A great program to help solve homelessness

To the Editor:

I had the opportunity to view an eight-minute video that really showed what can be done to solve the homeless problem when individuals and organizations with experience and vision work together to find solutions. The video reports on what the Dream Center in Los Angeles is doing to solve homelessness. The video is titled “Nonprofit vs. Government; Who's Better at Solving Homelessness?”

When cities like San Francisco spend $5,000 per tent per month to house homeless people in parking lots, private organizations like the Dream Center in Los Angeles spend only $6,000 per person for a full year of rehabilitation. You can view this video on Prageru's website.

What I liked about the video was that the facilities for rehabilitation are made available where the homeless are at, often within walking distance or a short bus ride, thus allowing homeless individuals to be near the professionals who can assist them. Tuolumne County needs to do the same and insure that buildings close to downtown can be converted into housing for the homeless, as well as converting other buildings into treatment centers.

We have some very well-intentioned individuals and organizations in Tuolumne County who want to help the homeless. Some, though, need to refocus their approach. Our county needs proper centralized locations to house the homeless rather than placing them in some out-of-the-way area.

John Robinson

Sonora