Skid Row Misery

I suggest that Jeff Dietrich (“In the Dumps With Human Discards,” Commentary, May 5) spend some time at these “fundamentalist missions” that he tends to denigrate. He writes that the missions “earn their keep--some rather nicely, by the way--by salvaging the shipwrecked lives caught on the shoals of Skid Row. . . .” That is precisely what we do.

Through our resident programs, homeless men and women can hear the Gospel, receive counseling, attend Alcoholics Anonymous and other support group meetings, and obtain vocational/educational training which is paid for by the mission. We currently sponsor 68 students just from our Main Street facility. These students cover the spectrum from those involved in literacy programs at The Times reading lab to those attending college.

We give people breathing room to ease their transition back into mainstream society. The people we minister to are not only fed, clothed, and housed, but continually offered the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves. We are often their last chance.

We offer a lot more, Mr. Dietrich, than “bread and coffee.” We offer more than “soup and salvation.” We offer a highway out of Skid Row.

PAUL CONTOIS

Education Coordinator

Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles