Homeless people line up to get in for the night at the Denver Rescue Mission on April 1, 2014. (Hyoung Chang, Denver Post file)
Re: “Just how many chances should we give the homeless?,” Jan. 10 letter to the editor.
Homelessness is not simply a matter of poor choices, as letter-writer William F. Hineser suggests. Understanding, let alone changing, human behavior is an enormously complex undertaking. We are imperfect beings arising from a variety of biological, psychological and social circumstances, all of which influence how we make choices.
“Just how many chances do we supply?,” asks Hineser. As many as it takes, so long as our efforts are supported by quality research on what produces the best results. Success rates in behavior-change programs, carefully established and implemented, are doing extremely well when they reach 20 percent. Giving up can mean less impetus for change and perhaps even growing and worsening circumstances for the homeless and communities in which they live.
John Ruszczyk,Littleton
This letter was published in the Jan. 17 edition.
Ignorance is bliss. I understand letter-writer William F. Hineser’s reluctance to actually believe that not all homeless are drunks, druggies, etc. However, I am living proof; my husband and I have been homeless for some time now. We had a very lovely home in Parker, but then my husband became ill. After that, everything seemed to go wrong. I lost my job trying to care for my husband. And guess what — the homeless don’t get many jobs.
My husband is a vet, disabled and has a service dog. We don’t want a handout, but we need help. We are here through no fault of our own, or lack of education.
Remember, there but for the grace of God go you.
Noemi Soto,Parker
This letter was published in the Jan. 17 edition.
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