I read the article “City urged to focus grants” (The Columbian, Dec. 17), which covered in detail the grants that the city had approved to address homelessness and the many proposals that asked for funding: “Currently, the city has about 200 year-round beds for people experiencing homelessness, plus about 100 during the winter in faith-based warming shelters.” These warming shelters are known as the WHO program. The grants said that one of the WHO shelters would get funds for six new beds and allow the shelter’s service to increase from five months to 12 months. Another grant application submitted by WHO would have funded renovation of another WHO shelter and was denied.
It is my view that the WHO program has proven to be a success thanks to area churches stepping up and providing the volunteer staff needed to man the locations. This program is deserving of more funding. I would like to see an organized effort done to find the funding needed to give this program permanent and stable funding from private donors and foundations.
