Homeless Midlanders Brave The Snow Outside
By: Jenne Anderson
Updated: January 3, 2013
MIDLAND-- John Wilson is not your typical Midlander.
Hidden in the brush, off a downtown Midland road, sits Wilson's tent.
"A bed is a bed," said Wilson.
Despite the snow, he says he plans to camp outside all night.
"If you're homeless, it's just another day," explained Wilson. "If it's going to get cold, you're going to get an extra blanket."
Wilson isn't the only one who'll be braving the storm.
His tent mate Donovan Burgess tells us this is the only shelter he can afford.
"The hotels are expensive and until we get work, until we get going, it's a spot we found to keep us warm," said Burgess.
Although the Salvation Army is right up the road, the 2 say they'd rather rough it outside than spend the night with strangers.
"It gets full," said Wilson regarding the Salvation Army. "Another thing, you get people who snore, and you can't sleep."
This is troubling for Tex Ellis, the captain of the Salvation Army in Midland, who worries the temperatures might be too cold to bear.
"Even if you don't want to come in, there's a hot meal for you, there's a blanket if you need it," said Ellis. "Please come in if at all possible."
But despite Ellis's advice Wilson and Burgess don't seem too worried about what's coming their way.
"As far as the cold weather and the snow, and that kind of thing, people go through it all the time, and most of them survive it," stated Wilson.
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Hidden in the brush, off a downtown Midland road, sits Wilson's tent.
"A bed is a bed," said Wilson.
Despite the snow, he says he plans to camp outside all night.
"If you're homeless, it's just another day," explained Wilson. "If it's going to get cold, you're going to get an extra blanket."
Wilson isn't the only one who'll be braving the storm.
His tent mate Donovan Burgess tells us this is the only shelter he can afford.
"The hotels are expensive and until we get work, until we get going, it's a spot we found to keep us warm," said Burgess.
Although the Salvation Army is right up the road, the 2 say they'd rather rough it outside than spend the night with strangers.
"It gets full," said Wilson regarding the Salvation Army. "Another thing, you get people who snore, and you can't sleep."
This is troubling for Tex Ellis, the captain of the Salvation Army in Midland, who worries the temperatures might be too cold to bear.
"Even if you don't want to come in, there's a hot meal for you, there's a blanket if you need it," said Ellis. "Please come in if at all possible."
But despite Ellis's advice Wilson and Burgess don't seem too worried about what's coming their way.
"As far as the cold weather and the snow, and that kind of thing, people go through it all the time, and most of them survive it," stated Wilson.
Like Jenne Anderson's page on Facebook!
