Homeless Shelter

Re “Dispute Over Homeless Heats Up With Goldberg’s Support of Center,” Sept. 6: Hollywood residents are outraged at plans to place a homeless shelter in their neighborhood. The concern is that it would tarnish Hollywood’s image and attract more homeless into the area.

The reality is that the problem of homelessness in Hollywood is not going to disappear tomorrow. The proposed shelter plans to offer job training, counseling and housing referrals. All these elements are important in helping the homeless population. However, the most important element--rehabilitation--is missing. A program effective in helping the homeless must incorporate rehabilitation.

At the Los Angeles Mission, we’ve learned that effective long-term rehabilitation programs need to include one-on-one counseling, spiritual instruction, literacy programs and job training. That’s how we’ve helped thousands of men and women pick up the pieces of their lives and start over.

A program that helps get the homeless off the streets and back into the work force would be beneficial to both area residents and the homeless and would polish, not tarnish, Hollywood’s image.

MIKE EDWARDS, Exec. Director

Los Angeles Mission