Letters: Partnerships vital to solutions to homelessness; Oldsey has vision, commitment as trustee

Partnerships vital to solutions to homelessness

After reading the article about the increase of homeless in Centre County there seems to be a desperate need for one location that will invite men and women experiencing homelessness to a hub of transformation. It becomes evident like most cities in Pennsylvania that there needs to be programming where those experiencing homelessness can come and receive such assistance. This also includes those families that are struggling presently trying to get by.

According to the National Endless Homelessness Alliance, in 2021 Pennsylvania jumped from number ten to number eight in the nation for the most homeless.

There are resources for the homeless to use in Centre County. These organizations do good work but can only extend services so far. To complete the continuum of service and help people move beyond homelessness, I have always said that once we know the problem, we need to develop solutions to fix the problems.

An Innovation Center where programs are centered around life-skill training, job readiness training, self-care, and community networking.

Through my many years of dealing with the homeless throughout Pennsylvania I have seen homeless have one of the following challenges — drug addiction, alcohol addiction, mental illness, or a combination of multiple issues.

It’s important to note that most programming will be provided in partnership with existing community agencies, colleges and professionals.

This bright future is only made possible through community partnerships that lay the bricks of hope men and women experiencing homelessness can walk upon.

Oldsey has vision, commitment as trustee

A friend of Bill Oldsey’s since our years at University Park as fraternity brothers and roommates, I can testify to his love for our university. We would be hard pressed to find a trustee with a better bio, history and emotional commitment to lead Penn State. And while it’s important to note his family’s multigenerational ties to our university and his vast experience in the publishing industry interfacing with many of the great institutions of higher learning in this country and abroad, it’s his strong leadership that sets him apart. In the opinions of many alums he has been our hardest working trustee and best leader over the past nine years. Furthermore, what also makes Bill Oldsey so instrumental to our university is his unwavering focus on student academics and classroom experience. Regardless of the issue being addressed by our board, Bill always applies this student focused lens on the ensuing discussion and review process. And I know that he has been extremely attentive to reducing wasteful and non-value added expenses in his concerted effort to rein in our rising tuition costs and being mindful of the economic pressures and challenges of our students and their parents to fund higher education at University Park and our many branch campuses. Bill Oldsey has vision, character, common sense and undying commitment to Penn State. Reelect William Oldsey - it’s a no brainer!

Lamb stands out among crowded candidate field

I was a registered independent voter. I like to vote for the person, policies and issues, not the party. This spring I changed my registration so I could participate in the primary election and vote for the person who best represents my views and who I think can win. In looking at the crowded field of candidates to fill the soon to be vacant senate seat, one candidate stands out. Conor Lamb has done an outstanding job in the House of Representatives, working cooperatively with both parties for the people of Pennsylvania. Check out his website to see his positions on climate change, criminal justice reform, disability rights, education, health care, Israel, LGBTQ rights, minimum wage, preventing gun violence, reproduction rights, retirement security, unions, veterans, voter rights and other issues you may care about and you will see why why he has won reelection to the House three times against Trump-backed Republicans. Conor will be good for Pennsylvania and great for Washington. He is a winner.