Our homeless problem
People living on the streets of downtown Miami is a problem for everyone — those who live on the street, those who attempt to serve them and those who live and work downtown. While I agree with Joe Cardona’s conclusion to welcome the Camillus mat program (Helping Miami’s homeless, July 10), two of his points rankle.
To say that dealing with the problem is about “making downtown more visually appealing to developers” dismisses the interests of those of us who live and work downtown every day as well as the interests of those for whom housing is not available.
And the “poop map” developed by the Downtown Development Authority demonstrates how severe the problem is for all of us including those whose only option is to use the street as a bathroom.
If we can’t afford to provide everyone who needs it the housing that Ron Book advocates, we should provide interim, cheaper options to get people off the street.
Carol Coletta, Miami
This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Our homeless problem."