Last week, I received a disturbing call at 9 pm – Khin, a man I work with, informed me his tent in Musgrave Park had vanished upon returning from work. This wasn't the first time someone had lost their home, and my anger flared. People shouldn't live in constant fear of losing their meager shelter.
Transparency and Communication Matter
While I delayed sharing this situation due to the recent council election, the issue transcends politics. It's about basic human dignity and respect for people's homes.
The council acknowledged the situation and provided a picture of a tag left on the tent. However, the tag's placement on the back rendered it useless. Furthermore, our established communication protocol for such removals wasn't followed.
Positive Steps and Continued Advocacy
There's a silver lining. The council has agreed to discuss improvements to their signage and procedures to prevent similar incidents. A tag placed clearly at the tent's entrance seems like a sensible first step.
Holding Our Leaders Accountable
We must hold our council accountable. While managing a large number of tents presents challenges, we can't ignore the human impact. Please reach out to your local councillor to voice your concerns. Together, we can push for better treatment of our most vulnerable community members.
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