Homelessness

Today, the task force staff is small, relying on the help of residents in our shelter and volunteers like myself and hundreds of others. However, our "return on investment" is a quantum leap over the partnership the city has with the United Way/Gateway Center that has spent more than $30 million over the past few years with limited results.

On the issues of rules, the task force does meet homeless people where they are and tries to find out what makes their heart sing. Ours is a humanist approach that yields tremendous results. Counter this with Debbie Starnes and the city's heavy-handed, rigid and expensive approach, which profiles and tracks homeless people, gives them three chances to get services and then they're out, and tries to lower homeless statistics by changing the definition of who is actually homeless. This approach hasn't worked and begs the questions what happens after homeless people use up their three chances?

Finally, your article implies that there are other local shelters that can assist 700 homeless people if the task force shelter closes. That simply is not true. Starnes and the city have been consistent cutting back shelters, driving up the numbers at the task force shelter. Then they methodically disrupt our funding and then have the audacity to claim we are not doing enough.

Bob Cramer

Board chairman, Task Force for the Homeless

Task force results apparent every day

Your recent cover story on the Peachtree/Pine shelter was one of the most distorted pieces of journalism I have seen in years.

Homelessness is caused by four, roughly equal, factors: economic crisis (loss of a job); breakup of "family units" (when one leaves, the other can't pay all of the rent); mental illness; and substance abuse.

In Atlanta, all four of these causes are aggravated by the demolition of very low income public (or subsidized) housing; the lack of an adequate, year-round, homeless shelter system; and a shameful lack of state-funded substance abuse and mental-illness programs and treatment facilities.

As a result of our unwillingness to care for the homeless in Atlanta, they die on the streets at the rate of not quite one death every seven days.

Your headline states that the "Shelter's lack of results is its undoing."

The facts don't support that statement. Up to 700 people a day in the winter months are served at Peachtree/Pine. Who else does that? If the task force did not shelter the homeless, the homeless death rate in Atlanta would double —- to one death every three days —- or 100 to 120 deaths per year!

No other homeless organization has helped more homeless persons per day and per hour than the task force —- because it is the emergency overflow shelter for a completely inadequate homeless shelter system; an inadequate health and mental health system; and the lack of adequate very low income housing production.

The task force does need to make improvements to its program operations —- but this will take more money, not less.

D. Scott Carlson

City of Atlanta housing commissioner, 1990-94

Heck, yes! Varsity a worthy symbol

Yes, the Varsity should be the image of America ("Should Varsity be image of America?" Letter, @issue, April 26). It stands for the wonderful times I had as a child with my parents on many family outings. It stands for the wonderful times I, and my father before me, had with our fellow Georgia Tech students. It brings back many happy memories of simpler times for scores of Atlantans. It remains today as it has for over 80 years, a symbol of all that is good in this country.

As with anything, moderation is the key. No one suggests that anyone's diet consist chiefly of hamburgers, hot dogs and onion rings. But to suggest that the very institutions that make us "American" are somehow to blame for personal overindulgence is to disregard personal responsibility. Let common sense prevail so that we all may continue to enjoy treasures like the Varsity. Thanks to the Gordy family, excellent custodians of our favorite hometown restaurant. The Varsity is an enduring symbol of life, liberty, and the pursuit of grease. Long may she wave.

Julie Randall Duluth

Obama's recklessness will be known

I agree with Jay Bookman in that it is way too early to go into an all-out attack mode on President Obama's policies ("Slowly, green shoots of optimism appear," @issue, April 27). There will be ample time for that later. So for now, Obama (and Bookman) can bask in the warm light of incognizance from his "followers."

Yes, Obama is doing exactly the same thing as FDR. The big difference is that, hopefully, Obama will not luck out and have another world war to actually bring the economy out of the mess it is in now and the worse mess caused by his reckless spending.

In two years or so we will all feel the economic sting of his stimulus package. The pain will be so severe that only the neo-racists who can't see past the color of his skin will be able to ignore it —- seeing that Obama has made Jimmy Carter look like an economic genius.

This is not a difficult projection to make: you can't borrow yourself out of debt, and you cannot spend yourself into prosperity.

Len Cayce Suwanee

Bad examples keep bullying going

At a 50th class reunion, a woman walks up to a group of women, and shortly after, another woman walks up alongside of her and asks, "Did you ever get to college? I was hoping you did; you were always so quiet in school." From the crowd a voice loudly says, "That's not the way I remember it!" The first woman walks away sadly—-and asks herself, "After 50 years?"

A young woman is late for her appointment. In the car ahead is a gray-haired woman who is frightened by the tailgating going on. As the younger woman passes, she gives the older one that famous salute —- not once, but twice. And the older woman relaxes —- then flashes the tailgater by, with one hand in the air.

A child in a car hears his dad calling another driver names because he won't get out of the way.

If adults think it is all right to bully—-how can we teach the young not to bully?

Madeline G. Korff Canton

Parents must guide kids' behavior

The first image I saw of Jaheem Herrera, I thought, "He looks like he could be my son." My heart broke when I read he had taken his own life. This should not have happened. He should be among the living, doing things that 11-year-olds like to do.

He was a beautiful kid and his perceived sexuality should not have mattered to anyone. I'm standing up to say, "Shame on any adult that tolerates bullying. Shame on any kid who thinks it is cool to bully. Power to every kid who figures out they are fine just the way they are."

This morning, a friend said, "That kid looks like you." Overwhelmed with emotion, I replied, "I could have been that kid."

Good parenting includes knowing your child's personality. If you suspect your child is a bully, it is your responsibility to make them understand their behavior is unacceptable.

Michael Whaley Alpharetta

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