To the editor:
As a member of Lawrence community, I fully support the expansion and relocation of the Lawrence Community Shelter. The new shelter will sleep more men, women, children and families, as well as allow more services to be provided to the homeless population.
I encourage community members that oppose the new site location to drop by Lawrence Community Shelter and experience the underfunded, overcramped facility first-hand. Maybe even talk to guests, learn their struggles, and walk away understanding these people are human beings.
Yes, there are those that battle addiction, mental illness, and sometimes both. Yes, there are success stories of recovery, managing mental illness while obtaining and maintaining housing. Our society tends to focus on the negative, ignore the positive, and that leaves no room for change.
The homeless population would persist if there were no shelters and limited community resources. We can ignore the issue and pretend the problem will fix itself or we can promote a good, just and peaceful community. Attending the public forum on the new site location, Nov. 12, is an opportunity to advocate positive change for those that are continually marginalized.
Comments
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Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
Katie, thank you for a sensible, reasoned letter on the subject.
Those who got out need to share their stories of how they did it. It is all too easy to forget where we come from, and to start assuming we got where we are because of our own virtues, which the others do not have.
Have you gone though life and never got help or support from anyone?
Even if you have never been homeless, think about the help you have received in your life. The, pass it on.
eastsidepride (anonymous) says…
Katie I appreciate your desire to help the homeless, and believe that there needs to be help available. I do not believe a wet shelter has any business in any residential or business area like Dons Steak house. I work my butt off to make a life for my family and all the people who oppose this are just trying to protect their rights. I dont believe this shelter is going to have a positive affect on my neighborhood. We see the affect it has on downtown! I wont even let my children go downtown for fear of their safety! This will hurt many more than it will save! BUT nobody is thinking of the hardworking, tax paying, voting, homeownwers who will have to deal with the mess that our city is about to drop in our laps! But hey it will be out of downtown...right!!!!
bb837988 (anonymous) says…
There is absolutely a need for a homeless services in Lawrence to help those people who find themselves in the situation of being homeless. Anything can be done to help them with improving their job skills or financial situations in order for them to find a better living environment should be.
However, there has to be a better location than Don's Steakhouse. The current location is in a residential area and borders a retail area. I don't see any of the current neighbors petitioning to keep the shelter where it is. If the downtown merchants don't want homeless people around their establishments, why should the merchants on East 23rd be in favor of the shelter's proposed location.
I would have less problems if it wasn't a wet shelter. It won't be a prison. People will be able to come and go. It is my understanding that as a wet shelter, those clients who are high or have been drinking are allowed but not if they have drugs or alcohol on them. What happens to these people if they are turned away? Do they hang out in front of Set Em Up Jacks? Spend the night in the livestock barns at the fairgrounds? Curl up in my back yard?
Katie - You say that you fully support the new proposed shelter site and live in Lawrence. I bet it isn't in your neighborhood. Would your opinion be the same in that case?