How about direct help to families?

When Lawton Chiles was governor of Florida in the 1990s, in an attempt to fulfill a campaign promise to reform welfare, he asked the public to submit ideas. I did. It went nowhere, of course, but I have always racked my brain as to how those of us who are comfortable in life’s situations can help those less fortunate. Reading the Times Free Press (which we are so very lucky to have) this morning, I was again struck by the notion that our mayor, Tim Kelly, is trying to accomplish this for my adopted city.

If there were some way for

10 of these comfortable families to “adopt” a willing family in need, to offer service, advice and yes, even financial help, this may be a pathway to closing the gap. The goal could be as simple as reducing the percentage of rent to income from 33% to 25%.

The idea is to benefit both. One feels so much better about direct help, whether giving or receiving, than having something you worked for taken away and given to an anonymous person that may or may not be deserving. SueCarol Elvin