An 'Epidemic In Society'

Keisha Scott described her struggle to fall asleep in the woods knowing strange men were nearby urinating behind bushes.

She talked of bathing in gas station lavatories and feeling hopeless.

Her tone grew louder, angry, sad as she recounted rejection and judgment she faced when desperate for help to escape homelessness.

Scott and about 100 other folks were in Pottstown on Wednesday for an event to raise awareness of the rapidly growing local homeless population and need for resources to help. 

The gathering included several speakers who focused on the inhumanity homeless people endure.

Pottstown Police Dept. Detective Sgt. Brian Rathgeb said he and other borough officials recently visited homeless folks -- at local squatter camp sites -- to promote area resources including shelters.

He talked of homelessness as "an epidemic in society." The economy "has affected all," Rathgeb said.

Many of the homeless suffered from infections and other health problems, their encampments were filled with litter and debris, he said.

Candles and propane used to heat the makeshift shelters added to safety and environmental risks, Rathgeb said. 

He described a homeless man found dead in an encampment "surrounded by no family, no friends" and in "complete" filth.

"I do not want to see another homeless person die or end up in the woods," he said. "They are our own flesh and blood."

John Applebach, senior pastor of Pottstown Bible Church, said roughly a quarter of homeless people suffer from mental illness. 

"They push away caregivers ... family members," he said.

Pottstown's Still Waters Home Churches & Worship Center Pastor Kork Moyer said he supports a new borough ordinance that prohibits camping in public parks.

Yet many homeless folks are unaware of resources to help them, he said.

"What do you do? Where do you go?" he said. "We need a permanent homeless shelter here in town."

Moyer was teary when he described how homeless people are made to feel like "modern day lepers" rejected by their community.

"I don't want Pottstown to be known as that," he said to the crowd. "We need help and we need you."