Skid Row Shelter Charges Fee

link to article

Excerpt from article:

"Two months ago, Union Rescue started charging $7 for an overnight stay, and cut its three free meals a day to one.
The move was driven by budget woes caused by the pinch of plummeting funding and soaring demand. But Andy Bales, the mission's chief executive, said he had been trying to institute fees for several years under a philosophy that homeless people should learn self-sufficiency. Faced with similar crunches, more shelters are taking that view.
"We've increased our sustainability, but we really think people are feeling better about themselves if they're not just taking handouts," Bales said."

I have mixed feelings about this. I know how desperate some of these people are. One time I dragged a guy out from underneath a car where he was sleeping.He had been using drugs for years. I called one of his relatives who wanted nothing to do with him. Finally, I ended up taking him down to the Union Rescue Mission as a last resort.He didn't have $7.

I do note that "Mothers with children do not have to pay and can eat all meals for free".

I wonder what you all think of this?