Do not mock the homeless

THE reaction by your readers regarding last weeks article Camp in the Wood  will be all too predictable. However, although the average man will spare a few pennies for cruelty to animals or children (mainly to relieve his conscience) few will have a good

THE reaction by your readers regarding last weeks article 'Camp in the Wood' will be all too predictable.

However, although the average man will spare a few pennies for cruelty to animals or children (mainly to relieve his conscience) few will have a good word for the many homeless who don't officially exist.

These days local government stands and falls on its statistics and I can assure you that it's very much 'out of sight out of mind'.

For the past nine years it has been my privilege to help run a hostel in Harlow with a curious mix of the mentally imbalanced/depressed, alcoholic, drug addicted, ex-cons, bankrupt, abused or simply abandoned by their family.

Many of these people would have lived in mental homes a few years back.

Theirs is a dark, often violent world where illegal substances are the only way to suppress their obvious distress.

I can assure you that once you hit rock bottom it's a long way back. Not everyone is so strong they will bounce back.

For those with criminal records especially it is almost impossible to get a job. Also no home - no job (the two go together).

So please, do not mock these people - try to show some genuine human kindness.

There but for the grace of God go I...

Kevin Moss, Great Dunmow