About the editor: In Karen Bass’s first 100 days as mayor of Los Angeles, the city found housing for more than 1,000 people. This is a rate of 10 people per day. With an estimated 41,000 people living on the streets of Los Angeles, it will take more than 11 years to absorb the city’s current homeless population. (“Mayor Bass Strongly Emphasizes Homelessness Spending Proposal,” editorial, Apr. 19)

In 2003, the US military was able to send some 160,000 troops to the Middle East for shelter and care before invading Iraq within a few months. If we can invade a country on the other side of the planet in a few months, we should be able to simultaneously house, feed and provide for our own citizens right here at home.

This is a humanitarian crisis. Let’s enlist the help of military logistics teams to house, feed and care for our vulnerable population. Camp Pendleton, a major naval base, is just off Highway 5.

Let’s solve this problem once and for all.

Donald Flaherty Fajardo, Los Angeles

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About the editor: There will never be a solution to homelessness if a small unit in Los Angeles costs more than $500,000 to build. Other jurisdictions can do this for less than $100,000.

Something is seriously wrong.

Barry F. Chaitin, Newport Beach

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About the editor: I have five words for Bass: make rehab available and affordable.

Meet people in recovery who were once homeless and they will tell you how hard it is to find an affordable bed in a rehabilitation center.

I have been sober for 32 years and have met and worked with many alcoholics and addicts who initially appeared to have mental health issues. You’d be surprised they were the same people when they got sober.

Tita Brown, Canyonland.

About the editor: I agree with Bass’ assessment of what LA needs.

We now need more temporary and permanent shelters for our homeless neighbors. We must give them access to basic services such as food, sanitation and farm management.

We also need an increase in unarmed response teams to prevent Angelenos from continuing to target armed policing to solve Social Services issues. Responding to mental health and quality of life issues requires a different approach.

Let’s shift the focus from using people with guns to solve problems to skilled, trained people to solve problems without guns.

Jane Demian, Los Angeles