HOMELESS NUMBERS

Contrary to the assertion of Sabrina Hennecke, author of the July 20 op-ed, “Living and dying — with a hospital in sight,” we don’t need more organizations committed to “ending chronic homelessness.” We need fewer of them.

Chronically homeless people represent an estimated 15% of the homeless population. The other 85 percent have briefer episodes of homelessness that, nonetheless, can be dangerous and traumatic for adults and children alike.

There are additional millions, doubled up with friends or family, or living tenuously in RVs, who are not even counted in these statistics. Focusing our efforts on only 15% pretty much guarantees the overall problem of homelessness never will be solved.

– Jeremy Weir Alderson,

founder and director, Homelessness Marathon,

Hector, NY