Letter: If We’re Not Part of the Solution, We’re Part of the Problem

Ron Herbert, San Clemente

San Clemente citizens and government who do not support shelters for the homeless are being shortsighted and irresponsible. The letter to the editor last week titled “In Response to Homeless Intolerance” is a perfect example. Asking “delusional church people” to invite homeless into their homes shows a complete misunderstanding of how the situation should be handled.

Merely giving food and bedding would not solve homelessness. Professional shelters do much more than offer food and bedding. They attempt to provide a way out of homelessness by providing professional counseling on subjects such as drug addiction, mental illness, job acquisition and access to permanent housing.

The San Clemente City Council has promised to establish a temporary shelter, but they have said nothing about providing services to help the homeless get out of homelessness. Also, San Clemente’s decision to fight the federal edict is expensive and nonproductive. It will not solve the problem. The money the city is spending to fight federal law would be better used to solve the situation by supporting professional homeless shelters.

By not providing these shelters, we merely perpetuate the problem of homelessness.

If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem.