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Letter: City’s homeless should be one of our first priorities

Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to managing editor Mark Gentili’s column, “Someone needs to make a decision,” published Jan. 12. In Mark Gentili’s Jan.
Homeless660
Homelessness in omHGreater Sudbury remains an issue that needs more attention, a reader says this week. File photo
Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to managing editor Mark Gentili’s column, “Someone needs to make a decision,” published Jan. 12.

In Mark Gentili’s Jan. 12th ‘On the Level’ article, the list of projects the City of Greater Sudbury has in the plans without any concrete means of achieving them laid out includes: creating 10,000 net new jobs by 2025 (ideally good, high paying jobs); attracting 30,000 new people to Sudbury; a healthy downtown; community amenities like a new Sudbury Arena; a multi-use arts and culture centre to house our city art gallery; and the Sudbury Symphony.

One would imagine that some of these goals have had numerous visioning, strategic planning and consultation meetings along with the expenses that accompany them, yet, the goal remains unachieved, the main point Mark made in his article.

I would like to add to Mark’s list. There have been many studies done on the homelessness and poverty situation in Sudbury. I’m thinking specifically of the research of Carol Kauppi (Laurentian University), yet the issues remain. Why fund research if we don’t go the next step and do something with it?

Please, could we first take care of the most disadvantaged among us before we move on? Our priorities need to be established. If we have a reputation for being a city where everyone belongs, is valued and cared for, I believe people will come to Sudbury, and Sudbury will grow and thrive!

We have a great city, but we can be better!

Karen Marcotte
Sudbury