I am writing in response to an article quoting the Rev. Milly Morrow of Grace Episcopal Church [“Not on My Sidewalk: Neighborhood Backlash Derails North Asheville Emergency Shelter,” Nov. 8, Xpress]. Rev. Morrow explained that Safe Shelter for our unhoused population will not be located at Grace Episcopal due to strong backlash from North Asheville residents. I am disappointed and disillusioned.
I grew up in Asheville and always thought that North Asheville was one of the nicest parts of town. I wonder, though, how “nice” we are if we allow people in crisis to live on the street and refuse to give them shelter.
I am disappointed and disillusioned.
— Ellen Fluharty Howe Asheville
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One thought on “Letter: Disillusioned by shelter backlash”
BEE
It is one thing to be “nice” and another to simply allow a portion of the population to shirk their personal responsibility to take care of themselves and their offspring. We all have choices to make in life and personal choices have personal consequences. We need to start holding people accountable for their personal choices, otherwise we are simply enabling them to continue to make poor choices which makes life more difficult for everyone who is affected by them. This is the difference between towns who don’t have a homeless problem and towns like Asheville.
It is one thing to be “nice” and another to simply allow a portion of the population to shirk their personal responsibility to take care of themselves and their offspring. We all have choices to make in life and personal choices have personal consequences. We need to start holding people accountable for their personal choices, otherwise we are simply enabling them to continue to make poor choices which makes life more difficult for everyone who is affected by them. This is the difference between towns who don’t have a homeless problem and towns like Asheville.