Bob Cordner, 61, carries everything he owns in plastic bags on 17th Street in Denver on June 24. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)
Re: “No miracle cure for homeless,” Dec. 28 Vincent Carroll column.
I strongly disagree with Vincent Carroll that we will never end homelessness as long as we are a free society. What is lacking is the political and public will to do so.
Unfortunately, too many people think that those experiencing homelessness are there because of addictions and/or mental illness or because of “bad decisions.” There are many of us “housed” citizens who have addictions and/or mental illness or make bad decisions. Whatap the difference? The difference for the homeless is a lack of resources.
What we need is a major campaign to change the attitudes of the vast majority of the public so that there is a real groundswell of demand for a very significant expansion of both public and private dollars to provide the necessary housing and services that so many of those experiencing homelessness need.
Donald Burnes, Denver
The writer is executive director of the Burnes Institute on Poverty and Homelessness.
This letter was published in the Jan. 4 edition.
