opinion: Homelessness needs better understanding, self-sufficiency to end problem

But in focusing on the few that have been housed by the MSHDA program, we are overlooking the needs of 40 residents who were disqualified and now have no place to go. We are also overlooking the needs of those who are still being turned away by the Delonis Center which is always full. The MSHDA program is attempting to house just 35 of 70 campers who were residents at the Wagner Road community at a cost of over $350,000 to the Michigan taxpayers. It costs $750 per month plus utilities to house just 1 camper per month or $11,500 per year. Is this a good use of taxpayer money? Camp Take Notice houses over 250 campers per year for less than $20,000 and this money comes directly from church donors, not taxpayers. Those who support the MSHDA program say that homelessness "ends with a house." This is simply not true. Those who are familiar with the complexities of chronic homelessness know that homelessness ends with self-sufficiency. Housing the homeless for just one year will not provide the homeless with the skills they need to be truly self-sufficient. Without teaching those skills, we are only putting homelessness behind closed doors, and at a huge cost to the American taxpayers. With tremendous effort, It has taken six weeks to house just 17 campers and in the meantime, a vibrant and self-sufficient community has been destroyed. And with the shelters full, people in need are being turned out into the streets. The members of MISSION and their church supporters are addressing a real humanitarian crisis. We urge everyone who shares our concern to contact us directly at www.tentcitymichigan.org. Brian Durrance

MISSION