ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990                   TAG: 9003222540
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

OBSTRUCTING COUNT OF THE HOMELESS

YOUR MARCH 9 edition reported that David Hayden would defy the census of the homeless; that his Justice House ministry in Roanoke would be closed to the census workers; and that the formerly homeless residents of the Justice House apartments would not cooperate with the count on the night of March 20-21 because they believed "a gross undercount" is inevitable.

This is the first time that an official count of the homeless has been attempted, and extensive plans have been made by the Census Bureau. The liberal extremists opposed this program because they fear that their estimate of 3 million homelesss will prove to be a gross exaggeration. It is reassuring to note that other prominent social organizations such as RAM House and the City Rescue Mission did not share Hayden's viewpoint.

It seems to me that Hayden would want to lend his support to the plan to count the homeless and to encourage the homeless to stand up and be counted. Some of his unemployed followers might even be eligible and qualified for employment by the Census Bureau.

ROGER S. ELMORE\ ROANOKE 


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