Letters

Homelessness is a housing problem.

A recent article pointed out the good works of many religious organizations on the East End and their hosting of homeless men and women for sleep-overs on a rotating basis through the winter months [“As Shelter Season Ends, Maureen’s Haven Homeless Look Ahead With Uncertainty,” 27east.com, April 5].

My church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, has participated and helped host over the years, typically at Christ Episcopal Church in Sag Harbor.

During the times that I volunteered, setting up the dorm-style room, bringing food, serving food, welcoming the men, and breaking down the room, I couldn’t help but think about how difficult it was to be without a home. I also couldn’t help but think about how challenging it must be to be carted around in vans and cars to different places each night to sleep. A different place, different surroundings, different people, different food, different everything is disorienting. And, I wondered, where did they spend their days?

Homelessness is a housing problem.

Most of the men were polite and conversational, talking about local and world events as we sat at the tables eating and talking before “bedtime.” All of them have lives, a history and things they are proud of. Fathers, veterans, brothers, former teachers, sons and businessmen. Each has a story to tell, yet now feels invisible, their needs only cared about by a few good souls.

Knowing that this hosting program for these men ends at the end of March every year, I wonder where they sleep until the program starts up again next November. Our April and May days and nights can be cold and rainy, as they can in September and October. And where were the women? I was told there are more homeless men than women.

Homelessness is a housing problem.

Too many people see homeless people as being without shelter because of their own flaws. They think, maybe, they’re lazy, addicted, unable to “keep it together.” We treat them as being different from us — but they are us.

I think about all of the “shadow homeless” who are now couch-surfing and living in shared spaces, and how that number is growing as more homes get sold and torn down, replaced with luxury homes or Airbnbs.

Being without a home makes it hard to hold down a job, get mail and stay connected to the things needed to live the life that we all deserve.

We need more homes. For all of us.

Homelessness is a housing problem.

Michael Daly

East End YIMBY

Sag Harbor