Call for Healing

The San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition reflects a broad spectrum of agencies who provide a variety of services assisting the homeless. These agencies-providers are the bridge between the haves--the housed--and the have-nots--the homeless. Every day the workers at these agencies experience directly the pain and losses of homeless men, women and children. They see the festering of the social wounds which remain untreated.

No longer can we, as these providers, ignore the underlying problem of lack of affordable housing. The working poor are left with a hard day’s labor and fewer affordable places to rent. We, as a society, must confront the consequences of years of social policy neglect, even hostility. We, as a society, must resolve to return to the public policy of encouraging and committing funds to fulfill the goal set in 1949 by Congress, by both liberals and conservatives, to afford every person the opportunity to live in safe, decent and affordable housing.

We call upon all Americans to wake up to the cries of the homeless and to return our leadership to committing resources to the basics of life, including shelter.

REV. HARRIOTT QUIN

North Hollywood

Quin is chairwoman of the San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition. The letter was co-signed by 13 other members of the coalition.