I would like to say that after reading Miss Carrie Courtney’s article [“Couch Surfing Flat Waves,” May 11, 2006] I think she just may have single-handedly sabotaged what little hope the homeless people had for understanding and support.
I, myself decided to give Maui a try on my own with what money I saved from my secure job on the mainland and have quite a different version that did not put me on the harbor.
To blame Maui and its supposed bias and high costs is not fair if you choose to leave what you have that is secure to live in a place that is already well-known for being expensive. Yes, cost of living is high here. However, I don’t believe this is why her adventure was a disappointment.
She and her friends chose to put themselves in this situation with the poor choices they made. It does not matter where you go, you will find it just as hard if you are not prepared.
Before I moved here with just a suitcase, I researched food costs, housing and jobs along with transportation availability. I prepared myself for this move by saving a specific amount of money and lined up a place to live via the internet (Maui News classifieds) along with job interviews that I got to by public transportation or cab.
Carrie and her friends were not prepared for this move and perhaps expected things to happen for them. Why weren’t they willing to rent a furnished room in someone’s home separately until they could get something together. It is called sacrifice and we have all had to make them at times. Was it imperative they all live together? All or nothing? Please!!??
She shared her cigarettes? She had money for cigarettes? If I were the type of person to generalize people and base all homeless people on her story alone, I would have limited sympathy for the homeless.
Why does she feel that she deserves help with low-income housing? I would think that low-income housing is for people in need such as elderly, disabled, families with children to feed first. Does she have a special need? If this is the case, than she deserves this. Most of the homeless people don’t have parents they can ask $3,000 for rent for a house.
Reading her last statement on how we should try “studying, scrutinizing and recognizing them,” I would like to ask Carrie how she plans on helping the homeless? Now that she has a place of her own, will she be willing to take any homeless into her home?
-Lori Ramona, via email
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