Dear editor,The letter from Mr. Dick Clancy, regarding the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD)鈥檚 land purchase for a homeless shelter/supportive housing, has a number of factual errors.   The CVRD board of directors authorized the purchase of property (vacant lot in the 800 block of Cliffe Avenue) as a first step in helping to provide shelter and support for homeless people in the Comox Valley, many of whom are already in the downtown and near-downtown area, but having to sleep outdoors and unable to access services, due to lack of an address or professional help.  BC Housing鈥檚 view is that in order for it to consider funding for building and operating housing, a local government needs to demonstrate its commitment to dealing with the problem by providing the land. So that is what the regional government has done.The CRVD鈥檚 land purchase is in addition to the good work being done by community groups and becomes part of the collective approach to finding solutions to the issue of homelessness in the Comox Valley. The CVRD had a professional assessment conducted of the property, and paid $470,000 for it. The next step now rests with BC Housing in terms of consideration of a housing project in the Comox Valley, as it has done in many other communities on Vancouver Island and throughout the province.   Mr. Clancy鈥檚 letter speaks of a 10-bed unit. At this point, until BC Housing makes its decision on funding for building and operation, and an operator is selected, no decision has been made on the final design.The selected operator would undertake consultation on the facility design, layout, and services, put out a bid for a contractor and establish the capital budget.Conceptual drawings were provided by consultants with expertise in the area of homelessness shelters, so that the board (and the public) could see that a shelter can be (and most are) attractive, effective, and efficient in providing a variety of supports in one building. The CVRD is involved with just one land acquisition: the one on Cliffe Avenue, which is a central location and close to services that those needing shelter and support use. Other applications to BC Housing for other types of shelter in the Comox Valley may be made at any time; BC Housing will determine what it has the funding to support. Debra OakmanEditor's note: Debra Oakman is the chief administrative officer of the Comox Valley Regional district.