Baltimore's people of the woods: Inside the hidden homeless camps made of milk crates, wooden doors

Daily Mail On Line ^ | 21, February 2014 | Daily Mail Reporter

[ottbmare]

They are there on their own volition. If they wanted a job, they could IMMEDIATELY take a job from a migrant worker in the farm belt: and the farmer pays for a place to live and transportation.

Would you, or your farmer friend, care to pay for these people to get from Baltimore to California or Texas? Believe me, as a resident of Maryland, I can tell you that there are no farm jobs for them here, and no one is going to give a smelly ill-dressed homeless person a job. People go from door to door at businesses on the commercial streets asking for work, and they're politely sent away, told to apply online at the corporation's website. They may be a long way from one of Maryland's job training centers where they are taught useless unmarketable "skills."

[Salvavida]

I don't know what you are talking about. I'm in farm country in NC, so this isn't a "feeling". It is fact. There are precious few illegals here, so ICE is not a factor. This falls under the H2-A Visa program. The farmer files with the State Dept when there are no American workers available.

There is no "cheating" of the workers: they get minimum wage, and they enjoy it. Their children are picked up and educated for free, and they have turned entire communities into Hispanic communities.

They will even talk freely to you: they are legal; they are here because Americans will not work.

[Salvavida]

Uh, no. It's not a big secret in the Hispanic community about the H2-A Visa program. If they happen to be up in the People's Republic of Maryland, it is because they do not want to do farming work, and the local governments are allowing them to stay by no enforcement and other handouts.

[Kartographer]

The Lord himself told us that the poor would always be with us, but he did not condemn them and he instructed us that:

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:31-46

There are poor and there are the slothful some can’t tell the differences because their hearts have been harden. I bet there are many very successful FReepers who had parents of limited means. People who worked hard yet never seem to have more than enough to place a roof over their heads and food on the table. I ask you who have done so much better than your parents does their life and their limited income now shame you or are you thankful for what they provided and the grounding that they gave you?

Many a great soldier, scholar and statesmen have come from such a crucible of proverty do we throw out pure metal because the process also creates doss?

As Christians Jesus gave us a gift we can never repay, but still we must work at it keeping it by walking in his path and keeping his commandments, but no matter what we do we cannot earn it or repay it.

But God promises us that:

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11: 24-25

[trisham]

Amen, FRiend.

[ottbmare]

I have no reason to think that those shantytowns are inhabited by Hispanics. But you are right that Maryland, and particularly Montgomery County, has rolled out the red carpet and made the embrace of illegals a formal policy.

Do you have any idea how many times I, a white lady with considerable knowledge, experience, and talent in the care and handling of horses, got turned down for rough farm jobs in favor of Hispanics? Farm owners believe that Hispanics will work without complaint and will do a task for very little money. They seem to prefer to have Hispanics clean reeking stalls and do manual labor to black or white American citizens, for the same money. There is a widespread misconception that Americans are lazy, though your average middle-aged American has a highly developed work ethic.

[dragonblustar]

Well said.

[familyop]

Thank you. I’m not the first with that general idea, of course. We work with, smell and even emulate hippie greenies (some groups with real undesirables nearby), but that’s a worthwile concession in most cases. The mix of personalities and backgrounds can be surprisingly “diverse.” Some of the folks from each political and social extreme do learn much, though.

I’ve seen young commies become more conservative and freedom-loving in their speech (e.g., promoting small farming, disagreeing with regulations, etc.), small business people become more clear in their perceptions of what’s going on around them, police become less afraid of trailer park residents, conspiracy tale adherents become less paranoid and other wonders. The greatest wonder...? Young people getting interested in technical projects.

There’s a way around every physical and regulatory problem.

[familyop]

Well done in comment #64, Kartographer. Well done!

[Salvavida]

It's not a perception down here. It is fact. Hiring Americans here are a waste of time. In fact, farmers here get "tested" by some (particularly blacks) to see if they refuse to hire Americans (in order to file a law suite). But when they are hired and given a task, then they fold.

As far as the shantytowns: they don't have to live there. That is a choice. They can get a modest trailer paid for by a farmer, with plenty of work to do; at least some time to get their life together. Farming communities always have churches nearby that can help, if one is willing to recover.

[Lion Den Dan]

The Democrat party is a criminal enterprise.

[fanfan]

Translation: You cannot bring your drugs into homeless shelters, or they will take them and maybe call the police.

Not necessarily. During the ice storm in Toronto (End Dec) a friend of my Mother was told to go to the warming center at Jane and Finch. She refused.

Google Jane and Finch Toronto, and you'll see why.

[GeronL]

You mean that isn't utopia??

[fanfan]

Nope, not utopia.
Like Mom’s friend, I would rather shiver wrapped in my winter clothes, in my bed, for 4 days, than go to J&F.

[GeronL]

Many big cities have areas like that

[21twelve]

In the Seattle area we have organized “Tent Cities”. Organized and run by the homeless themselves. They roam from Church property to Church property, with numerous churches getting together to provide meals, etc.

They have there own set of laws (no drugs or booze), many people work, etc.

The big thing is that a husband and wife can live together, whereas at the shelters they can’t. It is sad to hear of parents that are trying to save money for an apartment so they can have their kids back again that are now with relatives, foster homes, etc.

[ottbmare]

You may have missed that these hovels are in Maryland where we do not have a huge farming industry. Traveling two or three thousand miles to Texas or California is expensive; doing that for the hope of getting minimum wage job is silly. I don’t know what the answer is for unskilled unemployed people but it is not true that they can just run out and get a job.

I know nothing about economic conditions wherever you live, so I would never dream of arguing with you about your state, but I know a good deal about the dying economy of Maryland and what it’s like to try to get a job here.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Welcome to Martin Owe’Malley’s Maryland.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Bigg Red]

Yep, each squat camp should have a sign that reads,

“Obamaville, OweMalleyland”.