Helping the homeless is the right thing to do

July 29 – WILKES-BARRE – It was sad to see this week’s removal of the homeless encampments in Kirby Park, but it had to be done.

Mayor George Brown has done a lot to help the homeless and it’s time for them to start helping themselves.

There are many services and shelters available to help and guide the homeless to a better place. It’s time for them to step up.

I have always been an advocate for the homeless. I have written many stories and columns calling on our community leaders to take note and do what they can to help those in need.

And they responded to that call.

Still, it was heartbreaking to see the fields removed – to see people standing, watching and feeling lost.

Mayor Brown’s administration has notified all appropriate local agencies of the city’s plan if they would like to assist during this process.

“The current situation needs to be remedied,” said Mayor Brown. “This presents significant health and welfare issues for area residents who use the park and for city first responders who receive frequent calls to that area. Once this process is complete, the area will be posted and any violations of regulations city ​​regulations will be immediately and strictly enforced.”

The city posted the area to warn those in the camp area that they need to vacate the area.

The notice says:

“If you are currently homeless and need shelter or housing assistance, there are services you can contact to discuss your options.

Emergency shelter is available at:

—Mother Teresa’s Haven, a program of Catholic Social Services is a day shelter for men contactable at 570-825-9948 or you can go to St. Vincent De Paul Kitchen, 39 E. Jackson St., Wilkes-Barre, where the information would be available.

—Ruth’s Place, a program of Volunteers of America is a permanent shelter for single women located at 425 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, contactable at 570-822-6817.

—Keystone Mission, overnight shelter for men and women from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., first come, first served. 90 East Union St., Wilkes-Barre with telephone contact at 570-871-4795 x 0600.

—Housing assistance and services options are available through the Economic Opportunity Commission, contact 1-800-822-0359 asking to speak to a homelessness case manager.

—Additionally, HELPLINE, the 24-hour information and referral service at 570-829-1341 or 1-800-829-1341 can be contacted for information about shelter and services.

Affected people need to visit these offices and find out how they can be helped.

When these situations arise, I always remember my dear late friend Jim Sobieski, who returned from homelessness to dedicate his life to helping. I remember Jim telling me about his volunteer work at the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen.

Jim told me that he scrubbed the pots and pans in the kitchen and helped with serving and cleaning – but scrubbing those pots and pans was at the top of his agenda every day.

What Jim Sobieski couldn’t give out of his pocket, he gave from his heart.

Jim was virtually anonymous in the community, but he had an incredible and immeasurable positive impact on many.

When walking along Public Square, South Main Street, or near the Susquehanna River, you may see the homeless. You can see them in the kitchen where Jim volunteered and at the Keystone Mission.

They are there and their numbers continue to grow. Blame whoever you want, but don’t let politics cloud your view of reality. These people need help and they need to understand that getting that help is the way forward — not living in a makeshift tent by the river or in an abandoned building or somewhere in the woods.

Yes, many homeless people drink too much. Many use drugs. Many have absolutely no motivation to improve.

They really need help. They need a community that cares enough to do everything it can to help them – to show that it sincerely cares.

The homeless people who passed away were certainly forgotten by most of the Wyoming Valley community. The sad reality is that they were forgotten long before they passed away. And that is our biggest failure of all.

Let’s face it: Federal and state dollars have been dwindling for years, leaving every nonprofit competing for dwindling donor dollars.

And this is just to keep pace with growing needs – expanding services or programs is simply not possible, no matter how beneficial that would be.

Webster defines compassion as “the sympathetic awareness of the distress of others together with the desire to alleviate it.”

Which brings us back to those homeless people trying to stay warm under a bridge in sub-zero temperatures or facing the prospect of not having food to eat. Or all those served by all these nonprofits – each with noble missions and staffed by the most compassionate humans in existence – without enough funding to help everyone who needs help.

Without debate, this simply shouldn’t happen.

No matter what the reasons are for these human beings being without shelter, or food, or warm clothing, or guidance, it is not important – not at all. What’s important is that these people need a place to go, where it’s warm enough to survive, or to buy food and clothing, or to find a job.

And the reason we need to solve this social problem is simple: it’s the right thing to do.

“Offering help is not a handout,” said Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross.

Mayor Brown has shown that leadership takes the issue of homelessness seriously.

We all need to follow his example.

Contact Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.