Rules should not trump common sense

Charleswood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/05/2023 (1055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Anyone who reads my column is probably aware that I am not shy about expressing my opinions on a range of topics. This month I want to discuss my concerns about government institutions making decisions based on the letter of the law.

I have experienced that kind of thinking in many areas, including health care, where decision-making based on rules is often easier but often not effective. But the example I am referring to was the subject of an April 22 article in the Winnipeg Free Press. It dealt with the controversy surrounding what will happen to the ‘visitation pods’ (repurposed shipping containers) that cost taxpayers $25.8 million and which were placed at some personal care homes to ensure families could visit with their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was a costly idea, for sure, but one which was undoubtedly appreciated by family members. Now that the 105 pods are no longer required, they are being sold off, to get rid of them and presumably to recover some of the money. Apparently, a group of business owners offered to take them over and turn them into free housing. But, according to the article, they didn’t have the required “credentials.” So, the bids are open. I’m not opposed to rules, but sometimes common sense should prevail, and there can be exceptions to some rules. Perhaps whoever has the “credentials” to take on this project will be altruistic as well, but somehow I doubt it.

There’s another option, which would require government intervention. What about simply repurposing the pods for used by Winnipeg’s unhoused population, which needs shelter from the ravages of our winters and who, because of their living situations, are often in need of resources such as paramedics and police?

Over the years, tending to homelessness must have cost the city and province as much or more than providing housing and other supports for the homeless. In addition to the daily service calls, there’s the ongoing issue of clearing out bus shelters and tearing down encampments. Considering we seem to face the same set of problems every year, perhaps the government could subsidize a company willing to take on the pod project and make the structures livable for the homeless. What we have been doing to this point is clearly not the answer.

Governments at all levels need to work together to come up with a long-term strategy. Obviously, housing is only part of the solution, but it’s a good start. Perhaps once people have a place to sleep, they may be more interested in getting involved in detox programs and finding help for the mental or social issues they may be experiencing.