Homeless in Victoria

The homelessness problem in Victoria has hit a new low. They are now invading schools, trying to camp out over night.

" 'You've got feces and urine and blood on walls, you've got garbage that piles up, you've got mattresses, people are living there,' said Greater Victoria board of education trustee Peg Orcherton, who raised her concerns with fellow trustees this week.
She said discarded needles are also a big concern...."

The huge homeless population downtown was already getting to me. Now they have taken over high schools? Why is anyone letting this happen? (Ie/ school officials, govenment, parents) I know it's hard to monitor every nook and cranny in the city. And it costs money to have security guards. But couldn't they just put up a huge fence? Letting this happen in schools filled each day with children just seems disgraceful. The problem is already out of control downtown. But now young children must come to school each day to find feces, urine, blood and needles?

I think this really should be a wake up call to the BC govenment. Really any public space could be better than this. This people have a multitude of issues. Most have drug or alcohol addictions and many have mental illnesses. But these people should be treated and cared for. The problem has just reached some large proportions in Victoria. Where should they all go? Is it possible to open such large care facilities? But really, they have taken over the downtown. Now they are taking over the schools? It's like Dawn of the Dead. Seriously. There have been countless times where I've ran (quickly walked) away from some zombie-like figure, yelling insults and crazy talk at me, possibly throwing something.

At least in Vancouver, it's designated to a very localized area. You can go shopping, out to eat, meet friends without being constantly harrassed. Yes, it is incredibly sad that these people have come to that. But it's effecting every citizen that wants to venture near downtown Victoria and now even school children are being effected.

The Canadian govenment needs to wake up and deal with this problem. How long will it be before Victoria just becomes a wasteland??? When the homeless mobs have so much control, the middle and upper classes just leave?

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=c80cc6ff-a3a8-4d28-9054-fcf431abfeb9