Support for those in need

Re: “Homeless sweeps cost hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Jan. 19 news story

The Denver Post’s Jan. 19 article shows how severe our homeless problem is. Unfortunately, it is looking to get even worse due to the unending COVID-19 pandemic and its deleterious effects on our citizens.

While the end is in sight, we cannot forget that we need to support our most vulnerable citizens who are struggling to pay rents and put food on the table. The Biden administration is planning to reimplement and expand the emergency paid leave program, increase financial assistance for the unemployed, and extend the federal eviction moratorium. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper must support these efforts to help our struggling neighbors stay in their homes during this crisis.

Alec Rodriguez, Denver

Permanent nomad encampments crush the dignity and the health of camp dwellers. Hepatitis, shigellosis, substance abuse are critical public health issues with lifelong consequences.

Each day I walk past tents and piles of trash at 16th and Pearl, stepping carefully over used syringes and the discarded food containers that allow rodents to thrive. I haul bags of camp trash back to my own dumpster. I don’t haul the plastic bags of frozen human poo. This environment is unhealthy for those people living there. Periodically moving the camp allows for cleaning and organizing.

Permanent street camps force people to endure inhumane conditions with no personal dignity or personal hygiene. We do not accept these living conditions for migrant agriculture workers.

I support moving these camps on a regular predictable schedule. Provide dumpsters, more toilets, and more shower trucks at camps. Stop demonizing police, hardworking city employees, and local homeowners who do the cleanup. Warren Johnson, Denver