Have compassion

My husband and I often discuss the homeless when we are stopped at a light in our cosy car looking over at a messy encampment. I tend to be more supportive of the homeless. There has to be a reason why that individual prefers to be living like that.

We ask why they have to leave so much trash. Maybe because they do not have garbage pick up twice a week. So they carry their possessions in a shopping cart? Some of us know someone who hoards a lot of unnecessary things in their basement! They have some place to store their personal items and treasures they do not want to disperse of either.

Several suffer from schizophrenia. Could be scared of group settings in shelters. Horrified of having their things stolen. Hate the bedbug rumours. Whatever the reason, I believe when you are homeless you are living in a third-world existence. Try cutting them some slack.

Diane Bartlett, Hamilton