We can all help the homeless

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IN RESPONSE to 'Requiem for a Street Lady' I must say that I was truly moved by this reader/writer's account of that homeless lady in New York. With all the terrible things that happened last week, I am almost sure that no-one or perhaps not many people stopped to think about the plight of those homeless people who had made their homes in the vicinity of the disaster.

I must say however to Ms. Cassells that though you may be having feelings of guilt about what you could or could not have done for that 'poor' lady, it is not entirely out of your hands. You and even all of us can still do something for a homeless person in and of our community and especially for those of our (Jamaican) Caribbean community.

Even though I live in New Jersey, I still felt panicked on Tuesday, September 11, because I too have relatives and friends living in and around New York. I too was going out of my mind wondering if my relatives and friends were okay. They may not all live or work in Manhattan, but they could have been there for some reason on that fateful morning. Thankfully, they are all okay ­ even though still shaken.

I tell you, you never truly miss home (Jam-down) until something bad happens.

I leave you all now with words of encouragement ­ "weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning." God Bless!

I am etc.,

NATALIE HOWELL

liljinx81@hotmail.com

Rowan University, Glassboro,

New Jersey

Via Go-Jamaica

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