Many moons ago, I moved to Nanaimo to pursue a daily newspaperinB次元官网网址� job.

Along with a co-worker and an ever-shifting cast of third roommates, we rented a house.

For the most part, it was fine. Except for a winter that I think about every year since.

One particularly cold day, the furnace pooched out.

It was going to take the landlord a few days to get it fixed, we were told.

No big deal, we thought.

Strapping young pioneer men that we were, we would simply tough it out.

That arrangement lasted all of one day.

With nary a space heater in sight, we were undaunted.

I mean, how bad could it be?

Back then, I worked the afternoon shift, coming home around midnight or so.

Before I even finished my shift, I got the call from the roommate, who was off that day.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 too cold. IB次元官网网址檓 bailing,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址凌别补濒濒测?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵eah. IB次元官网网址檓 going to my parentsB次元官网网址� house.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址�(Inappropriate word signifying I thought he was weak).B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淟et me know when the heatB次元官网网址檚 back on.B次元官网网址�

Bravado aside, he was right. It was cold. Like -10 C cold.

So I layered up. Longjohns, extra socks, gloves, balaclava. Many blankets. Crawled into bed, and all I could think about was how cold I was all night.

The next day, I made other arrangements myself, sleeping on another buddyB次元官网网址檚 floor until the heat was mercifully restored.

One night. Sure, we were some pampered marshmallows.

But, inside a house, completely dry, with all kinds of clothes and blankets, it was still too cold to stay for more than one night.

I think about that every time it gets cold, and I drive by the poor souls pushing all their belongings in a shopping cart, or shivering in a doorway, looking for a fleeting bit of warmth that just isnB次元官网网址檛 coming.

And I have no idea how they do it.

I donB次元官网网址檛 think about how the various systems seem to be currently letting almost everyone down.

From the people on the street to the people repeatedly victimized by crime.

IB次元官网网址檓 not thinking about arguments over what type of facilities there should be for people battling severe mental illness, or thinking about the growing talk of a B次元官网网址榗atch-and-releaseB次元官网网址� justice system.

IB次元官网网址檓 not thinking about the debate over giving people free drugs, or watching them consume them in plain view of anyone in public.

All I think about is B次元官网网址渘o one should have to be out there in this cold.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 not wrong, is it?

I wish there were more, better answers.

More help for the disenfranchised; more protection for other residents as well.

It just seems, to me, like the problems continue to get worse. More and more unhoused people. More crime. Lots of fed up folks wanting adequate solutions, and seeing none.

Where does it end?

READ MORE:

In Parksville Qualicum Beach, for years getting something as seemingly simple as a temporary warming centre together has been all kinds of difficult.

Other communities have similar issues.

WhoB次元官网网址檚 stepping up with some solutions?

in B次元官网网址榩recariousB次元官网网址� housing here in PQB after our recent cold snap.

It paints a bleak picture.

B次元官网网址淟ike when it was really, really cold in here, I could not stay awake. I was going down, and it felt like I was having hypothermia,B次元官网网址� said one woman. B次元官网网址淚t was really cold in here. You could see your own breath.B次元官网网址�

And this is a person with a regular roof over their head.

SheB次元官网网址檚 noticed more and more homeless people arriving in the area lately.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 more and more people that need more help out there than what I do,B次元官网网址� she said.

Comox Valley Record reporter Olivier Laurin recently wrote a terrific piece , look for it on the PQB B次元官网网址 website.

It offers a raw tale of people merely looking to survive.

B次元官网网址淗ousing is the big thing. I canB次元官网网址檛 establish anything. IB次元官网网址檝e been wearing the same clothes now for over a week and everything is wet from the weather. All my stuff started to mould. IB次元官网网址檓 losing my clothes all the time,B次元官网网址� said one man.

B次元官网网址淚 have nothing else than what I have. Being kicked out by bylaws does not give you time for your clothes to dry. I donB次元官网网址檛 follow politics, but if they can make a difference, IB次元官网网址檇 say we need more low-income housing.B次元官网网址�

Are things going to get better, or worse?

Despite the fine efforts of organizations like the Manna Homeless Society here locally, it seems difficult to stem the tide.

B次元官网网址淚 was also just talking with a guy whoB次元官网网址檚 about to have knee surgery and he lives in the woods, so you can imagine trying to convalesce from that,B次元官网网址� said Raquel Molina, a foot care nurse who volunteers with Manna.

There are countless tales like that all over the Island.

And while I understand itB次元官网网址檚 a complex series of issues, I still canB次元官网网址檛 help but remember the single day where I struggled in the cold B次元官网网址� and realize we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 let anyone have to go through that.

IB次元官网网址檇 love to hear from you, the readers, on this issue.

What can be done? What should be done? WhoB次元官网网址檚 at fault?

Let me know your thoughts.

PQB B次元官网网址/VI Free Daily editor can be reached via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or by phone at 250-905-0019