FROM: www.homelessinabbotsford.com

RE: Improper Bridge Drainage Problems

We have, following the recent inclement weather, received a deluge of complaints about bridges leaking and/or suffering from improper drainage.

Not only does getting wet in cold weather pose a threat to health, it also is life threatening to the lives of those BC citizens/residents forced by the growing epidemic of homelessness to live under the bridges you bear responsiblity for.

These homeless wish to know what steps you, as the Minister responsible for these bridges, will be taking to remedy the problems with drainage in order that those forced to shelter beneath the bridges and remove the threat posed to the health and lives forced to live beneath the bridges, like trolls from the dark-ages tales.

The homeless would accept you championing the homeless and interceding on their behalf with your colleagues in lue of action on the bridges themselves.

Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance on the matter of realistic and viable shelter allowance levels and the replacement of the current ineffective programs with programs designed to deliver services of benefit to the clients, not for the ease of M.E.I.A. staff.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman in encouraging BC Housing to be proactive and flexible in seeking local partners to get some affordable housing initiatives underway in Abbotsford.

Premier Gordon Campbell to recognize the complex people issues lumped under labels such as homeless or addiction and recognize the need for ingenuity and initiative in addressing these growing issues sooner rather than waiting until they have become such a problem that the government is forced to act.

As a personal preference we at homelessinabbotsford.com would rather see these needs address in the proper manner and ministry, as opposed to continuing to sweep the problem under the bridges – and whatever makeshift shelter can be found.