At the base of the ladder out of poverty

FINANCIAL SECURITY for a single mom with two kids requires more than $58,000 annually ("Better living through job help," Editorial, Feb. 12). Crittenton Women's Union, which issued the report you cite, is widely respected for its leadership in offering workers opportunity for learning and career growth as a ladder to climb out of poverty.

Consider that ladder's other end. If the same mom and two kids lose their housing, they can enter a state-funded shelter only if they earn less than $23,000. Sadly, more than 1,400 such families fill our shelters every night. These families would need to more than double their incomes to achieve Crittenton's standard for economic stability. Do you know anyone who has done that recently?

A thoughtful society must have a wide array of approaches. It costs the state's taxpayers roughly $36,000 to shelter that three-person family for a year. A rental subsidy that puts them in their own apartment generally costs less than $12,000. And a program to help them become successful long-term tenants can cost as little as $2,000 per year.

Truly intelligent and enlightened public policy improves the lives of people on every rung of that ladder, thereby spending public money wisely and to the greatest possible benefit.
JUDY PERLMAN, Chief executive Housing Families Inc., Malden