After reading your article "Homelessness Kills" plus "Community Spirit Lives On," and "Save Old Ballard Buildings" in the March 12 edition (of Ballard News-Tribune) along with an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Under The Needle: They Have Vehicles, But Nowhere To Go," we agree with you, that "we should do something."

These articles, almost all on the same day, in your paper and the P.I., direct us all into immediate action. They speak of a senseless murder, a spirit of community with compassion, a return to sustainability, and the plight of homeless people that are all connected and show us the way to help others in need.

If those two men, in that horrible altercation had a place to live, and some people trusting, caring, counseling, giving them a chance, would someone have had to die in Ballard two weeks ago?

In the article "Community Spirit Lives On," our community, even in the most difficult times "on the heels of war," back in the 50's, banded together and built a new hospital. Certainly those people, or their descendents have the same spirit, and can aid the people in crisis in our community by building a desperately needed homeless shelter.

In the next piece "Save Old Ballard Buildings," it's all fine and good to save a bowling alley, and a Denny's but surely someone, or a group of dedicated financiers, bankers, leaders can save an old building (a school?) for those most in need, and if we cannot afford a new facility, use an old one, and refurbish it with recycled - everything, and show Seattle and homeless people how we care, so there is no more violence in our town.

As a community, we could/should help homeless people develop their own (ownership brings responsibility) "green" (not unlike our new library) recycled structure, using: solar arrays for power, a green vegetable garden roof, a rain water catchment system, bike lockups, a passive solar hot water system, native landscaping with a P-Patch on the grounds for organic vegetables for their kitchen and a computer lab being ideal for Homeless People to assist them in getting new work. We suggest training Homeless People in the "Green Collar" sector that is on its way, and using their own facility as a training ground.

A shelter with clean showers, lockers, a kitchen, beds, laundry, a TV room - just the basics would encourage most to take another chance at life, and work towards stability. Of course, some will not make it, but statistics are proving that helping works better than chasing, and most will make it. Like you say in your article, "all our police can do is chase them from one location to another. Same with the county." It's time for our community to stop and think of an appropriate solution. Stop chasing and begin building a better future for our community and its people.

The next meeting of the Ballard Home-For-All Coalition will be April 16 at 1 p.m. in the Ballard Library or Resource Center, depending on attendance. You can find out more about this group through the Ballard Food Bank, 789-7800.

MaryLee "Glo" Smith

Jean Darsie

The Ballard

Home-For-All Coalition