Urgent Action Needed for Vancouver’s Homeless Crisis

Subject: Urgent Action Needed for Vancouver’s Homeless Crisis – Proactive Leadership, Not Reactive Responses

Dear Mayor Ken Sim,

I am writing to express deep concern and outrage over your handling of homelessness in Vancouver, especially as we face another harsh winter. It is unconscionable that, as the mayor of a city known for its wealth and opportunity, you continue to stand by policies that not only fail to address the root causes of homelessness but actively exacerbate the suffering of our most vulnerable residents.

You present yourself as a successful entrepreneur, a person who understands how to create solutions for those in need through ventures like Nurse Next Door. However, it seems your supposed intelligence and success are built on taking advantage of people's needs rather than truly serving them. This reality has become all too clear in your treatment of the homeless community, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While businesses and affluent residents have been shielded, many of those left out in the cold—both literally and figuratively—are paying the price for your administration’s neglect.

How is it that someone in your position, with so much power and influence, can oversee such a gross failure in addressing homelessness? Instead of real, long-term solutions, we have seen nothing but temporary measures that push people around without solving the core issues of affordable housing, mental health care, and addiction services. It's shameful that this city, which prides itself on diversity and compassion, now watches as more and more people are criminalized simply for being poor.

Winter is fast approaching, and it is not enough to be reactive, waiting until the freezing temperatures set in to provide makeshift shelters or emergency services. People are freezing and dying on the streets, and this administration’s lack of action is directly contributing to their suffering. You have a responsibility to act now—not after another tragedy occurs—to ensure that no one in Vancouver dies because they lack shelter, warmth, or support.

It is time for proactive, compassionate leadership that addresses the crisis head-on. We need to see:

A comprehensive plan for affordable housing that goes beyond temporary shelters and tackles the systemic issues that lead to homelessness.

Significant investment in mental health and addiction services to provide those struggling with these challenges a real path forward.

Immediate measures to protect the homeless this winter, ensuring that everyone has access to shelter, food, and medical care, rather than criminalizing their existence.

This is not just about politics or policy—it is about basic human decency. Vancouver deserves better, and so do the people living on its streets. I urge you to take action now and lead with the compassion and responsibility that your position demands.

Sincerely,

Someone Who Cares