I’m writing regarding a Sequim church exploring plans to start a homeless shelter (“Sequim Lutheran church exploring homeless shelter options,” PDN, July 19).
According to recent reports by the Center of Disease Control and National Institute of Health, exponentially higher rates of eight contagious diseases are found in homeless shelters than in the general U.S. population.
Active tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C, pneumonia, influenza, scabies and lice are the most prevalent diseases found, according to these government agencies. Medical screening prior to admittance to the shelter, full compliance with treatments and medications prescribed, no needle sharing, and daily laundering of shelter bedding can decrease the spread of these diseases.
These diseases put not only those inside the shelter at risk but also their families as well as all those people they come in contact with in the community.
Children and their teachers and other employees in our schools are particularly vulnerable.
Starting a homeless shelter is a complex task and decreasing the possibility of potential contagious diseases should be addressed.
Barbara Paschal,
Sequim