TERENCE KILKER, San Clemente
The “let’s provide housing at taxpayer’s expense” myopic solution to homelessness will not work.
The “projects” that were built in Chicago between 1935 and 1970 were an attempt to provide low-income housing. It was a complete failure. The ones that have not been torn down are a haven for drug dealers and crime, to this day.
Where would the proposed low-income housing be built? Wherever it is located will degrade the surrounding neighborhood. I would challenge Kathy Esfahani, Ken Doss, and Rona Henry to lead by example and remodel their homes, adding as many bedrooms as possible and invite the homeless to live with them.
The vast majority of homeless people choose their lifestyle. As I recall, when the Santa Ana River was cleaned up awhile back, everyone was offered a place to stay. Only 8% opted for shelter. You can’t help people who do not want to be helped.
The vast majority of homeless people are either mentally ill, drug users, or both. A solution for the mentally ill is to commit them to institutions, as was done prior to the mid 1960s. They would be safe and not present a danger to others.
Our housing efforts should be directed to helping the small minority of people who are not homeless by choice. I do speak from some experience. I have a relative who is homeless in Fullerton.
He has lived in either my home or other family members’ homes more times than can be counted, all expenses paid. He was unwilling to follow our basic rules: no drugs, and either go to school or get a job.
He chose drugs and left every time. This story is not unique. There are solutions for a majority of the homeless, but free housing for all is not it.
