Letter: Local needs

To the editor:

The couple who were assigned four columns at the top left of Thanksgiving Day’s Journal-World report that they have helped a couple dozen homeless people around the country get into homes. This is surely admirable. I am sure they are wonderful people, as the article says.

Based on this experience, they have decided that the greatest need for Lawrence’s homeless is furniture for when they are ready to transition into a home. Perhaps it is, but I would like to hear from the Lawrence Community Shelter and Family Promise to see what problems they see the local homeless facing.

If furniture is a great need, wouldn’t it make sense to work with the Social Service League, Salvation Army and Goodwill to help provide it? Is opening a new agency, arranging for space and staff, really the most efficient way to provide for this most needy group?