My family gave hospitality and care to homeless people for several years.

It added a lot of drama and work, can be downright dangerous, and illustrates one of the main causes of chronic homelessness. Along with drug use and anti-social behavior, most of the people we sheltered had never worked or held a job!

We put folks to work in our garden and orchard, in our firewood business, and, as they learned how to show-up sober, into our landscape crew. Some evolved, some slid back.

What, some of us wonder, will the typically desperate and unemployed homeless be doing all day long in our neighborhood while we work? When a homeless camp was located nearby, my sons neighborhood experienced a rash of daylight burglaries (including his home), mail theft, and car break-ins. Not exactly encouraging.

Before being too judgemental with individuals and neighborhoods who don't want nearby stops or camps, Eugene's homeless advocates should take homeless people in themselves . It's an eye opener!