I am writing in response to the article titled “Housing Crunch in PA,” published in the Peninsula Daily News on Aug. 24, front-page coverage.
I was recently touched by a young girl holding a sign at 9:30 p.m. at the street corner adjacent to the Port Angeles Walmart parking lot.
As a citizen desiring to help, here are some concerns:
1. There is a safety issue regarding helping those holding signs at street corners.
No longer are you focused on driving but rather shifting your vehicle into park, reaching for your wallet, pulling out the amount you are willing to donate, rolling down your window on the passenger side, handing money to someone, rolling up the window and maneuvering back to the driver seat, putting your vehicle back in gear before you are ready to drive again.
Often you are holding up traffic, which is weighing on your mind, keeping you stressed and less focused.
2. Willing to make a donation, you want to see it go where it is needed most.
Are there trusted agencies that scrutinize applications of homeless people requesting relief?
If so, it would be helpful to have information regarding the agencies such as the services they provide, criteria for the homeless to receive benefits and where donations could be hand-delivered or mailed.
Thank you for your consideration to this important matter that has been weighing on my mind.
Obviously, the Peninsula Daily News is concerned over this issue because it received front-page coverage.
Nancy Butler,
Neah Bay