Delmar man claims homelessness despite community disbelief
Nick Parks claims he has been homeless for more than three years.
“I got into a car accident, my house went through foreclosure. I’ve been in and out of a tent, I’ve been in and out of shelters, I’ve been fighting for survival ever since.”
If you take a drive through Route 13 in North Salisbury, there is a good chance you will see him holding a sign asking for help.
That behavior now has him facing charges of failure to obey a lawful order and habitual begging, according to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.
Since word got out, residents are expressing their praise for the arrest, and no sympathy towards Parks.
“From the information we have is that he is not homeless,” says Lieutenant Tim Robinson with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. “The opinion of many people is that he is more of a nuisance.”
A staff member with Greenway Apartments says Parks’ name is on an apartment lease and he pays rent on time every month. When confronted about the rent payments, Parks denied it, saying he only uses it as a mailing address and as a place to stay every now and then when it is offered to him.
Some of the biggest allegations against Parks surround a picture on social media, allegedly showing him partying at Station 7 Restaurant in Laurel.
“I had one shot given to me, literally a true shot given to me in three years, and all this crap because I went out and celebrated,” he says. “I lost one chance I did have to come back up, and ever since then, it has been a living nightmare.”
While people who think they were conned out of a hard-earned dollar are angry, it’s especially troubling for those who work with the homeless population.
“It’s frustrating when he’s presenting himself that way when we have guys out there that are truly homeless,” says Celeste Savage, executive director of the HALO Shelter in Salisbury. “It is very frustrating that the panhandling is going on but he has a place to live, I don’t agree with panhandling but if you’re going to panhandle at least be homeless.”
Savage’s fear is how this will impact the homeless that Wicomico County does not see on the streets.
“I hope that this man’s actions will not be a negative reflection on our homeless population.”
Yet despite all of the anger and allegations from the community, it does not seem like Parks will stop what he’s doing anytime soon.
“I’m not saying that I’m perfect, I’m not saying that I’m the best person in the world, I’m not saying I did everything right,” says Parks. “I’m just going to do whatever I’ve got to do to survive.”
