IN reply to D Melville's comments about the Arc Light hostel (February 5), I wish to make it clear that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's homeless directorate invited the authority to bid for capital funding towards a replacement hostel.
It has been agreed in principle that the grant be paid direct to the local authority which, in turn, will enable the council to attract housing association partners. This will create the advantage of being able to utilise their development skills and expertise and possibly enable us to access private and other finance to meet the additional costs of the new hostel.
Arc Light night shelter was set up four years ago in response to the growing number of individuals sleeping on York's streets - about 40 a night.
D Melville seems to be under the misapprehension that the people who use this facility are not local. Most are local and the few who are not are given help and support to return to their place of origin.
We have a duty of care to help those who are homeless in our society, both legally and morally. Unless we do so then all the good work which the writer refers to being done by the police and the council would be undone.
These are some of the most vulnerable members of our society often without family or friends. They deserve our help.
Coun Sue Sunderland,
Executive member for housing,
Farmlands Road,
Dringhouses, York.
Updated: 11:27 Thursday, February 12, 2004
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