SIR - The story headlined "The people giving hope to homes and families" (May 20) is some welcome reprieve from homelessness for a tiny number of people.

But we should not underestimate the scale of the problem in Worcester. The seven people who will be temporarily (not permanently) housed at Park Street is a tiny fraction of the local on waiting lists. I note that a considerable number of professional staff from various agencies will be working with those who move into the Park Street accommodation.

This is an emerging picture in the city. If you take the number of people employed and those who work voluntarily helping homeless people, it runs into well over a hundred.

What is needed most of all is accommodation in which people can live independently rather than a growing sub industry of helpers who cannot offer more than discouraging news or some sort of life coaching for most of those who consult them.

The situation would be greatly helped if Worcester Housing and Benefits Advice Centre, in particular, would be pro-active in trying to recruit new private landlords who have perhaps never previously rented.

This should be a absolute priority for all concerned agencies given the state of crisis that exists. Several years have elapsed since they made a public appeal for people to consider letting out accommodation to homeless people.

ANDREW BROWN,

Worcester.