These last few days before Christmas, our Gift Wrap Centre is open and ready to take care of your wrapping in exchange for a donation to emergency accommodation needs in Cochrane.
There has been a number of letters and articles over the past few weeks following two columns I wrote about the need for permanent, reliable funding to assist people leaving a troublesome domestic situation or caught in an emergency situation with nowhere to sleep.
No matter how much controversy arises, the fact is we seem to have a funding shortfall year after year.
I say this because private businesses and citizens are being called on to assist financially with emergency housing needs in Cochrane.
I’ll state my point again.
If we have money to do ongoing studies on a transit system, or matching grant monies from the provincial or federal governments to assist with opening retail enterprises, then why can’t all three levels of government get together and plan for emergency housing needs?
People ask me why we don’t have a shelter in Cochrane when smaller towns do...I don’t know.
I am OK with controversy regarding my column if it helps to better inform people about real situations.
So often we hear only whispers about women’s shelters and domestic abuse or those who sleep in their car, in the cold or on a neighbour's couch.
I would be thrilled if all this actually spurred all three levels of government to make this a priority.
This year, I will be with family for Christmas in Ontario for the first time in decades.
I will not be coordinating a community Christmas dinner, so if you know of anyone who is going to be alone, invite them to your house.
It is so much fun to get to know a new person.
Merry Christmas to all.
