To the editor:

I thank Candice Davis for comments in response to my letter concerning the main causes for homelessness. However, she made an inference I didn’t intend. As public relations chairwoman for the Lawrence Coalition on Homeless Concerns (LCHC), I’m aware that poor decisions are made daily by all individuals. I made clear at the last LCHC meeting that even our presidents make poor personal decisions.

When we want to help those in poverty, we recognize that homelessness is the result of a complex set of circumstances that push people into impossible choices among food, shelter and other basic needs. Harsh and negative imaging of people in these circumstances is a constant public relations issue, (i.e., Journal-World headline Dec. 17: “Downtown merchants cite homeless menace”). The greatest loathing, though, lies in the ignoring of poverty, which only exacerbates the problem.

Our homeless every day attempt to secure a mat on a floor at a couple of sites in Lawrence. Every day they need to wonder whether they will get to rest their heads where it is warm. This is not how the homeless are treated in comparable communities. They are given their own beds in the 24/7 comprehensive shelter, and intake is done for adequate housing. This step is essential to regain psychological identity. This is not done here, and it is the essential first step in helping people experiencing homelessness.

Lawrence will exhaust all the future Tami Clarks (retiring director of the Community Drop-In Center) unless it changes this mistake in service.

Janeine Cardin,

Lawrence