I know firsthand: Being homeless in KC isn’t always about mental illness or addiction | Opinion

Barely surviving

It seems there’s lots of money for a new baseball stadium (which Kansas City doesn’t really need) and lots more for politics, entertainment and sports — but no money to help poor and homeless people get off the streets and out of this terrible heat. This shows a lack of goodness and humanity.

I am an advocate, as someone who used to be homeless — but no longer. I’ve never had any addictions in my life. I don’t even smoke.

There are not enough shelters for all the people who need them, and they turn people out during the daytime. There needs to be a day shelter that’s open seven days a week from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., even on holidays — somewhere to get out of the terrible weather, both in summer and winter.

The media barely even report on homeless people in this hot weather. They mention pets but not the homeless. I guess they think unhoused people are beneath pets.

These are human beings, not animals. You can’t work while living outside. You barely survive, and not all homeless people have mental illness or addictions. For many, it’s a financial problem and nothing else. Society should have a softer heart.

- Kathy Opp, Kansas City

Empty mailbox

An open letter:

On numerous occasions this past year, the United States Postal Service has not delivered mail in my neighborhood. This past week, mail was delivered only three of six days.

I live in the Blue Valley Post Office district. I have contacted the offices of Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, and Rep. Sharice Davids to no avail.

The regular delivery of mail is important to me, but I’m at a loss as to what further I can do.

- C. Roger Denesia, Overland Park

Families in need

My heart breaks for foster kids in Kansas, and anywhere. The Kansas Department for Children and Families and its contractors need to improve. But they can’t do it alone.

We need to raise better parents. And we need more caring foster homes. And free access to birth control.

The number of children in foster care is a social problem, not a situation a government agency can fix on its own.

- Penny Zadeh, Overland Park

Eagles rematch

As we fast approach the start of another NFL season, and after six months of intense therapy, we Eagles fans are finally ready to leave behind the emotional letdown of the loss in Super Bowl LVII. Before we leave the agony of this Super Bowl loss to the annals of history, a few special thanks:

Tahoma 31, a Bermuda grass hybrid, makes up the turf of State Farm Stadium. No doubt Kansas Citians have seeded their lawns with nothing but that fine Tahoma 31 this spring and summer. Metropolitan Philadelphia has ripped out every blade of Bermuda grass. I’m pretty sure my historic Pennsylvania lawn never had any of the Bermuda stuff. I can promise you, it sure doesn’t now.

The officiating: No, I’m not going to blame the referees for this loss. But really, a call like that in the last two minutes of the biggest game?

Really, I’m not bitter (my therapist says that it isn’t productive).

The Eagles and Chiefs will meet Nov. 20, and hopefully in the big game.

This time, we’ll bring better cleats.

- Michael Thomas Leibrandt, Abington, Pennsylvania

Stadium timetable

Jackson County Executive Frank White can’t get a jail going. (Aug. 23, 1A, “City Council member: Jail delay could mean spending too much”) How is a new stadium in downtown Kansas City going to be built in this decade?

- Mike Reiter, Kansas City