Letters: 'Trail of Tears' goes on for homeless. Nan Whaley will do the job on gun safety.

Homeless need real solutions

The "Trail of Tears" for homeless residents of Columbus continues as city officials plan yet another clearing of a homeless camp – this one on the South Side (June 7 Dispatch.com article "Columbus plans to clear homeless camp near closed Heer Park on Far South Side").

More: Columbus plans to clear homeless camp near closed Heer Park on Far South Side

While the evicted residents of the Heer Park camp will not be lined up and marched many miles to a reservation, they will be forced to leave camp to go where? Other places in the city where they will become someone else’s NIMBY ("not in my back yard")? To another park or patch of woods where they will stay until eventually evicted again?

More: Annual census of homeless people offers insight into issue in Franklin County

The Dispatch reported many of the residents of Heer Park are victims of other homeless camp clearings. Interestingly, homeless camps – including even small clusters of a few people under bridges and other places, do become ad hoc “reservations” where the occupants have been forced to stay through many life circumstances that caused and continue to perpetuate the cycle of homelessness; one major factor being they are citizens of a metro area that prices many who are lower income or have a sudden financial crisis out of the market for decent, safe housing.

It’s time for real housing and community solutions for these residents of our community, and not more evictions and tears.

Eric Davies, Columbus

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Mike who? Vote for Nan Whaley

On June 5, the Dispatch reported ("DeWine holds big lead over Whaley

More: Nan who? Better known Mike DeWine has huge poll lead in Ohio governor's race over Whaley

Yes, Mike DeWine presents as a seemingly nice, older, white guy who means no harm.  However, please remember that Gov. DeWine never met a pro-gun bill he didn’t sign including the most recent version to not only allow concealed handguns but without even a license or training.

This after failing to deliver on a promise to Nan Whaley, former mayor of Dayton, and all Ohioans that he would pass common-sense gun safety laws after the Dayton mass shooting. 

More: Dayton Mom to DeWine: I stood there, cried and believed you. You've let us down on guns.

If you believe, as I do, that it is time to vote single-issue on gun safety (that is, in order to get something done, we have to vote for gun-safety politicians, period), then vote for his opponent, the aforementioned Nan Whaley.

Randal Morrison, Columbus

Reach out to help elderly

Thank you for the extensive June 7 article "Older Ohioans rationing food to survive need lawmaker's help." Though myself a Lutheran, and supportive of Lutheran Social Services work, I encourage contributions to any and all of the other groups at work to help hungry people in our community.

More: Older Ohioans are skipping meals. Lawmakers must help them age with dignity |Opinion

In addition to these charitable efforts, people can help by using their voice as citizens in advocating for state and federal government involvement. The editorial page article on hunger among older Americans did this and I heartily commend their concerns.

While personal, individual, and local group actions certainly help and should be supported, the impact of government programs like SNAP, school lunch programs, WIC, and Child Tax Credit benefits extend help to far more people, involving us in more comprehensive aid to our fellow citizens in need.

Write or call your state legislators, members of Congress, senators, and other government leaders to maintain and extend help to our most vulnerable neighbors. We will be a better and stronger community and nation as we reach out to help one another.

Pastor Glen Bengson (retired), Powell

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Homeless people need better solutions including housing