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April 10, 2012

Letter: Shelter's closing a disservice to clients, community

To the editor:

Here we go again (Beverly shelter will close temporarily," Saturday, March 21)!

The powers to be at NSCAP (North Shore Community Action Programs) have conveniently transferred control of River House to Harborlight Community Partners in order to avoid the responsibility of running the shelter.

Not that they did an adequate job anyway, but the way they decided to do it should be in question.

In the last two years, they announced the possible closing right after a fundraiser for River House, which I'm sure had a direct, negative effect on subsequent efforts to raise money. Harborlight came in and without any concern or any communication whatsoever with the shelter's clients, decided that the best option for them was to close the shelter from April 30 until Oct. 15 because of the lack of funds. Why would they agree to take over the operations if they don't have the funds to operate it?

This puts the clients of the shelter in an unfair and humiliating position. The men of River House are there because they have no other place to go. Open the wounds and rub the salt in!

Beverly and the surrounding towns should prepare themselves for the onslaught of an additional 30 or so men roaming their streets and finding wherever they may to sleep, not to mention the other natural things they must do on a daily basis.

Harborlight is taking away the only home and security these men know without seeing for themselves their needs and without offering any help whatsoever.

Doug Howland

Case Manager

River House

Beverly

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