Two weeks ago, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Chehalis held a courtesy meeting to inform their neighbors about its plan to offer safe overnight parking for women and children experiencing homelessness and living in their cars.
Unfortunately, what should have been a constructive conversation was derailed. Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope, along with his posse, appeared to attend not in good faith, but seemingly to disrupt and discredit the effort. And, conveniently, a Chronicle reporter just happened to be there to record the spectacle.
Following the meeting, Mr. Swope published an opinion piece and The Chronicle ran its own news article, both of which I believe cast aspersions on a faith community’s compassionate attempt to address a humanitarian crisis in our own backyard.
In his piece, Mr. Swope’s suggested that he was surprised women and children are living in their cars.
Sean Swope, where have you been?
The presence of homeless women with children in our community is not new. These are children enrolled in our local school districts — children sleeping in cars because they have nowhere else to go. As an elected official, your role is to lead, to listen and to act. Yet, your silence and inaction in this regard speak volumes about your failed leadership.
It is precisely this failure that has motivated volunteers in our local faith communities to step in. They are trying to provide a measure of safety, dignity and hope for these children where the system that you play a leadership role in has failed.
If you believe it is unacceptable for women and children to sleep in their cars, then do something about it. Offer solutions, not platitudes. Support those who are trying to help.
If you don’t like their plan, come up with a better one. Use your platform to uplift, not undermine.
This is not about politics. It’s about children. Lewis County deserves leadership that reflects that.
Kevin Gillan
Centralia
