Letters to the Editor

The greater good

Editor, the Journal,

I would like to compliment R. Lee Olsen for his homeless suggestion in the Aug. 22 issue of the Journal. An excellent idea.

I have driven past the Shelton School District building next to Tozier Bros. frequently over the years. During the week, there is generally one car parked in the building lot, rarely two cars are parked there. For such a large building, it appears to be mostly unused. There must be many offices that could be converted to homeless housing, in addition to many available bathrooms. Kudos to R. Lee Olsen for also coming up with an alternate location for the school district.

Wayne Salus, Shelton

How to clean it up

Editor, the Journal,

Garbage strewn about downtown is attributed to the homeless. Citizens and business leaders want these problems fixed. To fix homelessness, identify the homeless cause.

To find the cause, vet the homeless. Vetting should determine homeless causes. Mechanics, medical doctors and plumbers know they can’t fix a problem until they understand the cause. Why can’t social workers and others who blame our system of economics and freedom, understand to find the cause, we must have information.

First the kids. Are they abandoned, trafficked or runaways from brutal homes? Find the problem, then find them shelter and a permanent solution, depending upon the investigation. They need our help. Then vet homeless adults.

Are homeless adults old and frail or young and healthy; ambitious or lazy; addicted to drugs; a criminal? Are they between jobs or perpetually homeless? Some homeless may need a temporary solution, some a permanent solution.

After vetting, provide assistance as needed based upon their physical and legal condition. For the elderly, find a permanent solution. For healthy adults, feed and house them, but require them to work: washing buildings, streets, and sidewalks free of garbage and feces. Those refusing to work, send them to San Francisco, the homelessness mecca. Ship homeless illegals back to country of origin; use the law to hospitalize the mentally ill and to jail those wanted for a crime. Don’t permit the homeless to endanger anyone. Can social workers see beyond their “social” education to the real world? If not, replace social workers with police officers.

Ardean Anvik, Shelton