Letter: Homeless deserve better treatment

Thursday, July 17, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.

The Bush administration, through the Housing and Urban Development agency, has attempted to formulate an honest program to address homelessness and to develop comprehensive programs to help the homeless help themselves.

Instead of following this compassionate and humane policy, the city of Las Vegas opted to use law enforcement, through selective enforcement of laws, and reduction of services, in a vain attempt to reduce the homeless population.

This policy dispersed the homeless to other neighborhoods or into the street. This increased costs and suffering instead of addressing the core problem of the homeless. Other regions in the country have developed programs with the help of the federal government that have led to progress in reducing crime and health problems.

Veterans, the mentally ill and families deserve better. With mentoring and outreach, they would be able to recover.

FRANK PERNA

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question