Local resource center aims to help the homeless population
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – In Delaware, a group of community members decided to take it upon themselves to make it known that one woman living out of her car in the neighborhood wasn’t welcomed.
They put up a sign saying ‘Please Move on..if you need counseling to help you move on — there are plenty of places to go in your nice car.”
It’s a sign that’s sparked a conversation amongst those dedicated to helping the homeless on a better way to treat those down on their luck.
“There are families and individuals that are just trying to make ends meet, living pay check to pay check.”
It might be hard to believe, especially in the Rehoboth Beach area, but there are some people who struggle with homelessness. In fact, the Community Resource Center sees it firsthand everyday.
“It is here and it’s been here quite some time,” says Eleanor Marchtmon from the Center.
“They are like nomads though they’re always on the move so you can’t really say ‘can you show me where they are’ because I could show you today and two days later they’re not going to be there. They’re going to be gone, but they know that this place is here.”
The Center is the only place in the Rehoboth beach area solely dedicated to helping the homeless, whether it’s just a hot shower or a meal, even financial help.
They say if you do encounter someone who is struggling to remember that they’re people just like us.
“There’s a real misconception that people that are homeless are lazy, they have substance abuse issues, or they have mental health issues. And you know certainly some people are homeless because of those reasons, but a lot of them are people that just life through them a curve ball and they couldn’t recover from it,” explains Community Resource Center Director Jo Allegro-Smith.
So even if panhandling may be illegal, instead of giving them the cold shoulder, the Resource Center says there’s a better way to approach the situation.
“If you don’t feel comfortable giving them a couple of dollars why not run through the fast food drive through and get them a meal. Many of them that might be the only thing they eat all day.”
Because just a simple act of kindness, just lending a helping hand can go a long way.
“If something happened to me, I would hope that someone would be kind enough and help me out,” says Allegro-Smith.
The Community Resource Center may be the only place dedicated to helping the homeless in the area, but they say they will never turn away someone who is hungry or just needs a helping hand.
