The high price of homelessness

Re “Defeating homelessness,” Opinion, April 12

I read Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Op-Ed and got hopelessly stuck on one bit of data: $1 billion can provide only 1,500 units of housing? There was no explanation of why the cost for housing for the homeless is so high, at about $667,000 a unit. I’d be interested in any source data that show why the cost is so high. Providing such a wild statement with no support just ruins any confidence in the city’s ability to provide badly needed services for the homeless with any credible degree of efficiency.

MARK JONES

Torrance

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I have been homeless for over a year. I applied for disabled housing and was told that the city was processing applications from December 2002. To further complicate things, I received a ticket for sleeping in my van. It seems I can sleep on the sidewalk but not in my van. I hope Villaraigosa has better luck than I’ve had in finding a solution to homelessness.

CAPRI WILLIAMS

Los Angeles

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Re “Walking a thin line for skid row kids,” April 16

This article fails to mention that the L.A. County outreach workers roaming the streets are referring the vast majority of homeless families to Beyond Shelter, a nonprofit agency that helps families move back into permanent housing and rebuild their lives.

Beyond Shelter is immediately placing each family into emergency housing outside skid row while seeking permanent and affordable housing in residential neighborhoods throughout the county. Once in permanent housing, families are assisted with jobs, child care and other resources.

Rather than be criticized for efforts that may also find those few children who are truly in danger of parental abuse, this collaborative effort to help 500 families with children move back into neighborhoods and communities should be considered the right thing to do.

TANYA TULL

President and chief executive, Beyond Shelter

Los Angeles