Recently, I have noticed a significant change in how people perceive poverty, addiction, and mental health issues in our community. When I walk around Victoria, I can’t help but feel a sense of sorrow and desperation that people are going through. It is becoming increasingly evident that this is a growing issue, and people are starting to get very frustrated.

In many cases, homelessness is a prime example of the conflict faced by politicians between making the best decision for everyone concerned and making decisions that are politically expedient. While there are often clear solutions to addressing homelessness, such as providing affordable housing, mental health services, drug addiction centers, job training, and building institutions to house the mentally ill, these solutions can often be challenging to implement due to opposition from special interest groups or political parties. As a result, politicians may avoid making hard decisions or prioritize short-term solutions that do not address the root causes of homelessness. This lack of action has devastating consequences for those experiencing homelessness and for the community as a whole.

Let’s demand our elected officials to prioritize the well-being of all constituents and take action to address homelessness by creating harsh and severe penalties for people selling street drugs and building involuntary institutions to house the mentally ill. Buying hotels is not the answer. We can make a difference in our community by holding our politicians accountable and pushing for long-term solutions that address the root causes of homelessness.