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Low-income housing won't lead to crime wave

Re: ‘Higher-earning families part of St. Albert’s appeal,’ April 3.

Re: ‘Higher-earning families part of St. Albert’s appeal,’ April 3.

I’m sure I do not just speak for myself when I say that I was both shocked and outraged to read Chris and Karleena Perry’s comments on the proposed Habitat for Humanity low-cost housing project in St. Albert. I found their comments both arrogant and naive.

Chris and Karleena argue that they would not feel comfortable bringing their children to St. Albert events because low-income families would bring crime and drugs into St. Albert. As a recent graduate of Bellerose Composite High School, and as someone that was born and raised in St. Albert, I can confidently say that low-income families would not bring in any more social problems than we already have. Crime, for one, is not limited to poorer families. Growing up in St. Albert, I have watched drug problems, vandalism and even murder make an appearance in some of St. Albert’s wealthiest and business-owning families.

St. Albert already has a significant drug problem, which is largely a consequence of the extra spending money in the pockets of these “high-standard children.” While I was at Bellerose, almost all of the heavy drug users and drug dealers that I knew of lived with their families in Oakmont, Deer Ridge, Erin Ridge, and yes, even Kingswood. So, while it is tempting to pin these sorts of problems on low-income families, it is essential to realize that problems already exist in many of the upper-class neighbourhoods in St. Albert. To use the Perrys’ words, “it sounds cruel but that is how it is.”

I further disagree with the Perrys’ comment on the “high-standard” elitism of St. Albert youth. I am not from a wealthy family, nor do I live in a new million-dollar home, but I have never experienced (nor do I know of any students that have) any prejudice based on my family’s economic situation. In contrast, many St. Albert students that I know actually try to downplay their economic status, especially when speaking to people outside of the city. I attend the U of A, and I know that I am always very hesitant to tell other students that I am from St. Albert, because of the ‘rich-snob’ reputation our city has developed. After reading Chris and Karleena’s letter, I now realize where this sort of egotistical reputation originates.

I do not want to suggest that I do not appreciate my life in St. Albert. However, it’s time for St. Albertans to realize that our middle-class, predominantly white community is a poor reflection of the real world. Allowing low-income housing developments will not have a major impact on St. Albert’s crime rate or social problems, but it may help young people (including the Perrys’ son) realize that there are more people in our world than the middle- and upper-class families in our St. Albert bubble.

Ellen Keith, St. Albert

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