Robert Sample: Providing food, shelter to poor deprives them of incentive
As we attempt to draw visitors to Modesto, what will they see here? Well, for starters how about lots and lots of homeless people. Our parks with bikes and homemade trailers filled with junk or bottles and cans with people sleeping on the grass or benches. Drive around town and you will find them just about everywhere. That is certainly reason to come to Modesto.
I am a firm believer in helping the poor, but not self-made-poor drug addicts, drunks and hookers. How do you help a person improve their lives when you provide cell phones, free food, free medical assistance, clothes and, if they are willing to be introduced to God, free shelter? Does this really help this person better their lot, or merely make doing nothing an attractive way of life? Why change when you can do whatever you wish, including nothing, with someone else paying the bill?
Robert Sample, Modesto
This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Robert Sample: Providing food, shelter to poor deprives them of incentive."