Dear Editor,
There is no place like home and there is NO HOME without a place. As a citizen of Kingman, I am very proud that the Kingman City Council has proven many times their pledge to help the homeless get off the streets. This effort started years back and the City Council continues to steadfastly pursue the duality of that goal. First and foremost is their obvious concern for the welfare and wellbeing of any homeless person. The second concern is on behalf of the people to remove panhandlers from obstructing traffic and often aggressive behavior on the streets and entrances to business areas. At this point, the city has gone to the extent of modifying the public landscape in certain areas and easements to make it almost impossible to set up chairs and fly panhandling signs. The Council at the same time put out the word to the Kingman people suggesting they donate generously to local charities that feed and house the hungry and the homeless. These policies are humanitarian, practical, and well thought out.
This brings me to address an immediate concern I recently read about in the newspaper. For years, one of the most proactive Homeless Family resources in the city has been the Cornerstone Mission. I learned that the mission has served the hungry and the homeless 365 days a year via a live-in and walk-up policy. At noon daily trays of hot food have been made available for anyone near a small picnic table area, outside the building. Meanwhile inside the vetted enrolled residents are assigned beds and chores for an extended period. Every resident has been fully evaluated, given food and shelter, and required to participate in spiritual and mental health counseling and seek gainful employment. The Cornerstone Mission has literally saved thousands of lives over the years but now due to the tragic loss of Grant Funding the Mission is desperately seeking funds to remain open.
I am not sure what the instant or immediate operational status is as I write this letter however, I would like to recommend the Kingman Public engage in this Community Partnership to help feed and house the homeless also getting them off the streets. Please consider making your charitable donations to the Cornerstone Mission located at 3049 Sycamore, Kingman, AZ. They can be contacted at 928-757-1535.
Thank you for this consideration in keeping “A PLACE” the hungry and homeless can call home.
Elliot Chalew
Candidate Kingman City Council
