the confines of a roof and nine-to-five job. I have witnessed this myself.

Other projects in the news right now, the Syrian/Iraqi war refugees, and yes, even the feral bunnies near the Helmcken overpass needing some solution due to well-intentioned over-feeding, can be resolved in the short term by injections of money and attention. It does these efforts, and the efforts to solve homelessness, a disservice to equate the situations.

Jill MacArthur Victoria