Who is “the person in the ditch” here in Sacramento? The people living in homeless encampments. The encampments are increasingly visible and have become a matter of community concern and some political posturing. Sadly, public policy is trending toward making homelessness a crime. Last Sunday’s newspaper presented a balanced description of the situation; however, most quotes were from public officials, not from homeless advocacy/outreach groups or the campers themselves. I wrote a letter to the editor suggesting that these other groups and individuals be given a chance to speak their truth. They may have solutions that are creative and life supporting. I rarely encounter the people in the camps; I suspect my main fear would be my physical limitations in reaching an encampment not what I would find when I got there. (Many camps are along the river where the terrain is uneven and sometimes inaccessible. So, I use my voice as best I can.
