Union Rescue Mission and Homeless Aid

* After reading the introduction and interview with Warren Currie, president of the Union Rescue Mission (Opinion, Oct. 5), one could easily walk away with the impression that there are only two ways to assist the homeless in our community: the government’s institutional approach or religious-based programs. This ignores the numerous successful non-ecumenical and nongovernmental organizations that assist homeless families and individuals throughout L.A. County.

I am currently the executive director of Beyond Shelter, a private, nonprofit, non-ecumenical, nongovernmental agency that helps homeless families to move into and to stabilize in permanent housing throughout L.A. County. Beyond Shelter was founded in 1988 to provide the next step for families in the emergency shelter system. Since its inception, through the coordinated efforts of many agencies, more than 1,000 primarily single-parent homeless families with children have been relocated to permanent housing, with over 85% successfully stabilizing within one year.

The religious community plays a significant role in the provision of services to homeless people. However, we are all working toward the same end: to house homeless families and individuals and help them to rebuild their lives.

TANYA TULL

Los Angeles

* Whatever his spiritual beliefs, you have to admire Currie for trying to help the homeless. However, when asked what percentage of his clients are mentally ill, he responds 30%. He goes on to say that he does not have program services for the mentally ill and tries to do referrals. This seems to me to be woefully inadequate.

Clean clothes, hot food, hot showers and drug and spiritual counseling may help fight addiction. However, if there is an underlying mental illness such as schizophrenia, manic depression or clinical depression, then this is a medical problem that requires medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. Without this medical treatment, the homeless mentally ill will most certainly fall back into the abyss.

FRANK C. BARON

Los Angeles

* I would like to correct a statement that appeared in your interview. We do receive food commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, by way of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. These food products are used to prepare meals that are served on-site to our program residents, those who are awaiting entry into the program and our transient guests. These products are not distributed by our mission to any other shelter or entity, as doing so would violate our participation in the food bank’s Soup Kitchen Program. We do share designated donated resources with smaller shelters and programs.

ROSANA A. TORRES

Food Service Director

Union Rescue Mission