Anti-Homeless Action Causes Shame, Dismay

I am corresponding to praise the uplifting and enlightening article by Elizabeth Venant about Bob Reid, who went to work as director of the Sunshine Mission, a homeless shelter for women in South Central Los Angeles, after giving up a lucrative profession as a real estate broker (“Mr. Fix-It,” June 12).

I find his generous and meticulous dedication most admirable, especially in view of the fact that most of his peers would deem the clientele of the mission lost causes. Too few people try to understand that the disheveled masses on our streets are real human beings with real families who are trying to cope with surviving in an increasingly hostile environment. Still fewer attempt to help them.

This was acutely brought home here in Santa Barbara recently. Santa Barbara is so concerned with its image that it recently passed the most stringent anti-homeless law in the country. This was done much to the chagrin of many upright citizens. I for one was ashamed and dismayed by the lack of humanity exhibited by this fair city. (Since Santa Barbara is a tourist town, “having hordes of motley looking deadbeats populating the streets, is bad for the tourist industry.” So voted the City Council recently.)

Only the people who are homeless really know what it is like, let alone how they got that way. Reid dramatically brought this point home by raising the funds for the Sunshine Mission. I trust more people will take a moment to contemplate their good fortune in having a comfortable home, and take a moment to have enough compassion to help those less fortunate than themselves.

ANDREW SETH LEVINE

Santa Barbara