Like the editor, I too, listened to Sen. McGuire’s Town Hall on Homelessness. I, too, am deeply troubled to see the many homeless persons in our community. I, too, as a taxpayer want government funds be used efficiently and wisely. I, too, want tourists to enjoy coming here.The difference, Mr. Schmidt, is that I and like-minded individuals are working in compassionate and creative ways to address the complex problem of homelessness here.Weekly, a team of volunteers comprised of homeless persons, join with our courageous Director of Del Norte Mission Possible and collect anywhere from 4,000 to 9,000 pounds of garbage! Our Solid Waste Management is impressed and supports us.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Also, our director’s office is on-site at our transitional home for women. We have helped a number of homeless women over the past couple years as they transition off of drugs, get mental health treatment, and assist them to get jobs. They are active in their recovery, participate in meetings daily, and have roles of responsibility for chores, food preparation, and tending the garden.Mission Possible works with the Senior Center’s Mobile Shower Unit that goes weekly to two different locations in the County to provide showers, clean clothing, fresh coffee and water, and the basic essentials to live outdoors. Most importantly, we offer hospitality, dignity, and respect.Recently, our local hospital contacts our Director when an unhoused person is being discharged. Instead of being returned to the streets or living in their cars, she works to secure temporary housing to protect them from the elements, heal, and find permanent housing.Our director specializes in “Relationship-Based Case Management” which along with other services will be outlined in future articles.Please stay tuned, Mr. Schmidt, and those who want to contribute to the solution, and not the problem.Elli M. KimbauerCrescent CityI am listening, and I appreciate your comments, insights and good works. Your community-based program is precisely the answer, not an ever-expanding government bureaucracy that loses touch with the individuals it has been funded to serve.- Dan Schmidt googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });