Fear-mongering and Batman arenB次元官网网址檛 the answer! I concur with the view of the Our Place communications director, that VicPD service call data, (provided to Coun. Hammond re: the cityB次元官网网址檚 19 encampments and shelters), reflects a false narrative.

As a James Bay resident, IB次元官网网址檝e witnessed displacement of unhoused residents to Irving Park, said to have generated 2,000 service calls (or seven per cent of all VicPD service calls over the past three years).

Numbers donB次元官网网址檛 tell the whole story. James Bay New Horizons Society (located on the city-owned Irving Park property), operates a daily B次元官网网址淪eniors ReassuranceB次元官网网址� program which relies on the support of VicPD to make wellness checks on vulnerable seniors.

Service calls to this location are thus not all of a criminal nature. If VicPD indicated the nature of Irving Park calls and then reported them as a proportion of the total number of service calls to James BayB次元官网网址檚 14,000 residents, citizens might gain a different perspective.

Perhaps they might question why alarm bells are being rung by certain councillors and the media that appear to justify a B次元官网网址榯ough-on-crimeB次元官网网址� political agenda. Some might ask whether council members could explore other meaningful actions to address the intolerable plight of our unhoused residents in such a prosperous capital city.

History shows social dysfunction cannot be fixed by scapegoating, segregating, or simply incarcerating B次元官网网址榰nwantedB次元官网网址� people. Only by providing adequate housing as well as physical and mental health supports to all in need can society ensure the safety and well-being of everyone.

Victoria Adams

Victoria