I may not be a resident of Maine, but I have visited the state, and I have to say that I am distraught by the choice of the higher-ups to force homeless people out of their makeshift camps.
I understand the concerns of citizens who have been led to believe that homeless people are dangerous. The truth is, most of them are just like you or me, but without a place to live. They are people, too.
Winter is the worst time of year to be on the street, and I can guarantee you that most of the homeless population does not want to be spending their holidays in a tent on the side of the road.
However, instead of lending a helping hand and assisting the so-called “vagrants,” the city of Portland decides to spend $40,000 to remove them? That is absurd.
That same money could pay to house all those people for at least three to six months. Sure, that sounds like a sacrifice, but if people help them get off the street, they won’t be a problem anymore. Pretty simple, isn’t it?
The part that disgusts me most is that in the past I have considered Maine to be more of a progressive state. Perhaps there’s been change because of this Paul LePage character coming into power, but I don’t know all of the details.
However, I can say that it is a frustrating uphill battle when you are a homeless person, because everyone is against you and wishes you would just go away.
Where do you go when no one wants you? Some decide to take their own lives and others decide to live off the system forever, but the problem still persists.
Forcing people to leave a camp doesn’t solve the underlying issue. Let’s try to help them, not harm them.
Ex-homeless in Michigan,
Heather Harper
Clinton Township, Mich.
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