I am writing in response to a letter published Sept. 18 regarding possible infectious disease risks associated with community shelters (“Shelter concerns,” PDN).
The letter writer references an article published earlier (“Sequim Lutheran Church Exploring Homeless Shelter Options,” PDN, July 19).
The diseases listed by the letter writer may not be of significant concern.
Tuberculosis can be a risk for folks who live in crowded conditions and/or who are immunosuppressed.
It is not a highly communicable infection in the wider community.
HIV and Hepatitis B transmission each requires sexual contact or intravenous blood contact.
All community members should be immunized against Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C requires intravenous blood contact.
Spread of influenza is reduced by communitywide immunization.
I do not believe that shelters are required to screen for chronic diseases.
Certainly if a client appears acutely ill, access to medical treatment should be facilitated.
Dungeness Valley Lutheran is considering a compassionate response to the serious problem of homelessness.
I support their process of discernment to follow Jesus’ mandate to love our neighbors.
He never said that it would be easy.
Additionally, we should all work to change societal factors that lead to and perpetuate homelessness.
These include lack of affordable housing, inadequate addiction treatment and mental health services, inadequate education and job training, a fragmented health care system, income inequality, a regressive state tax structure and threats to federal social supports.
Elizabeth Christian,
Port Angeles