By Cecilia Nasmith
Cobourg Councillor Randy Barber has responded to Alastair McKeating's expression of disappointment – on behalf of the Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective – at council's rejection of their project earlier this month with a counter-suggestion.
Much as community activists “adopt” refugees who seek safety in this community, Barber advised in a letter released to local news media, form small groups within the NSCC to adopt and provide for homeless individuals.
“Why not take your 80-100 local volunteers and split them into 20-25 groups of four and have them each adopt a homeless person for six months and provide food, lodging, medical and support for them as has been done in the Cobourg community for various refugees over the past few years,” read the terse response in its entirety.
The NSCC was several months into working with the town on a proposal to locate nine to 12 eight-by-ten-foot sleeping cabins in a sort of small village on the westernmost end of the former Memorial Arena property on Furnace Street when the matter came up at council April 3. During that time, opposition had been voice by the residents in that vicinity that an information night hosted by the NSCC did little to dispel.
The matter came up for final council approval April 3 to a packed house of proponents, who objected vociferously when it was voted down.
