LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Homelessness is a problem across America. Recently, it was reported that 168,000 people were homeless on the West Coast. Nationally, homelessness according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the 2016 census ranges from 58 homeless per 100,000 in Mississippi to 437 per 100,000 in New York, with an average being about 125 per 100,000.
Looking at a map provided by the Center for Immigration Studies of sanctuary localities in America and comparing it with the homeless census, it becomes clear that sanctuary policies increase homelessness. Illegal aliens are drawn to sanctuary localities and compete with the educationally and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizens for the finite number of housing and jobs available.
Oregon, a sanctuary state, has the second highest rate of homelessness with 323 per 100,000, followed by California, a sanctuary state, in third with 301 per 100,000, and Washington, with Seattle and surrounding counties being sanctuary localities, in fifth with 286 per 100,000.
States and large metropolitan areas that adopt sanctuary status have more than double the average homeless populations compared to states that enforce federal immigration laws. It’s time we demand the rescinding of Oregon’s sanctuary status and put our most vulnerable citizens’ needs as a priority.
Gordon Challstrom
Medford