Not only has homelessness in Clark County skyrocketed 21 percent, it is “seniors, veterans, and families with children” who are hardest hit (“Clark County’s homeless numbers rise, report finds,” The Columbian, May 20). We can do something about this: calling or writing Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, and asking her to support a $5 billion increase to the Housing Choice Vouchers program (Section 8).
This is $1 billion to provide increases to maintain the current program and $4 billion to increase the funding to reach 340,000 more families. Currently, only 25 percent of those who qualify receive vouchers.
There are programs battling homelessness that are successful, like the program in New Orleans that houses homeless vets within 30 days and is at functional zero for vets (all housed except those refusing services). Replicating these programs and dealing with the underlying causes need to be a part of our conversation with those who represent us in Washington. It is time to deal with this issue, and our voices can be the catalyst to make it happen.
