New Boyle Street home sorely needed

Friday was a sad and troubling day for Edmonton and, in particular, its inner city. Edmonton's Subdivision and Development Appeals Board used an unconvincing exercise in definitional gymnastics to revoke the development permit that the city had approved, allowing Boyle Street Community Services to create a new home, the King Thunderbird Centre.

This facility would substantially increase Boyle Street's ability to serve Edmonton's most vulnerable citizens, providing health and social services that the board and Boyle Street's neighbours all lauded at the SDAB hearing.

Boyle Street is a very special organization. It seeks to build trust between itself and the homeless in our inner city, overcoming the anxieties that lead many to avoid approaching conventional social and health services. This trust encourages them to access the supports and health care that Boyle Street offers so that they can receive the care they need, improve their lives and, ultimately, better integrate into the community.

This is extraordinarily important work that improves the quality of life in our inner city, work that the SDAB ruling should not be allowed to stifle.

I profoundly hope that Boyle Street, its neighbours and city council can work together to open the way for the construction of the King Thunderbird Centre, thus making life better for all of the residents of our inner city. Gurston Dacks, Edmonton