New School student William King is about to learn about homelessness in a way most of us never will. As you’re reading this, King is preparing to live as a homeless person for one week on the streets of Kennebunk.
    This is part of a project King and a small group of students are working on to educate people about homelessness trends in Maine.
    Homelessness is something a lot of people would rather ignore. For some people, it’s uncomfortable to see what we call a “bum” holding up a cardboard sign, asking us for money. The image – only one of many that represent homelessness – angers some while it saddens others.
    It takes guts to stare homelessness in the face and it takes guts to do what King is about to do. Guts that, most likely, none of us will ever have. Imagine if we did, though? Would it open our eyes to the issue and inspire us to work harder to stop it? Would it encourage us to gather everyone we know to join the fight against it?
    It’s a question we can’t answer, but it’s one we bet King will be able to answer after this next week is over. We wish him a safe week, low temperatures and food to eat during this experiment.
    We’re curious how this project will turn out and what King will come away with after it’s over. Look for another story about King and his experience in a future issue of the Post.