• Ed. note: This comment below in response to a story on the take-over of an Olympia hotel by homeless activists for their cause moved me to ask the writer for permission to post this as a Guest Entry. Used with permission.

• By Jan Sear:

My heart goes out to our ever growing homeless population.
In the late 1940’s, I lived at my Grandmother’s boarding house. ”Hobos” (as they were called then) sometimes did work for her in exchange for a meal.
In the 1960’s in Olympia a lovely angel of a woman owned a cafe surrounded with a rooming house. No one went without a meal and a bed if needed.
There is a huge number of reasons why there are so many homeless now. Many of these folks never thought it would happen to them and some like being part of a camping tribe. There’s addiction, mental illness, and many extenuating circumstances.
It is unfortunate that desperation or activism led to a group storming into our local Olympia hotel. Shutting down a business and spending tax money for arrests isn’t the best way to make change. The fact is, we must create much more low income housing! Our small tiny house project and a few of the benevolent churches are wonderful but barely scratch the surface.
What can be done? What must we do? What kind of a town do you want to live in?