WHAT IT TAKES TO GET ASSISTANCE

To the editor:

I have recently met with financial difficulties and asked our society
for help. What kind of country do we live in when you either have to
be in a drug/alcohol program, come from an abusive relationship or be
homeless to get emergency housing assistance?

I am a mother who has three children, who works and receives child
support. This puts me at the bottom of the emergency list.

I don't do drugs, have an alcohol problem, come from an abusive
relationship or am homeless, YET! What am I doing wrong?

Maybe I should do drugs, start drinking and go into an abusive
relationship. Will I get help then?

Come on, people, what is wrong with this picture? No wonder our
country is so messed up. Where are we headed? Something needs to change.

F. Arias
Paso Robles

Checked-by: Patrick Henry