Routing Homeless Camped by Freeway

As I read about Scott, John, Willie, Kathryn, Chris and Bob losing their settlement (“Authorities Route Camp of Homeless by Freeway,” Jan. 15), it made me question how people who have fallen out of the graces of society could be treated with such a lack of empathy. As the Caltrans workers and CHP officers watched them pack their possessions, Willie is quoted: “I just wish they wouldn’t look at us like vultures.” I assume from the article that everyone was just doing his job. “It is just too dangerous here,” said the Caltrans equipment operator who led the group.

More than 20 homeless have homesteaded along this landscaped right-of-way in the past year. Compared to other “dangers” the less-fortunate homeless face, I wonder how exposure to the dangers of the freeway compare? At least none of them were reported to have frozen to death in this winter’s cold. Surely, wherever they will go next in their resourceful pursuit of shelter, they will consider these dangers more carefully as they weigh their options.

I drive by that settlement every day on my way to work and the notion that there was an exposure to danger is preposterous. There are too many barriers to a runaway car to take that notion seriously.

While society sits around waiting for the problem to go away, there are homesteaders like these six people, who don’t like the cold and rain one drop better than any of us, out their solving it in their own undemanding way.

This was one more example of how we are not prepared to acknowledge the existence of the homeless. Until we acknowledge their existence we cannot contribute to their needs. We have the resources. I believe it takes a commitment from those in central government to bring the existing resources into alignment with those in need.

The next time the mercury drops down into the 30s, it should comfort all of us to know that Scott, John, Willie, Kathryn, Chris and Bob are out of danger now.

BRUCE HOSTETTER

Fullerton