Doing what they can to help the homeless

Re “Our city, our duty,” editorial, March 5

The Times has hit the nail on the head. The homeless situation in Los Angeles is deplorable and unacceptable. We are worst in the nation, yet if you ask most people what the biggest problems in Los Angeles are, they will likely put traffic, crime and overdevelopment at the top of their lists.

The citizens of this city need to understand that our current crisis in homelessness is not caused by homeless people. The homeless crisis is caused by affluent people who have homes, jobs, cars and political clout. The crisis is caused by all of us who have not put the necessary effort into creating a system that effectively deals with the despair of homelessness.

Until we wake up and make homelessness a priority issue, we will remain worst in the nation.

ROBERT T. DALTON

Los Angeles

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We agree that homelessness is a serious issue and will only be solved by a comprehensive solution and the dedicated attention of elected officials and others. But your editorial does not accurately represent litigation filed by the ACLU of Southern California.

In 2003, we filed suit over concerns that police officers were stopping homeless people without probable cause and harassing them about their parole status. A federal judge agreed that police officers were unfairly targeting the homeless, and the practice has changed. Additionally, in Los Angeles County, there are no shelter beds for more than half of the 88,000 people without homes. Arresting people for simply sleeping on the street when there is nowhere else to go is not a solution. If anything, this signals that the situation is so dire we can’t wait any longer to address it.

RAMONA RIPSTON

Executive Director, ACLU of

Southern California

Los Angeles

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While I agree with much of your editorial, I strongly disagree with your categorization of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority as a failure. Despite having limited funds, the agency, with its small administrative staff, has achieved significant successes. In 2005, it wrote a 3,000-page application for federal funds that earned Los Angeles its largest federal grant ever to combat homelessness -- $60 million. It also conducted the 2005 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count that produced the clearest picture yet of how many are homeless, where they “reside” and why they are homeless.

LAHSA oversees private agencies that combat homelessness. In the last year, thousands of individuals received aid of one type or another. While the need is much greater, I am proud of the agency’s role in serving so many. In reforming homeless programs and agencies, we should build on what is already working by strengthening agencies such as LAHSA so Los Angeles can better combat homelessness.

OWEN NEWCOMER

Chair, Los Angeles Homeless

Services Commission

Los Angeles