We weren’t born homeless and we weren’t always homeless and we’re still as human as you or anyone else.

I’ve seen a homeless person show more compassion more respect and manners then I’ve seen in most people. Why is it y’all had to have us off the riverside so bad, where we were out of sight out of mind and then bitch and complain and call the police knowing we’re not doing anything wrong when we set our tents up someplace, especially some place there’s no signs saying private property or no trespassing, which is okay by the Aberdeen police?

We cause no harm to that area but just want to sleep or rest, yet some of you people just can’t let us be. If you refuse to help or even smile our way, then don’t hinder or hurt us by bullying or throwing explosives at our camps. You don’t scare us in doing it, you just ruffle our feathers and make us mad.

How would you feel to think your life could potentially be in danger because of a person or persons who didn’t like you just because of who you are, what you look like, how you dress or what you do ? You wouldn’t would you? What if it was your child, someone you knew or cared about or even loved? Well it may be and you see us all around you, walking down the road, we are standing there in front of you every day someone someplace holding signs truly asking for your help your prayers and do you even care how hard it is?

We aren’t trash or garbage or dirty animals, but human beings. Have you in your life ever had to ask for help, hold a sign and ask a person you didn’t know to help you, to lend you a dollar for gas or change for that food. Were you ever short at the cash register and has a person behind you in line ever just helped because they wanted to because they saw the struggle you were having? That little second of struggling, that embarrassing moment, that’s what some of us feel, especially when you spot in our face that we don’t like to answer when asked if we are homeless.

We’re chased out of any place we set up in and we’re not the ones who put us in the middle of town or in doorways sidewalks building fronts behind buildings or in the parks.

Where do you propose we set our tents. We’re not leaving town. Most of us grew up here, yet you treat us like crap when you used to protect us when we were friends playing tag or cars or Barbie. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Melissa Hill

Aberdeen