Mr. Vomacka’s critique (“Don’t spend tax money on homeless,” Dec. 24) of Vancouver’s investment in housing for the homeless is based on flawed assumptions. Arguing that charity should be private oversimplifies the issue, ignoring the scale of homelessness and the need for systemic solutions. Public investment in housing and support services is not mere charity; it’s a proven strategy to reduce costs associated with emergency health care, policing and incarceration, saving taxpayers money while addressing the problem effectively.
Dehumanizing the homeless as “wandering dregs of humanity” perpetuates harmful stereotypes and distracts from the structural causes of homelessness, such as rising housing costs, inadequate mental health care and stagnant wages. This framing treats homelessness as a personal failing rather than a societal issue, undermining efforts to address root causes.
The claim that public investment “makes it easier” for homelessness to persist is misguided. Evidence shows that providing stable housing and resources reduces homelessness, benefiting individuals and communities. Cities that adopt these strategies see measurable improvements in public safety and economic outcomes. Dismissing such efforts as wasteful ignores evidence and fails to address the human and societal costs of inaction.
