THE ROOT OF HOMELESSNESS

Re: Tough love for today's hard cases (B.C. Views, Dec. 24).

I compliment you for your article. For the past two years I have
volunteered at St. Joseph's church in Langley and as a result I have
developed a greater sensitivity and understanding for some of the
homeless. One of the obvious facts that I have learned from the homeless
individuals is that about 90 per cent of the reason for their problems is
drug addiction.

It is unfortunate that government and others don't address the root cause
of this problem and that is drug dealers of all kinds.

I believe the criminal justice system should impose longer and harder
sentences for these dealers who are profiting from human weakness. It
seems that the system is putting the wrong people in prison.

Doc Street

Langley