- Dear Editor and residents of the Tri-Cities:
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Christmas is upon us later this week, as we all know.
Also, most of us are aware of the “cold Siberian temperatures” about to descend into our area later this week.
This morning, the thick layer of frost on everything outside my window left me thankful for my home and heat.
By now, we all know not everyone has the luxury or privilege of being housed.
By now, we all know that the heat in the summer finally triggered cooling shelters to be initiated after the heat dome caused hundreds of deaths.
The truth is that the extreme heat affects everyone while the cold does just affect/is dangerous for the unhoused.
See a correlation?
It’s Tuesday afternoon and, with three days until the forecasted colder temperatures (unless the mayors are working on Christmas Eve afternoon….), no warming centers have been organized.
This is unacceptable.
This forecast was talked about last week as a possibility but, even then, tentative plans should have been made from the warm offices of the local city halls.
Now what will happen?
By the time this letter publishes I hope a Christmas miracle has happened and appropriate warming shelters (day and night) are arranged.
Yes, it’s Christmas but our vulnerable population matters and deserve the same concern and priority as everyone else.
Do the right thing, cities.
While the rest of us are dreaming of a white Christmas, there are far too many on the streets dreaming of simply a warm one.
- Jessa Turner, Coquitlam, Mental health worker and advocate
