They were not camping out - they were homeless and the city of Aberdeen really needs to do something to step up and help the homeless that are out there. It's a sin.

Where is the City suppose to get the funding to do that. How about you go down to Annapolis and ask the Governor why 67 cents out of every tax dollar goes to a criminal infested Baltimore City and its us out here in the County paying for it. If the proper distribution of tax dollars was done the way it is suppose to, the City of Aberdeen would do it's part to help out those who need it. This is a direct result of Governor O'Malley spending our tax dollars only to the 3 places that vote for him, thats Baltimore City, PG County and Montgomery County. These people dying is a direct result of Governor O'Malley's CRIMINAL behavior as a politician.

I believe that and that's why I didn't vote for him!

Between the two who passed away, there are 8 children left to mourn the loss of a parent ... Tameka has five precious children and Will has three, his oldest daughter's birthday is today.
They were sleeping in a tent, homeless, trying to keep warm with some type of heater, and died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Very, very sad situation!!!! My heart goes out to their families! :'(

Will Woodrow has 5 children, he has 2 in FL and 3 here

This is a growing problem all over in this country because of costs of rentals, housing, lack of jobs that can pay monies to afford these "luxuries" for some poor people. It doesent have to be like that in the great u.s. when our govt. Both federal and local waste money on overseas spending to other countries and projects that do nothing but strenthen them politically. It sucks that Md is a liberal state. Omalley and obama prime examples of corrupt liberal tax and spend govt.

SO SO SAD:(

Please help our homeless neighbors in need so that this doesn't happen again. There is a new fantastic program to help provide transitional homes to the homeless (since the shelters are full), but they need funds. There is an upcoming event to help bring attention to the needs the homeless in Harford County have and how you can help. Check out the website: http://www.startsharinghope.org for details. With more funding, services can be expanded to every single person out of the woods and in shelter. Anyone that would like to help and/or financially contribute, please e-mail my friend at annemarie.sharinghope@yahoo.com

Thanks, Christine. There IS help for folks in need like this, but like everything else, we need more funding. Sharing Hope Foundation helps and partners with other agencies in the county to help prevent things like this from happening. We have an upcoming event to help bring attention to the great need we have just helping with shelter and food to our neighbors. In the light of losing 2 of our homeless neighbors really brings our upcoming event to the forefront....not really the way we had planned. (check out our website: www.startsharinghope.org or share our FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/250007461738367/ for details). There are shelters in town and they are always full because of the great need. I run a program called One Church One Home that helps to expand their programs and provides transitional housing for the homeless by partnering churches, business and individuals to help support the home. With more funding, we can expand services to get every single person out of the woods and in shelter – but we need help. Anyone out there that would like to help and/or financially contribute, please e-mail me at annemarie.sharinghope@yahoo.com. Every little bit helps – we need to get folks off the street and into safe, warm housing so that tragedies like the deaths of Tameka & Will will not ever happen again in our community….every one can do something….every little bit helps…TOGETHER we can eradicate homelessness in our community!

There are shelters around this state however you have to be clean of alcohol and drugs. The homeless people rather spend their government checks to buy alcohol and drugs rather than a apartment, hotel room, etc.

A Gree Jason. it's all about Choices. William was Known to be a good worker when you could get him too work. He was also known very well by A.P.D. for his drinking. he could have had a better life. he made that choice.

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Matt

ya know this is a very sad story, cause maybe they could have gotten shelter somewhere, and yes i agree with what was said about our jerk-wood governor, heck he already raised taxes on gas and smokes soon after he got back in office, and now he wants to do it again, i say to him yes i know you need the money, but your head is not screwed on right, instead it is on a swivel meaning you do not know what to fix first, just think you could have stopped one road project or one trip abroad to help build a shelter in Aberdeen , or some of the money to build ripkin stadium or the casinos to help, but no you did not and i hope they let you read this..........2 lives no matter how rich or how poor could have been saved and you can not put a dollar on that pal.

The Welcome One Emergency (Homeless) Shelter in Belcamp has an "Adopt a Bed" program where you can help support our ability to shelter 28 homeless men and women each night. Please check out our website at www.welcomeoneshelter.com.

@ lance, jason, etc...blame: is an excuse! Reality: it does exist and people need help!

Blame doesn't get us anywhere....the damage is already done....now we have to take the situation as it is and do what we can to fix the problem. And again, there is help out there with several shelters in the community and an organization like mine that helps to expand their outreach....but it takes money and support. By taking this tragedy and becoming proactive about what we can do so that this does not happen to anyone else would be a way to show that their lives were not lost in vain. At our annual Homeless Person's Memorial Service on December 21, we not only honor those folks in the previous year that died without secure housing (there were 8 last year), but we give the charge to not let it happen to anyone else. We need more folks to be involved and supportive of the current efforts in the county to see that that happens. No more fingers pointing....the rubber had met the road, folks....we need your help and support.

WOW 'I'M APPALLED AT HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE LITE OF THE SITUATION "CAMPERS???" KEEP IT REAL HOMELESS PEOPLE NOW DO SOMETHING ABOUT!!!!!

The English politician Algernon Sidney put it best when he wrote God helps those that help themselves. If one subscribes to the born with an addiction gene then one could argue that they cannot help one's self but, history has shown hundreds upon hundreds born with the "bad gene" that rise above so I would profess that one can help one's self. That said, I ponder if these "victims" were victims of addiction at their own hands, victims of a society that thinks that big government is the answer to everything, victims of the mounds of red tape that those who truly need assistance must must weave through like Ray Rice through a defensive line, or victims of their own stupidity when it comes to heaters in tents.

William was a worker when he put his mind and body to it but William also liked to taste the fermented nectar and had gotten help only to crap of the hands helping him so, with first hand knowledge, feel very secure in my belief that William has met William's maker because of choices that William made.

I do agree on many levels of which you spoke, Tony. The saddest part of this whole story is that, between the two of them, they left behind 8 children who will now grow up struggling with the loss of a parent at such a young age and never being able to know them. While it is, most definitely true that they got themselves into the situation of being homeless of their own accord, it does not take the sadness and non-necessity from the circumstances and outcome. No matter how it breaks down, it’s sad.

William was never a parent to his children, in the first place. he avoided child support like it was a Plague. I have them you support them. the truth is. the Homeless are too lazy, to work when it's handed to them Free.

I didn't know these two folks personally. However, I can speak about the effect that this kind of situation will have on someone (including the lack of financial support from a parent) and it does have a lasting impact in a persons life.

And...ANYONE is too lazy to work when something is offered for free. That's why programs like mine have a high rate of success. No one is entitled to be a part of the program either; they have to sign and abide by a contract or they are asked to leave. They have to WORK in the program and WORK to get themselves together and back on track. We are there to help ensure their success but not enable. I am not able to help everyone, but I am able to help those who want to help themselves and just need a hand up not a hand out.

Good luck with your program. the one's who need it the most. the true homeless are still left to there own accord.Alcohol & Drugs rule there lives.

Thank you Vet. I would love to help those who need it most, but as you stated, alcohol and drugs rule their lives and I am unable to change that, only they can make that choice and come for help. If they choose to change that for themselves, I can help them get the help they need to do to beat their addiction AND help them get out of their homeless cycle. But again, it comes down to THEM wanting and working it - and the funding to be able to do it. I don't get a paycheck for what I do; everyone at Sharing Hope is a volunteer (however, I have a small grant that helps cover photocopies, gasoline, etc.). Although, albeit underpaid, most other non-profit agencies need to employ licensed social workers (absolutely essential to any program) and we need to pay landlords for the dwellings and the utility company for the energy and water consumption. It's a fact of life - it takes money to help them get back on their feet (addictions or not).

And regardless of any of this…everyone in our community should have a warm, dry place to stay (shelter) for simple humanitarian reasons. I have been working with other agencies to come up with a plan for an emergency wet shelter, but sadly, that has yet to come together.

I went to school with Tameka and while in recent years we hadn't been close I just want you people to understand something.

She was a good person with a good heart. In recent years she got lead astray and yeah she fell victim to the same line every addict spouts "I control the drugs they don't control me" those of us left behind know the truth. Sadly you can't force someone to change or get help they have to want it themselves and when they go for you have to be there every step of the way to help them. Don't judge what you have never fallen pray to....it makes you an unfit human being....

I chose to remember my friend, my girl, my buddy, my high school lifeline when my life was hell to me, as Happy, Carefree, and Untamed.

Her life will remain untarnished by her final years in my memory.

My sincerest condolences for your loss, Lauren.

Here's my 2 cents...Will was my family it hurts that he is gone but he had support anyway he needed it. The only reason he was in a tent is because he's apartment was not ready and wasn't going to be until the 1st of feb....Yes he had 5 kids but he did everything he could for them no matter what child support, getting them clothes just about anything....He did choose to live in a tent he did to save money for his new place...The APD moved them over to rt 22 with the saying ( out of sight out of mind)...Will was a good person he would help you at any cost and not ask for it in return. I just wish people would quit putting thier names in the dirt...And tameka i didnt know of until a few days ago when he told us they were dating put I pray her family will have comfort in this time of sorrow as our family tries to do the same....

My deepest condolences, Melissa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga6DHncyL-4
This link is to a video, sorry it's so dark, where you can hear the voices of Will and "Piggs". I am so sorry for the families and friends of Will and Tameka. I pry that go will give all of you strength. I must say, I think that birth and death are the same in that they both happen at the pre appointed time. Also, I have realized in my life that the people who are the most judgemental of others are the ones you should be weary of.... This video is not meant to exploit anyone but to help raise awareness. May God bless and keep the souls of Will and Temeka.

Oops, I maeant to say, I PRAY That GOD will give all of you strength...

I hate the way u guys r makin it seem like it was there fault tht they was homeless if u didnt kno my sister thn dont run ur mouth she cud not work because of reasons she had no control over it was not because of the drugs nor the drinkin so plz let me and my family have the good thoughts of her it is sad tht all u can only think of homeless ppl as being lazy or ppl who dont want to work when in most is not the case

@Lance with reference to his response to Alberta - I agree, as I too do a lot in the community for all of the shelters and (emergency food pantries) by helping to expand their programs, therefore being able to help more people. The only thing I might add to what Lance said would be for clarification purposes, FCCAU is not the only shelter that takes men...Harford Family House takes single or married men men with children under 18. I also believe the Dream Center can help single men, as well.

I agree with u katrina pepole do need to stop making out that its thier fought. I knew temaka since she was small i babysitted her and her she. They both are good people .sometimes things happen you have no control of so please stop say what you all saying and let the families and friends have the fun and good timethey alll remember. My hearts goes out to u all. Love ya temeka

This thursday there will be a candle light vigal that will be held at the spin center in aberdeen across from the libray.In honor of will and temaka at 5 pm....along with the vigal we will be handing out coats hats gloves and other garments to those who are in need...

people need to get the story right and stop talking ill of the dead tameka was one of the sweetest people i knew yes she had her past and wasnt good but she was trying to get back on her feet she would give you the shirt off of her back if she could she didnt have much but she would give you all she had .i miss her she was my best friend my sister we have been friends for 17 years and her and her sister are my sisters from another mother but her family has always been my family and i'm tried of people bad mouthing her grow up and leave her alone

Wow, I have met this man and woman, and others in Aberdeen,As a member of Fishers Of Men and Sisters here in Harford Co. we have been meeting the homeless and giving Food and clothes to help out these people. Yes they homeless , yes they are here in our County ,but what are YOU doing to help them, Get out and HELP, you sit home and say its someone else problem, well as we are all GOD'S children then Help them, We as americans can all give time or surport too your church groups too help them.
We meet and feed them a couple times a month in Aderdeen ,with Food/Clothes and share God's Word with them, come and help them.
All is welcome too meet with the Fishers of Men & Sisters, Gospel of Life Ministry, God will Bless you
God Bless
Steve Ruth Darlington/Dublin DUMC

I know what a blessing Fishers of Men has been at our Welcome One Emergency Shelter and how much good they do ministering and feeding the homeless in Harford County. Bless you Mr. Ruth and all the Fishers!

Starting today, you can ask President Obama the questions that are on your mind about the direction of the country and vote on others that you think should be asked. He'll answer several of your top-voted questions during a special interview, which will take place on January 30, live from the White House. A selection of people who submit questions will also be invited to join a Google+ Hangout live with the President during the interview.

The deadline to submit is January 28 at midnight ET .

Get involved and ask him what's being done to help people like Tameka and Will? GET THIS STORY OUT! HE JUST MIGHT ANSWER!

God bless the family!

It is so easy to pass judgement. I think it is sad to see so many people be so judgemental. I find it odd that people who carry themselves around as good God fearing christian people seem to be the first to break one if not many of the ten commmandments. Its sad to see officails with such poor insensitive attitudes as well. I do understand that after awhile you get tired of dealing with the same shit. I do understand that there are some people who do choose to be homeless..

I personally did not know them so i dont know i do know that here in the wonderful united states no one should die this way, as we go out of way to make sure they dont in other countries. I walked by the tents that they lived in many times on my way to work and had thought many times to go back down with food and blankets and never did as i wasnt sure how they would react, maybe i shouldnt of let my own fear stop me. maybe if we all stopped letting fear and our own misconceptions of homelessness stop us we could together make a change that really mattered. I dont exactly what i will do I just know that I will do something to help. I am not rich and anyday that could be me out there not because im addict or an alcoholic just because life happens and not always the way we intend it to. My prayers and thought are with the families and children of these two people. No one even lazy druggies or alcoholics as some of you call them,deserves to die in such a manner. However not all homeless people lazy not all homeless people are addicts and not all homeless people abuse the social services system and put them all in that group is terrible.

We dont know why they were there, why they were addicts, (if they were), what we do know is that in a country that send millions of dollars in aid to other countries to help their needy we had two people pass away in the woods in a tent that they were living in NOT camping in, and that every night in our country there are children that go bed hungry and cold. Why is that? I would think that there would be a place for these people to sleep where this wouldnt have happened, oddly though i have never heard of one or seen one here in aberdeen.. maybe we dont have any, which isnt impossible as many of the very same people who yell and cry about how much these things are needed they are same people at town meeting saying well yeah we need shelters but not in my nieghborhood. The bottom line is regardless of what they were or what they did, they were someones mother and father, daughter and son, and many peoples friends..

Although we definitely need more shelter space and services to help our neighbors in need, there are many wonderful organizations in town that are already helping. I believe we need to help the existing agencies expand their services and make more shelter/housing space available so that they are able to help more people in need. Our group is doing an awareness event this weekend to bring attention to the plight of our homeless neighbors. Please check out the website or facebook event page for all of the details. The name of the event is: Home Sweet Nowhere; The Frozen & Forgotten in our Community. www.StartSharingHope.org

We all need to pull together and if each of us does our part, no one in our community will go without the basic human needs of shelter and food. It really can be done!