Whose Trash Is It Anyway?

One homeless camp (will not reveal location) If you look in the foreground, there is a tote for trash. Pallets are generally used for steps through wooded areas that get muddy after rain. Shirt on the pallet up front is drying out. This is the typical homeless camp.

It is always nice to see a community who is willing to open a dialogue about something that many have swept under the rug for years. The homeless community still exists in Elkton, Maryland and around Cecil County, but is the problem getting worse or better? From many aspects, it has gotten better, but it depends on whose perspective you are looking at it from. I am in the unique position of looking at it from both sides of the fence. Unfortunately, both sides are littered with a lot of trash and it needs to be cleaned up.

Typical item NOT left by the homeless community. Most homeless living in the woods do not have cars and definitely have no need for useless tires on the ground. Unfortunately, I did not grab photos of the tires that were buried in the ground and all the trash lying in areas where the homeless have never nor could ever camp. Your parks are actually cleaner now than they have been in decades because the homeless brought light to it, not because they brought it in.

A recent clean-up of some of the homeless sites took place. A group of church members gathered with some of the homeless community in order to clean up the vast amount of trash that has overtaken the areas. Unfortunately, there may be a little misconception about where all that trash comes from or came from.

The clean-up was successful on many platforms. The first, and most important, platform is that of human kinship. Some of the homeless community along with the some of the church communities was able to drag out a large amount of garbage. It is not an easy task to get it all cleaned up, but a report from one of the church members said that he did not believe that all the trash was from the homeless. He had reasons for saying that and it will be covered shortly as well as confirmed by me.

The second level is that a lot of garbage, both new and old, was removed and can no longer cause an environmental hazard. I posted a copy of the Cecil Whig article about the removal and it sparked a conversation about why the taxpayers should be held responsible for the clean-up. That is what this blog is really about today.

Considering that I was in the homeless community for several months, I can attest to the fact that not all homeless people are trashy people who do not care about their surroundings. Even homeless people like to have a clean place to stay, even if that place is in a tented and wooded area. The idea that homeless people just don’t care is a fallacy. Keep in mind that they may not always be able to keep up with the trash in their camp without using methods that probably are not totally legal. For instance, there may or may not be a few people who might or might not have fire pits in order to keep trash to a minimum. Besides, it may or may not help keep them warm at night.

Ponder for a moment if you will that homeless people don’t have a lot of trash to haul around and leave dumped everywhere. They carry as little as possible with them because it would be a hindrance to carry everything they ever owned with them. The average homeless person has enough clothing to change through the week, things like toothpaste for hygiene purposes, coats, one or two pairs of shoes and possibly one or two personal things they cannot do without. Tents often consist of mattresses, blankets (sleeping bags), pillows, and the above mentioned personal hygiene and clothing items. On top of that, most homeless people eat at the Paris Foundation facility and do not take anything back to their camps with them. They also keep water, sodas, and, on rare occasion, food items at their tents. It is detrimental to campsite to keep food at camps because there are a lot of raccoons and other furry animals that love to “break into” the tents for a little feast. Food items in tents is a huge no-no for the wiser of the homeless community.

The mattresses, for those who do have them, are generally found on the road or are dumped by people in the community as trash. The homeless simply reuse them. You can call it crafty recycling, even if it is not always the healthiest of choices to make. What the homeless do not bring with them is old tires, car parts, burned out car shells, sofas, chairs, and tables with them. They find these items alongside of dumpsters, in the woods, and just about anywhere else that people decide to dump the things they no longer want junking up their warm homes. Homeless people do not have the money to purchase these items so they find them and claim them as their own when they are carelessly left by someone else.

I really hate to say this, or maybe I don’t, but you can trust me when I say that homeless people will find a way to cash in on any of their trash that they can. If they drink beer, for instance, they save the cans. There are tons and tons of cans in a neat little pile in one location, and I assure you that it will not go into a trash pile for the dump. It will go into a recycle bin so that the homeless person collecting them can get money from it. After all, if they are going to drink, might as well get back what they can. Homeless people don’t waste because they can’t afford to waste (I use the term waste lightly, because we could go on about how they shouldn’t be drinking when they don’t have a home, but this particular blog is about trash). They use every possible resource available and they find ways that people in houses would never think of. It is a resourceful group. Even the half smoked cigarettes lying on the ground around town don’t go to waste. Use your imagination if you must, but I think you get the picture.

I welcome questions about these things because the homeless are already under a microscope and being judged for the things they do wrong. They do not need to be given the added burden of taking on responsibility for things that they did not create themselves. In this particular case, they did not create the trash problem; the trash problem has been there for many decades. It’s just that the community didn’t notice it because it was hidden. Once again, out of sight, out of mind, until we can blame it on someone that didn’t put it there. Think about it, please. It is not every household that finds a child’s play broom and rake alongside of the road and says, “Hey, we can use this to sweep out the tent and rake up the leaves.” And yes, that last statement is a true one. NOTHING goes to waste out there. Nothing.

Christmas Cheer Spreads to Everyone

Christmas is almost here and there is nothing more joyful than spending the day with family and friends. People from every corner of life will open presents, reminisce about old times, and fill their stomachs with way too much food. It never hurts to be reminded that not every child gets a “big” Christmas. Some of them might go hungry or have to spend the holiday in a shelter. Here are a few feel good videos to remind us that there are still good people in the world who want to help others, especially at Christmastime.

Shop with a Cop is an awesome program that allows police officers to interact with children across the county. Officers volunteer their time to take the children shopping for gifts at Christmastime. Thank you to the officers who took part in the campaign to spread a little joy to the children in the area.

Police in Lowell, Michigan give out presents instead of tickets when stopping people. Excellent is all I can say. Lowell set a very good example for everyone.

Anonymous man gives police officers money to hand to people who are in need. This just shows how good people can work together, when they want to. This took place in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jamson Labs paid off $12,000 worth of layaways at a Walmart. Some of those helped said they would not have had the money to pay it off before Christmas.

Practice Kindness took kids to a local grocery store and paid off people's groceries. It was an amazing lesson for the kids and they had fun doing it. They even helped the recipients put the items in their cars..

This group is not from the United States, but that doesn't mean that it can't be done here. They go out and find homeless people in order to give them a Christmas. They even wrap the presents and give him enough money to get a place to stay for Christmas. 

There are generous and caring people all around us. Remember the Christmas spirit and the great gift that you have been given and spread that love and caring to those around you. It's the most wonderful time of the year, so consider making it just as wonderful for those who might not otherwise have a Christmas celebration. And a very Merry Christmas from me to you.

What do the Homeless of Elkton, MD Need to Succeed?

The homeless problem in Elkton, Maryland has grown to extensive heights. There were approximately three homeless people in town when I was growing up. There are now between one and two hundred. We can’t be sure because there hasn’t been a proper count that I am aware of. If someone knows where to find the information on the study, please inform me so that I can be more accurate.

There are a lot of programs in place for those who do not have a place to call home. Those are mentioned in a previous post and kudos to those who volunteer the time, money and other services for those in need. There is plenty of clothing and food. There is enough clothing, shoes, blankets and toiletries available, but there are other things needed that will help in the long-term.

Shelter- There are two shelters in Elkton. Those are run by Meeting Ground. The problem is that the space is very limited and there are still a lot of people in need of shelter. I do not know the answer to this other than to say that if the community really wants to get rid of the homeless, they need to get together and decide how to best do it. It is not to send them to other places because that is passing the problem, not getting rid of it. You are either a part of the solution or a part of the problem.

Job Training- It is not enough to pass a list of job openings to the homeless. Helping them get job training in order to obtain viable job options is essential to success.

Ability to Obtain Jobs- On the same note, it is most often difficult for the homeless to land a good job opportunity if an employer knows that person does not have a home. To employers: Look at the person as a whole and not just on whether they have a home or not. Those who have been able to get work got the job because they were clean, well-dressed and skilled enough to get the position. The majority of people that I met over the last few months care about their appearance and abilities. Give them a chance.

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation- It is a very expensive undertaking to get drug and alcohol rehabilitation for most people. Fortunately, insurance coverage is available for those who wish to stop using substances. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options in the local area to help those people. One such center is planned for Elkton and will take a few years to build. It will have, just like anything else, limited space, especially for people who cannot afford it or whose insurance will not cover it. Many people who use heroin are getting methadone treatments at one of the two clinics open in Elkton. From what I have seen in the homeless world is that the program does not work. It only exasperates the problem. Stop fighting against the real solutions out of fear and get rid of the things that cause more problems than they solve.

The above listed things are the main issues that the homeless face on a daily basis. If you really want to get rid of the homeless and get them “out of sight, out of mind” then give them what they really need more than anything else; a chance at success.

For now, this is Dawn signing out until next time.

List of available help for the homeless in Cecil County

The Mary Randall Center-- Click here for more information

410-620-4701

401 North Street

Elkton, MD    21921

A day center where the homeless can warm up some, get cereal and sometimes other things for breakfast, milk, water and coffee. People can shower there and all soap, shampoo, razors, toothbrushes etc. are provided. People can also have their mail sent there if they need an address. Phones are available to use as well. The homeless can also wash their laundry there and everything is provided to get everything done. They also have a list of places that are looking for employees and a list of the resources in the area.

Wayfarers’ House-- Click here for more information

410-398-4381

107 Delaware Ave.

Elkton, MD    21921

This is transitional housing for women and women with children. There is a waiting list and women with children get preference over people that do not have children.

Settlement House-- Click here for more information

410-392-8066

168 West Main Street

Elkton, MD    21921

Transitional housing for men. They also serve lunch Monday thru Thursday every week from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

The Paris Foundation-- Click here for more information

484-459-1288

229 South Bridge Street

Elkton, MD    21921

This foundation provides hot dinners 7 days a week every day of the year. The dinner is from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. People can come early; however, they are to stay at the back of the building until they open the doors at 4:30 PM  It is a church so it is important to behave as though you are in a church. They also offer clothing, blankets, tents, books and toiletries when they have the supplies available. No one who is homeless needs to go hungry. Lunch is served on Sunday from 12:00 until 1:00

Marina Park Lunch

A church serves lunch in Marina Park in Elkton on the first Saturday of the month. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the church. They provide good lunches and some clothing and toiletries are available as well.

The Help Center

410-996-0260

135 East High Street

Elkton, MD    21921

They offer free clothing and household items as well as food. Anyone is welcome to go there; however, it was really set up for low income people in order to get them the things that they need.

Emergency Rotating Shelter

410-620-4701

401 North Street

Elkton, MD    21921

(Mary Randall Center)

This shelter opens at the end of November and runs through March. It is overnight shelter, so you have to figure out what to do during the daylight hours until it is time to go back. That’s a good time to work on getting the necessary things done to get off the streets.

On Our Own

410-392-4228

170 West Main St.

Elkton, MD    21921

This place provides help with group meetings that deal with substance abuse, bi-polar etc. They can help with setting up appointments, filling out difficult paperwork, and they provide local rides to appointments during business hours.

Eastern Shore Mobile Crisis Team

1-888-407-8018

This group responds to emergency calls and will come to you. They will provide resources for you and can help with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and intellectual disability on the Eastern Shore.

Deep Roots

410-441-6912

21 Veazy Cove Road

Earleville, MD   21919

Helps families with children who have become disconnected due to homelessness or similar situations.

Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center

410-996-5106

401 Bow Street

Elkton, MD    21921

National VA Call Center for Homelessness

877-424-3838

Social Services

410-996-0242

Located in the District Court Building on Main Street in Elkton

Rental Allowance Program (must have children from my understanding), food stamps, cash assistance for people with children, temporary cash assistance for people with disabilities (must be filing for disability through social security), child support along with a listing of available resources.

Core Services

410-996-5112

Located in the Health Department in Elkton, MD

They provide services for people who have used the mental health services offered by them. Temporary motel room rental (just a few days) and only when funding is available.

Immaculate Conception Church-- Click here for more information

410-398-2110

455 Bow Street

Elkton, MD    21921

Food pantry, clothing items, and emergency funds for shelter etc. Call for specific information about what day and time the Outreach Program is open.

Elkton Presbyterian Church-- Click here for more information

410-398-4636

209 East Main Street

Elkton, MD    21921

They provide free lunches on Fridays to the homeless. An outreach ministry helps with financial situations and limited shelter. They also have a food pantry available as well. Contact the church to find out what days the outreach ministry is open.

Upper Bay Counseling-- Click here for more information

410-996-3450

There are two locations in Elkton. Call for more information on which site is best suited for your situation.

They provide mental health services as well as services to help with housing and other issues.

Most of these are services that I have either used or am currently using. There is a network of caring people in Cecil County. There is one more church that does provide meals; however, for the life of me I cannot think of the name of it. It is in Elkton and I believe it is on Booth Street. If anyone knows the church I am talking about, please contact me with the information so that I can add it to the list. They are now serving breakfast and I am unsure of the schedule for that.

There is plenty of help out there for people who want off the streets and into a new life. All you have to do is reach your hand out and take it. Do the leg work that needs to be done. It takes time and a whole lot of effort, but before you know it, you will be on the road to recovery and you will want to help others do the same. When you get to where you are going, don’t forget to look back and remember where you have been and look forward into giving someone else the guidance they need to survive a desperate situation. 

Homeless Children of Elkton, Maryland

The homeless of Elkton, MD blog is moving right along. Today’s spotlight is on homeless families. I cannot post photos of any of the homeless families because I do not have any and it would be detrimental to their progress. There is no need for that, but everyone should know that there are children out there too.

There is one little girl in particular that can put a smile on anyone’s face within seconds of meeting her. She turned one-year-old recently and her parents are doing a very good job of raising her. The problem is that the father lost his job and as a result, they lost their home. The father is currently working. He sleeps in the car and the mother and child sleep in a rented room that is not big enough for the three of them.

It is hard to describe the baby because she is one of the most beautiful kids I have ever seen. She always has a smile on her face and she gets around pretty good. She has big, bright blue eyes and blonde hair. Her hair is most often pulled up in Pebbles Flintstone style. Just look up Cindy Loo Who on the internet and you will have a good idea what the baby looks like. I have seen this child put a smile on some of the most hardcore homeless out there. But, she is homeless. She doesn’t have a room to herself. She doesn’t have her father living with her although her mother and father are still a couple. She doesn’t have the advantages that most little girls her age have, but she does have a lot of love coming her way. I talk about her so much because she tugs at my heart strings and to see her and her parents cope with this is heartbreaking.

There are other children out there. Many parents keep the information to themselves and park tents in places away from the rest of the homeless. There are obvious reasons for that, but all the children are well taken care of by their parents. The parents work or are looking for work. These are not drug addicts. They are just people down on their luck and they need a boost to get them off the streets. If anyone should get off the streets first, it should be these children. Do I have the answer? No, I certainly don’t. I think there are answers though. The answers lie within everyone in the community who could help bring these families off the streets before the holidays. A job offer for people who have not been able to find work.  A landlord who is willing to go lower on the rent to help truly good families who need help. A business who will donate household goods to help them get started. There has to be an answer for these families, not just the stock “you are on the list” answer.

No little girl or little boy should have to spend their childhood in a tent. There are good lessons to learn from it and at the start, it can be more like an adventure, but it is not a good way to live when the kids have to be fresh and ready for school. It is not good when the children cannot interact with other children except at school because they don’t have any neighborhood kids to play with.

In any case, this is a call to action for the people of Elkton. If you are in the position to help any of these families, contact someone at the Paris Foundation or the Mary Randall Center. They know what homeless people have children and can help bridge the gap. Does anyone have the heart to help these families get off the streets?

The good, bad and ugly of a homeless life

This is a cleaned up version of my tennis shoes after about a month of wearing them. They were brand new when I got them.

My last post on Face Book led to a lot of really good points and comments. I would like to address some of those points today. It is always a good thing when people are willing to talk about the problem instead of just trying to cover it over.

Point One

Many of the homeless are sleeping in the woods behind businesses on property that is considered private. Many homeless people seek shelter in these areas for various reasons. The main reason is the fact that these areas are safer than going to Marina Park where it is legal for the homeless to put up tents. This is especially true for people who have children out there. The second reason is that they are close to the resources that are necessary to survive, keep clean, and keep walking to a minimum.

No, I didn't know it was private property. Yes, I slept here a couple of nights. EPD flew up onto the grass and nearly hit the Gazebo on two of those nights and were more than rude including one telling us that we were all getting free money and that we were better "out of sight, out of mind". That is not all that was said, but you get the general idea. I stayed there because some of the people who I felt were safe to be around were there and I felt protected.

Bus services are available for the homeless; however, the fact is, most homeless people do not have the $2.00 to take the ride. The $2.00 one-way, let alone two-ways, is too expensive for people who have no money. Taxis are also available for anyone who has the large fee that it costs to ride in one.

The areas that most of these people are staying back up to public town parks that the homeless have been chased from. People who do not have tents to sleep in find odd places around town to sleep. They most often get chased off and the only way to avoid that is to walk around the streets all night long. I have to suppose that it is alright to walk around all night. That may be a way to encourage homeless people to leave town because they have nowhere to lay their head. This is not a bunch of people looking to break the law. These are people who simply need to sleep somewhere and are trying to stay hidden. It is a well-known fact that sleeping people cannot cause crime, so why keep people who would otherwise be sleeping from doing so. Why chase them out into the streets so they walk around, get so tired they can’t see straight and wait for them to commit crimes? That will never make sense to me.

Area businesses have some good points. There are a few homeless who will spend far too much time in the establishment to charge phones etc. Some of these people will dig cups out of the trash and put soda in them to make it look like they bought something. Some of the people get rowdy and have been known to start unnecessary and embarrassing fights. In those cases, the business has the right to put those people out and call the police if necessary.

Unfortunately, McDonald’s on Route 40 in Elkton does not try to distinguish the difference between those people and the people who come in, purchase meals and drinks and sit down to eat. Everyone who sits in a certain area of the store has been hustled out the door; even if they just walked in and sat down to eat. The managers keep a close eye on who is in and out of the store. They know who is purchasing products and who is there just to hang out. Why are paying customers being pushed out the door as soon as they walk in and purchase the meal? Is that common practice for all McDonald’s or is it just this one?

This is the area of McDonald's that management concentrates on. They throw certain people out if they think they are homeless regardless if they bought anything, are bathed and well-groomed, you get the picture.

There is no doubt that there is plenty of shoplifting going on in area businesses and it burns my butt. There is no need to steal anything. The most amazing part of that is that some of them will steal even if someone offers to purchase it for them. That sounds more like kleptomania than it does desperation to me. Nine out of ten times it is not the people living behind the businesses that are actually stealing from them. Those people know that it would mean serious trouble for everyone who lives back there if they got caught stealing. It also pays to note that it is not simply the homeless who are stealing, but people who have homes.

This is the ball field and some people have found places to sleep around it. Several people who are people who work at the ball field know about it and said they didn't care if they stayed there as long as they kept it clean.

One more point and I will close this blog out for the moment.

Homeless people do know how to make money but most of the methods involve either taking advantage of those who have some small amount of income or by selling drugs that they are given when they go to the doctor etc. For instance, many of the people who visit methadone clinics get take-homes. That occurs on the weekends and for some, during the weekdays. The take-homes are often sold to people who want to get high off of it and the person it was prescribed for gets money for heroin. Flying signs is another way to get money. It is illegal and police will be quick to point that out. Although some of the people flying signs are honest, such as “homeless veteran”, they are really flying the sign because they want to get something they need or to use for beer, cigarettes and sometimes drugs. Not all of those people are homeless and everyone should be careful who they give money to. The best thing to do is offer to pay for food or whatever that person is asking for. That may not be fool-proof, but it is one way to reign in the problem to some extent. Someone asks for money for food, go buy them food. If someone says they need to get someplace and needs money for it, offer them a ride or a bus pass. It’s pretty clear cut. Also remember that many of those people who know how to easily get money sell their food stamps for half the price so they will have cash and some sell drugs that they get when they go to the hospital for one thing or another. It’s a viscous circle.

That is that bad of the homeless side. It isn’t the entire story, but just a small portion of the many things that this writer has seen during the journey through homelessness.

Help for the Homeless of Elkton

Norm, Robert and Rob hanging out in the tent. 

I haven’t had much chance to blog lately and there is a good reason for that. I have not only been off-line, but I have been homeless for a couple of months. It has been a difficult trial, but it has also been very enlightening. I learned a lot about the community around me, the other homeless people, and the way the police handle the homeless. I also found out that McDonald’s isn’t much of a fan of the homeless even if they are purchasing the products that are available. I want to fill you in on some of this so this blog will cover a wide range of information on being homeless in Elkton, Maryland.

The first blog I think should cover the many people who are willing to help the homeless. There are a lot of people out there that help and shining a light on them for a little while is extremely important.

Here are some of the resources for the homeless in Elkton, Maryland. There is not a single person in Elkton who could complain that they are hungry. If they do, it is their own fault. There are plenty of meal programs that fill the stomachs of those who would otherwise go hungry.

Paris Foundation- This is a church in Elkton that is specifically designed to feed the homeless in a sheltered atmosphere. It is run by Pastor Mike and there are many volunteers that make it happen. Area churches come in with meals prepared (often from scratch) and the meals are very good. They also have a closet area where they give out items like clothing, toiletries, blankets and sometimes tents to help as much as they possibly can. They also taught us the fine art of never touching the walls so that we can keep the paint as fresh as possible. There are a few people who break the rules and do not do what they are supposed to or worse yet, do what they know they are not supposed to. There are also those who follow the rules, are thankful for the food and who volunteer their time to help ease the burden on the outside volunteers. Thank you to the foundation and the churches that make it all possible. Please visit their website by clicking here.

Mary Randall Center- This is a place where the homeless can get breakfast Monday thru Friday. Showers and lockers are available as well as washers and dryers. They have bikes that can be signed out for the day, help with finding jobs and housing. They have a limited amount of clothing and shoes to help as well. They don’t ask much back except some help with unloading donated products and milk and help cleaning up before they close. They also ask that you do not use foul language and that you use inside voices even when you are outside. Learn more about the Mary Randall Center by clicking here.

The Help Center- Food and clothing items are donated to the Help Center and it is one of the best ways to get clean clothing etc. This is for low income people and they provide year round help for those who are in need. Every now and then they have extra good, farm fresh foods such as potatoes, corn on the cob and watermelon.

On Our Own- This group helps people with addictions and bipolar disorder. They help people schedule appointments and they have group meetings, movie days and such things. There is a computer available for job searching and gathering resources as well. It is a great group of people that are well worth meeting and I am glad to be a part of their group. Learn more about On Our Own by clicking here.

These are the four places that are a great help to the homeless. Anyone who uses these services and are not thankful for them are, in my opinion, sad cases that may never rise out of their ashes.

The Lord provides in every way and he has certainly done that for me. It may not have been the way I would have liked, but it was the best way to get me the help that I have truly needed for years. God bless those who give their time and services to help people who need it most.

The homeless of Elkton walk miles and miles a day to get done what needs to be done to get off the streets.

Matthew 25:35-- For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.