Being poor and homeless is not contagious, so why do so many people fear homeless people?
Ignoring them won’t make them go away. Even Jesus said, “The poor will always be with you.”
Working with the homeless and destitute in the inner city of San Antonio, I had lots of contact with them. The best advice you can get was offered by Sheriff Sean Smith at the library meeting (Herald, April 26), and former panhandler and homeless person, Jessica Hill, who was unable to speak due to time constraints.
Listen to those who have been there and those who know. You might learn something and you might just make a new friend. The mentally ill, destitute and homeless in cities across the United States have been stepped over, walked around, ignored, burned out, relocated, beaten, jailed, killed and are not wanted in business areas.
While traveling in Canada, I saw showers in a convenience store with soap and towels and a washer and dryer for clothes washing. It looked neat and clean. The store gave bags of food to each homeless person.
I saw clear frames on walls with information about places offering help to the homeless. I saw businessmen sitting on curbs sharing bag lunches with homeless people, talking and laughing. I saw people unafraid of the poor and trying to make each of their lives a little better.
Durango could treat the destitute and homeless like human beings – mentally ill or just down on their luck – and offer them decency from our local business leaders and locals.
Sherry Wilmoth
Durango
