Sunday afternoon I attended a one hour memorial to the 39 people who were homeless that recently died in our community.
We also had a two hour dialogue- workshop on unhoused citizens, security,mental health,trauma,substance abuse etc.
Much of my life has been in coaching,teaching,operating small businesses,raising funds for charities, being a parent and working against the terrible generational poverty Saint John has,more than most cities.
We have had a lot of wealth removed from our city, a tax system that has hurt us as taxes leave our city (industrial tax)and people can’t afford more property tax.We have far fewer post secondary opportunities than other cities,have lost industry and government offices,many moved to other Maritime Cities .
The trauma so many folks have experienced is so real and our generational poverty is much older than other communities and is still with us.
