Yes, Kathy, It is so sad to see the homeless, and know that a good portion of them have some form of untreated mental illness, with the second being some type of addiction.

I volunteer sometimes at a homeless shelter that an area church runs during the winter months. We open the doors at 8:00 P.M, and do not allow anyone in who smells of alcohol or is suspected to be under the influence. We are able then to call the local county jail and they will put the person up there, but only for a certain # of times during the season.

It is so sad to listen to their stories, or observe them in the midsts of a mild psychotic break. It is sad that people feel comfortable looking away.

I do feel that the "professional" panhandlers downtown give the homeless a bad name. People have a hard time separating the two, especially after the local TV news show did a report that a majority of our panhandlers have homes in the area.

Take care Kathy