Letter to the editor: Commissioners must help most vulnerable

Many Westmoreland County families have suffered job loss, reduced hours, covid infection and loss of loved ones over the past two years. The America Rescue Plan (ARP) allocates over $1 million to help relieve countywide covid- related traumas. County Commissioners Sean Kertes, Gina Cerilli Thrasher and Doug Chew have a moral imperative to direct a portion of this money to help their most vulnerable constituents, especially those facing eviction or struggling to provide food and/or medicine for themselves and their families.

County commissioners are sitting on these funds, which were eligible for distribution months ago.

There is also a serious need for additional emergency housing in the county. While bordering counties with populations similar to ours have emergency bed capacities ranging from 200 to 600 beds, we are limited to a mere 69 beds to serve domestic violence victims, the homeless, patients suffering from severe mental illness and troubled juveniles. Due to limited capacity, stays are limited to 30 days and waiting lists for Section 8 housing are 10 years. Do they even care?

These needs must be a priority. The commissioners must do the right thing.

Susan Witt

Greensburg