In 2008, there were an estimated 6,228 people jumping from place to place, living below the poverty level. There are between 1,033 and 1,318 people experiencing homelessness in Lewiston-Auburn each year; 2 percent of the cities’ combined population.

There is a need for more emergency shelter beds in Lewiston-Auburn. Hope Haven, one of the existing shelters, has too many religious restrictions and St. Martin, also an existing shelter, is good but requires a referral and there are not enough beds.

A new shelter needs to be built that would serve to get women off the streets at night. Lewiston-Auburn city officials say that there is no funding for such a thing, yet they continue to find funds for parking garages that pop up like chicken pox downtown. If they can find funding for more parking, they can find funding for shelter for the people.

The Maine Housing Authority provides funding for many existing shelters, but according to city reports, there are still some 94-114 people on the street each night. Most funding for shelters comes from organizations such as the United Way, from fundraisers and donations.

While city plans outline the increased parking as a plan to revitalize the downtown area (an attempt to bring in more jobs), it is also important to take care of the people down on their luck at the moment.

We must take care of the needy before trudging on with business endeavors that could take years to bring any changes to the area.

Kelsey Danforth, Auburn