Empathy Versus Apathy

If we talk about the number of homeless people in the county, then do nothing about it, that’s not empathy, that’s apathy.

Especially when there is money in the unappropriated fund balance from dozens of empty positions in DSS, some of them open for almost 2 years.

If we took 20% of those empty DSS positions salaries for 1 year we could use the approximately $350,000 to find a building in Fulton or Oswego and make it functional for a Not for Profit to take it over and house Woman and their children that are homeless.

The children would have a more normal living environment compared to one of the hotels DSS puts them in, and it would be cheaper.

People in the community at times revert to NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) but they should keep in mind that there are many people in the county are 3 payments from homelessness. If they miss 3 rent payments or 3 mortgage payments, they could be homeless. It could happen to someone you love, and it already has to others loved ones.

Let’s treat people as we want to be treated and give some families a chance for their children to benefit from your empathy. Let’s find space for others less fortunate than we are.

Thank you

Jim Cannon, RN