Have you or anyone you know ever lost everything to a fire? Or had to leave an abusive relationship in a hurry? Have you ever had to stay with family or friends for a while or had family or friends stay with you?

When people are in situations like that, they are homeless.

There are many people who have the idea that the homeless are unsavory characters with questionable, if not objectionable, lifestyles. I would encourage people to remember family members or friends who have been in the situations mentioned earlier, and help the people who think this way to become aware that one can become homeless for many different reasons, many of which the person has no control over.

Barbara Rankins, Lewiston