The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Readers respond to Question of the Week: Should we think big to house homeless? Governor's CARE Court plan is a good solution
The current homelessness responses are not working. Housing first, we found out, doesn’t work. The people move in, and a few days later they move out for a variety of reasons. I’ve heard many stats about drug addictions and mental health issues, but I think it is safe to say most homeless people suffer from one or both.
The governor’s “CARE Court” plan I think is headed in the right direction. This program will use family members and sponsors to help the homeless make right decisions to legally turn their lives around.
— Alan Hudson, Temecula
Sears venture might be too big with too many people
Using the vacant Sears building in the Boyle Heights neighborhood as a homeless hub with social and mental health services available has great merit in theory, but has the awful failed Cabrini-green city housing project in Chicago as a red flag for such a venture.
As I and other readers have suggested, a cheaper mobile housing tent city program with above social services, out in the Santa Ana river bed during dry season, and desert, for the monsoons, is a no-frills, practical option.
The homeless would be free to come and go via bus transport, etc., avail themselves of drug, mental, financial help, water, outhouses, showers.
Basic rules of order and hygiene would be executed with homeless cooperation and selfpride with a compassionate, educated security team.
The tent city would be mobile and able to relocate to where the need is greatest.
— George Chung, Redlands
Yes, we must consider all big ideas for the unhoused
I believe that repurposing unused buildings into shelters for homeless people is an excellent idea and support it.
I am disappointed in the number of people who seem to prefer doing nothing about this major issue, and some who try to demonize and vilify unhoused people.
Society and government should be pulling out all the stops to do whatever necessary to give those living on our streets a hand up.
Contrary to what some opine, being homeless is not a crime. However, doing nothing is criminal, in my opinion.
— Steve Ledde, Sun City