|
|
[溫哥華本地新聞] Moving off the streets isn't as easy as some may think
Moving off the streets isn't as easy as some may thinkOne man living in an SRO Hotel feels better housing options would make a big differenceAndrew Hopkins/Chris Pope
Dec 08, 2011 01:42:43 AM
0
[/url] [url=http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/307840--moving-off-the-streets-isn-t-as-easy-as-some-may-think#]
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Cold winter temperatures are forcing some important decisions for the homeless on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
One man living in an SRO hotel feels the choice to move off the streets is not an easy one. John Canniff has spent previous winters outside in the cold. Now he pays $420 a month for a small room, which he says is always too hot.
"You're better off to be on the street; you know, you've got a little more freedom. They tell you when you can have guests, when you can't have guests. You go to do laundry, people steal your laundry so you end up without clothes. Parasites, bed bugs, stuff like that," says Canniff about his current accommodations.
At the same time, he says living outside means there's no security, and he can't keep any possessions. "You get wet. You get cold -- hypothermia. Some people die out here, you know? You're not secured outside."
Canniff says he doesn't need government money; he wants better access to safe and secure shelter. "Who wants to be trapped in a little room full of bugs and diseases, and stuff like that?"
He believes better housing options would make a big difference.
"You should feel comfortable. You should feel good about yourself. When you feel good about yourself, you're going to have less problems down here. You're going to have less people doing drugs. You're going to have less people killing themselves."
Canniff says government isn't caring for its people right now. |
|
發表於 2011-12-8 06:47
| 
+