EAST SHERMAN MOTELS: Don’t make assumptions about occupants

A recent letter to the editor regarding the “fleabag crack-house” motels on East Sherman isn’t totally wrong about them being a “blight” in our community — but it’s wrong to paint all their occupants in the same brush. Many people are being forced to live in these motels because they can’t find affordable housing. Many of them are seniors, single parents and disabled citizens unable to afford the high rents in this area. Should they freeze on the streets? Sleep in their car? The shelters are full and the waiting lists for low-income housing is year’s long. Many of them used to live in houses that were turned into vacation rentals.

By all means, let’s do everything we can to reduce crime and drug use in our community. But please don’t automatically assume that everyone utilizing those resources are drug addicts, sex offenders or criminals. It could just as easily be someone like your neighbor or grandparent that fell on hard times and has nowhere else to go. It could just as easily be you or me one day.

REBECCA MERRIGAN

Coeur d’Alene