I was wondering how I was going to respond to the “Letters to the Editor” regarding the homeless on Sherman. The criticism of Fresh Start Warming Center and St. Vincent de Paul, in my opinion, is a gross misunderstanding of the services they provide.

St. Vincent de Paul provides the only emergency overnight shelter in the area. They are able to house 30 or fewer individuals. Those individuals must be out of the shelter during the day hours.

Fresh Start is only open mornings and provides emergency breakfast and a mailing address for those who need it. They have clothing, a shower and washing machine.

Often we encourage those without adequate housing to seek emergency help in Spokane, rather than the other way around. I don’t think a homeless person from Spokane would find Coeur d’Alene a very good place to seek assistance for emergency shelter.

Sholeh Patrick’s column “Make them Visible” was a great insight to the problem of judging others as “they” and “us.” If we do not know who “they” are, what right do we have to judge “them?” If we ignore “them” and treat them with contempt, they react to “us.” Often with anger and inappropriate behavior. If we do not care about their feelings why should they care about ours?

Jesus had his lepers… Mother Teresa had her untouchables and Coeur d’Alene has its homeless hanging out on Sherman. How we treat “them” is a testimony to who we are as human beings.

I recommend a book by Ron Hall and Denver Moore: “Same Kind of Different as Me.” Thank you, Sholeh Patrick, for your kindness and compassion. It is much needed in our harsh world.

LILLIAN McSWAIN

Coeur d’Alene