How to respond to homeless crisis

Re “Our shared affliction,” editorial, Dec. 25

Thank you for underscoring that Los Angeles County’s homeless crisis is a “shared affliction.” As we in Santa Monica know well, neither the problem nor its solutions are confined to skid row.

Angelenos should cheer the many recent positive steps that we have seen. But our progress must be measured against a staggering statistic: More than one in 10 of our nation’s homeless reside in Los Angeles County. For lasting results, the scale of response will have to exponentially increase, and every community must do its fair share. Political and community leaders of every stripe have got to muster the will to summon the business, faith and neighborhood communities to joint and lasting action.

RICHARD BLOOM

Mayor

Santa Monica