Letter to the Editor: "Low barrier" shelter is dangerous for the neighborhood
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Your two September 20th articles about the proposed North King County Enhanced Shelter failed to mention a very important piece of information about the shelter. The terms of the grant that would fund the shelter require that it be "low barrier". "Low barrier" means that there would be no sobriety requirement and no background checks. So the shelter would be required to accept pedophiles, violent criminals, and active users of illegal drugs. This would be dangerous for the neighborhood, particularly for the children at the daycare center that is right next door to the proposed shelter site.
Over 1100 citizens have signed an on-line petition (http://chng.it/FSmJ8T2VZ5) opposing this low barrier shelter. I know of no one who opposes using this site for a homeless shelter. What we do oppose are rules that would prevent the shelter from excluding residents who would endanger the community.
Maggie Willson
Shoreline
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4 comments:
The most important factor in maintaining sobriety is stable housing. Many areas and countries have recognized this - a person has to be homed before they can address alcoholism, drug addiction, etc. Please neighbors! Give these people a chance. IF problems arise deal with them then.
I wonder how many of those 1100 citizens live in a low barrier house where pedophiles, violent criminals, and active users of illegal drugs can live. Should we have rules preventing such people from living in houses in Shoreline? Are we that elitist? What about basic human rights, and the desire to help other people.
I hate to break it to you Maggie, but you'll find pedophiles, violent criminals, and active users of illegal drugs in every neighborhood in Shoreline. Many live in very nice houses.
Unhoused people are our neighbors and part of our neighborhood. As this is good for them, it is good for our neighborhood.
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