The situation at the Wenatchee Rescue Mission needs serious attention and accountability.
Many people have raised concerns about inconsistent rules and treatment depending on which staff member is working. Residents can be kicked out for minor infractions, while other serious issues appear to go unaddressed. If a shelter is meant to provide safety, stability, and support, the rules should be applied fairly and consistently to everyone.
There are also questions about basic sanitation. If there is no reliable hot water available, how are dishes and food service items being properly sanitized? Residents and donors deserve clear answers.
People donate food, clothing, and other necessities because they want to help those in need. Every donation should be handled with transparency and respect. When concerns arise about how donations are distributed, those concerns should be taken seriously and investigated.
Most alarming are reports from residents about drug activity occurring in and around the shelter. Any environment where vulnerable people are exposed to dangerous drugs is unacceptable. Protecting residents should be the highest priority.
The community deserves transparency. Donors deserve accountability. Residents deserve dignity, safety, and fair treatment. Instead of ignoring complaints, there should be an independent review of these concerns so the truth can come to light and necessary changes can be made.
People who have nowhere else to go should not have to choose between homelessness and feeling unsafe in a shelter.