Advocate Vernon Price describes life without an address, often with no shelter, and says he will continue speaking out
Vernon Price, a self-described advocate for the homeless, has made a name for himself in Madera, and it hasn’t always made him welcome.
“I am sorry if I am (considered) a nuisance,” Price said. “But that’s OK, because it’s worse to be homeless and be ignored. And I am not going anywhere else. Somebody has to speak up for the homeless in Madera.”
Price, 41 and homeless himself, said he recently lost a feud with the county and Zak’s Security over his preferred living spot at the bottom of a covered, exterior stairwell of the former library building along Yosemite Avenue.
“It wasn’t much (of a spot to sleep) ... but I had lived there about a year and a half without bothering anyone. Then they decided they wanted me gone. I don’t know who, exactly, or why they cared. They even cut the old metal roof cover off the stairwell, and removed the (attached) old tables and metal benches from out in back of the building, near the alley. Probably all ... just to get rid of me,” Price said...
Comments
Homeless in Madera
This tears at my heart. If he wasnt bothering anyone, wasnt causing anything that would be a hazard to others, or disrupting business, why be so cruel and make him leave. Yes I know its an issue about insurances, liabilities and other BS they use as their excuse and reasons, but what about humanity? Id love to see public officials go homeless for a week, or see their kids homeless. Maybe then, something would be done to help those less fortunate. Shelters for the night is a great place to start. Just so they can get out of the cold and have a good nights sleep. The ones we have are over crowded. New larger ones are desperately needed. Since the government created a great majority of the homeless then they should step up and help out! Just sayin'