To the Journal editor:

The Mining Journal recently ran a front-page article about the homeless population in Marquette.

Members of the community shared some legitimate concerns (hard drug use at their store fronts) and some alarming solutions (buying guns to deal with the homeless population). As a former volunteer and former board member for the Room at the Inn, the homeless shelter on Washington Street, I have some observations.

First of all, no one ever woke up and said that they wanted to be homeless. The daily and nightly challenges one who is experiencing homelessness face are extraordinary and our society is not set up to deal with these challenges.

In Marquette we are blessed to have the RATI. For the record, it is a temporary, emergency shelter for men and women. The goal is to have the guests move on into housing of some sort in ninety days.

Due to the lack of affordable housing, or landlords willing to take a state voucher it can be nearly impossible. For those facing mental illness, substance abuse issues, or sexual trauma the difficulties in finding housing increase dramatically.

In my experience it has been difficult for the agencies who are equipped to treat these issues to do so as they are overwhelmed, underperforming, or disinterested.

RATI is not the place for those treatments to happen as that is neither its primary mission nor the training of the staff.

The executive director of the Room at the Inn must be very creative in finding funding to keep the 30 bed, two meals a day, seven day a week shelter in business. I believe there is little local government direct funding. Grants and donations are the lifeblood, though there are community resources in the way of policing and medical care that go to the population.

I can say that the vast majority of our community members who are experiencing homelessness are a pleasure to interact with and appreciative of the shelter, its employees, and the community at large. They are not to be feared, though they may look a little rough around the edges. Like all of us, they crave respect, acceptance, and temporary help. We can all give the first two and the social organizations, local, state, and federal government can provide the latter with the proper prioritization of funds.

Please take advantage of the Room at the Inn open house (today) from 4:30-7:00PM at 447 W. Washington Street. It will be an eye-opening experience.

BOB POTRZUSKI

Marquette