DEAR EDITOR: If a society is judged by how it treats the weakest amongst it, then we have failed miserably. The streets of our cities are filled with human beings made in the image and likeness of God who have nowhere to sleep but on those streets.

Successive governments have made but token efforts at solving this problem with little or no attempt at dealing with it realistically. Rather they have preferred to blame organisations who assist these unfortunate people as being the cause of the problem.

The policy appears to be to ignore these people, starve them out, deny them health care and they will either die or go away. This is unacceptable and is partially the reason that these people are treated in the manner that now obtains.

Years ago, before the EHS, a doctor was called to Riverside Plaza to view the body of a man who had died. When he got there he found that the man was still alive.

He quickly wrote a note for admission to hospital and gave it to the Besson Street police who at that time were located in their old building opposite. The police tried their best, but could get no one to take the man to hospital. The man was HIV positive.

Three days later another doctor was called. This time the man was dead. Is this the kind of society that we want for our children? If it is not, then why were three wards at St James Infirmary to house the elderly who have no place to live shut down by a previous administration? If it is not, why do we have no place for HIV patients to die in dignity even though money from international agencies has been allocated for this?

We live in an uncaring society. Is it surprising that we have so much violence? Public officials would do well to ponder the words of St Augustine as he watched a "vagrant" walk past, "There go I but for the grace of God."

Dr Richard Clerk, Newtown