Pubdate: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC) Copyright: 2007, BC Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948 Author: Hugh Baker ADDICTED VICTIMS NEED PROTECTION To the Editor, Re: Homelessness as an industry, April 7. The addicted victims need protection. The new Red Zone has changed some things in the area - a lot less of the unfortunates gather on the streets near Milton and Haliburton. They have simply moved. Homeless people will remain. The RCMP's strategic plan targets large scale dealers. But this leaves the same vultures free to target those people having trouble getting rent money or other funds together. Every third night, the same truck pulls up to the same house on Irwin Street and for the next three or four days, people come and go, night and day. This same truck parks on the corners where street people gather and they flock to him. On the day that social services doles out the meager monthly pittance, this man is there. In short, the dealers and the crack house he supplies are allowed to operate with impunity. This individual deals his wares in the wee hours of the morning, without interference. How do the addicted homeless stand a chance when the outlaws seem to be so well protected by society? Homelessness is an industry indeed. Hugh Baker, Nanaimo - --- MAP posted-by: Derek