Let’s Not Turn Away

To the Editor:

I am a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Religious Communities (ARC) in Danbury. ARC provides housing advocacy services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the greater Danbury area.

The governor recently announced her proposed budget “rescissions,” a/k/a cuts, to close the budget gap. Included in this is a proposed $2 million cut to the Department of Social Services, including a 25 percent cut to housing and homeless services.

People that experience homelessness often have a history of domestic violence, mental health issues, and different disabilities. Cutting funding to programs that support our homeless population also cuts services to our most vulnerable citizens — at a time when our most vulnerable citizens are most in need of extra support.

Outside the temperatures are nearing the single digits. Let’s not turn away our most vulnerable in these cold economic times.

Very sincerely,

James K .Maurer

66 Osborne Hill Road, Sandy Hook                      December 15, 2009