Have a heart for the unhoused

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Homelessness has always been an issue everywhere in the world.

I used to live in a town where homelessness was treated with very little respect. The city didn’t want homeless people taking a rest on corners of streets near stores. In order to eliminate the hanging around, the city took out the grass on the corner of a shopping center and replaced it with rocks with a sign that said “no loitering.” I thought it was cruel of the city to be more worried about the image of the city than the welfare of the people.

In the December edition last year, there was an article about the deaths of three homeless people in Port Townsend. It was touching to read about the interactions and relationships the homeless had had with the community. It was a nice reminder that homeless people are humans.

We are all going through tough times, for some people the situation may be harder but we are all having a hard time. Showing some kindness towards everyone can help people establish a mutual relationship and understanding with one another that we are going through something.

What the Coast is doing for the homeless is admirable As a community we need to practice having empathy for others who are less fortunate. We are all human and deserve to be treated with respect.

Frances Berry
Port Townsend