You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Re: Reader letter: Turn former Amherstburg high school into homeless shelter (Apr. 14)

My thoughts on this reader’s suggestion to turn former Amherstburg high school into a homeless shelter:

I am a student completing my placement at Windsor’s Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families. During my few months here, I’ve witnessed first-hand the lack of supports that exist for the homeless population in our community.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Our shelter operates at almost 98-per-cent capacity daily. My job often consists of having to sit face-to-face with young women and tell them they must sleep on the streets tonight because there is nowhere else for them to go.

People have a misconception that offering a homeless shelter in Amherstburg will make the community less safe but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Homeless people will continue to exist in every community, but increasing the supports we can offer will only help regulate it and keep individuals off the streets.

We cannot continue to live in ignorance.

Homelessness will not go away by turning a blind eye to it.

Emma Carruthers
Windsor

Share Your Views
Send letters to the editor to letters@windsorstar.com. (Don’t send them as attachments; put them in the body of the emails). Letters must include your full name, address and phone number. (We will only publish your name and the municipality where you live). Letters must be fewer than 300 words. The Star reserves the right to edit, condense and reject letters.

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.