Estevan's first attempt at the establishment of a legitimate shelter, albeit on a limited basis, is being met with mixed emotions from this corner.
We find it heartening to see there are organizations in this community willing to take it up a notch in terms of providing a necessary social and emotional service. But at the same time, we find it difficult to admit that within a city with so many riches, there are those who require substantial additional help.
Growth brings us that stark fact.
We expect there will be a bit of reluctance at first from our citizens who require this assistance. We really don't know if there will be a big take-up on the shelter opportunity at St. Paul's United Church auditorium beginning Dec. 1, but we do applaud the agencies, organizations and individuals that are making it available on a trial basis.
The fact that a need was identified points out to us in a big reality check moment that we have several layers of society out there beginning with the super rich, the very rich, the very well off, a thriving upper and middle class residential element and then we have a very thick layer of struggling working poor followed by those who are simply out of the game right now, either permanently or temporarily.
Some simply need a breakthrough moment, others may never see the daylight of economic stability. Regardless of the circumstances, they require our help.
This is a city on the upward trend and we often don't have patience or time for laggards. In most instances, those who require the help of a shelter or a food bank aren't in that category. They are people who simply require a hand-up not necessarily a handout. They're not out there trying to abuse the system, they just need a little help.
One thing we are grateful for is the fact that the Energy City is a community with a big heart and generous soul. That has been proven time and time again. We have enough checks and balances within our midst to ensure that we will never get too big for our britches. We're not that far down the track of progress where we can forget that at one time or another we all needed a break or two to crack a barrier of hard luck or poverty. We've all been on the bottom rung of life's ladder sometime along the way.
Our memories are long and the heart of our community is telling us that the time has come to offer some of those among us, that hand-up opportunity in the form of a warm shelter for a few nights, some good food and a few smiles of understanding, not pity.
This is one local market study we wish we could avoid, but of course our community conscience won't allow that to happen.
So while we lament the fact that we have to admit this city requires a shelter and increased food bank use, we also celebrate the fact that we have the people and means to provide those services.
