Letter: Re-open shelters for homeless

Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | 8:41 a.m.

I am thankful for Mike O'Callaghan's July 25 column on the homeless.

When some service providers dismiss shelter from the record heat as "warehousing," they are doing a disservice. Now that the rainy season is upon us, the homeless who used have safe overnight shelter will be exposed to the elements.

To those on the streets, Las Vegas has become harsher and meaner. Thank God many citizens give freely in small ways to help the homeless now without shelter. A few larger service providers are keeping their doors open, but pressure is mounting on them as other large service providers have closed their doors.

My prayer continues to be for an increase in compassion for the poor and homeless who are suffering in our midst. My loud shout is: Re-open now the shelters that have been chained and padlocked!"

DAVID BUER, OFM

Editor's note: David Buer is a Franciscan brother and director of Poverello House in West Las Vegas, a daytime house of hospitality for the homeless.