I am writing in support of the proposed day shelter in the Riverside Neighborhood, managed by Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Mercy Watch (“Neighbors hear pitch to turn parish hall into daytime shelter,” The Herald, June 30).
I live in the neighborhood and have two children who attend neighborhood schools. My heart is sick and sad watching as neighborhood after neighborhood turns down proposals to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We are all concerned about unhoused people, but true concern and care for others means being willing to step up and do something about it. Until we provide people with places to get out of bad things, we are not going to see any meaningful change. As a community, we need to shift our thinking from an “I” mindset to a “we” mindset.
Until we begin seeing all people as equals and providing places of healing, even if it’s in our neighborhoods, problems will not get better, that means saying yes to a shelter in my neighborhood. I would rather my children learn empathy than fear, compassion than disregard.
As a society, we need to do a better job not only addressing the root causes of homelessness but caring for those in our midst. Until we are willing to live side-by-side with those who may not have not as many privileges in life as us, we cannot call ourselves genuinely loving.
It is not fair to put the problem off onto other neighborhoods. I also think recognizing addiction is not a problem with an easy or quick solution is important.
I would encourage others to support the shelter, not only here but in other neighborhoods as well, so we can all work together to care for others and create a better community.
Michelle Spivey
Everett
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