Homeless Center

Re “A Milestone at Haven for Homeless Women,” Oct. 31: Perhaps it was appropriate that on the 20th anniversary of the Downtown Women’s Center your article paid tribute to the vision and perseverance of founder Jill Halverson and to long-term resident Rose. Today, however, the center is more than a safe place for mentally ill women living on the street and 47 elderly, mentally ill residents.

It is a facility which, thanks to the vision and perseverance of Caroline McColl, the present director, deals effectively and compassionately with a very different and ever-growing number of younger homeless women--victims of domestic violence, drug abuse and drastic changes in the welfare system. While remaining true to its mission, the vitality of the center depends on an administration willing to change with the times to meet the new and different needs of homeless women of the ‘90s.

DOROTHY S. HUEBEL

Los Angeles