Mobility matters

I want to compliment reporter Kevin Graman for his outstanding article “One Stop at a Time” (May 3). He absolutely captured the essence of the problem that the homeless face when they come to Spokane: the need to network with the agencies, the need for immediate housing and schools and the need for transportation.

When I lived in Detroit in the early ’70s, GM had a program to hire the chronically unemployed with jobs in one of their factories. They had a lot of late workers. When they explored the problem it turned out to be transportation.

The inner city Detroit residents had no reliable bus system. Many had to hitchhike to the suburban plant. When GM provided a van pool for the workers, absenteeism fell dramatically.

I have volunteered with Interfaith Hospitality for over eight years. I have seen this problem many times. I was pleased that this story was on the front page of the Spokesman.

The city and state have made homelessness a priority, and your article was a fine example of the people making a difference. I am proud that Interfaith has a big part in that solution.

Joe Kramarz

Board president, Interfaith Hospitality of Spokane

Spokane