John Wieczorek (chairman of RVUUF’s Social Justice and Action Committee and president of Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland), recently authored a guest opinion about Ashland’s homeless population. It was published Oct. 30, 2015 by the Ashland Daily Tidings.

As a 20-year business professional who works on the Plaza, I’ve noticed a change in the landscape downtown. Since 2008, an increased presence of those suffering the consequences of an economic crisis is apparent both in Ashland and in the rest of the nation. Eighteen percent of Ashland lives at, or below, the poverty level. They are one bad break away from being on the streets. Social factors like war, mental illness, addiction, domestic violence, sexual assault and student loan debt contribute. I know this because I take time to talk with them.

Every Tuesday and Thursday night I volunteer to run the Pioneer Hall homeless shelter. I’ve acquired a deep understanding of the harsh realities of being on the streets. Living hour to hour, only being able to focus on the primary needs of safety, food, bathrooms and sleep is tough. It’s difficult to get traction to move forward when sleep-deprived and malnourished. It’s also often difficult to be polite when in this distressed state. I’m not making excuses for bad behavior. I’m only trying to provide an understanding of what it’s like.

Yes, there are a few disruptive anarchists who intend to shock you. Those of us old hippies shocked a lot of parents in the ’60s and ’70s. A wise person recently shared that that every action is either either an act of love or a cry for love. Even disrespectful behavior is a cry for love. So too are the complaints about these people. We need to attempt to understand each other in order to get along with each other. I heard a lot of cries for love on both sides of the forum on the 28th.

Greg Lemhouse’s editorial distinction between travelers and local homeless oversimplifies a complex issue of behavior downtown. He states that the travelers are the problem and that the local homeless are not. About 10-15 percent of the travelers exhibit problematic behavior. About 10-15 percent of the local homeless also cause real problems. I’m not condoning illegal or disrespectful behavior. I’ve personally invited more than one highly disrespectful young man to leave town. However, it did not compel me to run everyone else who looked like them out of town.

People fear people who are not like them. The mistake I see being made in Ashland is a projection of fear of other humans onto an entire group of individuals. Many of the concerns about kids on the streets have nothing to do with specific behavior. They express an unjustified concern for safety, and a dislike for encountering dirty smelly people.

The common myth that the kids on the streets are able-bodied and living on the streets as a lifestyle choice is also inaccurate. Those of us who interview the homeless with the HUD point in time count know the majority of those surveyed answer yes to the questions pertaining to mental illness, addiction, victim of domestic violence, victim of sexual assault. Many have been persecuted by their families for sexual orientation. They may be on the streets by choice, but that may be a better choice than staying in a violent home where no socially acceptable behavior was ever modeled.

Fear based concerns lack any real solutions. Social cleansing is not the answer. It may help some with their fears, but will do nothing to help people in need. I’m seriously concerned about the targeting of a specific group. Many civilized people have historically gone along with such targeting, whether it’s refugees and immigrants, native Americans, black American, gays, Japanese Americans during World War II or Nazi Germany’s horrific targeting of the Jewish community.

Targeting the poor and homeless should alert anyone who understands what fear-based oppression leads to. City ordinances targeting the poor result in fines that cannot be paid. Unpaid fines create warrants and debt collection, further oppressing those who are already desperate. Piling on is against even the rules of football. Why is it OK in civilized society?

Ashland is not a gated community. Fear not your fellow human, for fear leads to hatred. Be careful who you fear. You may unknowingly end up uncivilized. Ashland’s strong moral compass is at stake.