Letter: Dickinson can find better way to spend $500,000

In Saturday’s edition of The Dickinson Press, I read with interest the article about Dickinson needing an animal shelter costing nearly $1.2 million.

Dickinson has only $500,000 in the city budget for this project. During the past three weeks I have personally visited with the professional staff at Stark County Social Services, Community Action, Salvation Army and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition, I attended a meeting of the Homeless Coalition held in Dickinson on Nov. 8. I learned from all these organizations that Dickinson has an overwhelming and severe problem addressing the needs of the hungry and the homeless.

According to the article, we have 20 homeless dogs in the shelter. From the information I have been able to gather we probably have that many or more homeless people here in Dickinson that need shelter.

I love animals too, but shouldn’t we be spending that $500,000 on trying to build a homeless shelter to take care of our brothers and sisters in need?

Dale Hansen, Dickinson

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