On my way in to work this morning I noticed that the areas around school were more populated than usual with the sleeping homeless. Now, recently Cleveland has begun to enforce a rule not allowing anyone to stop, loiter, and sleep, etc. at Public Square after 10 pm until 6 am. The justification of this is that it, apparently, will cut down on crime/violence/panhandling/tourist harming and make Public Square seem friendlier/safer/more attractive. This means mostly that the homeless have to find a new place to sleep, preferably somewhere well lit and safe. While shelters do exist, they are often overcrowded and under funded. Now, although most people avoid contact with the homeless, they are mostly harmless. Toughened from the street, dirty, smelly, mentally/physically ill, or just down on their luck, homeless people are still people. They still need somewhere safe to be, food to eat and if they'll accept it and are willing to work for it, help to find a home/job/community. I know several homeless people. One, Ralph, is 76 years old (he thinks) and fit as a fiddle. He is a regular in community theatre and knows his way around Cleveland better than anyone I know. Another is a young man named Paul who stops by every Halloween; I make sure I have a sandwich, Gatorade, and an extra pair of socks for him. It may not seem like much, but to him it's as if I gave him my house. Another fellow sometimes sleeps in the field across the street from my house. He is clearly mentally ill, and leaves a stench in his wake wherever he goes. For him I can only pray, and throw sandwiches and shelter pamphlets at, although I'm not sure he's literate. There is no real solution to the homeless problem. Those who are willing to work their way out of it do get out, some may even be successful, and those unable to do so, or unwilling, will always be without a home.
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I think homeless people add character to a community.
I am graced by their presence. and I love to help them out, feed them, listen to their stories, etc.
I agree enthusiastically. (I give the example of my good friend Ralph here.) It is those who intimidate the world, or at least try to, that the city seems most concerned with. Those who clearly are sick, unable to take care of themselves etc. It isn't that they are without a home, It's that they are without a way, either mental, monetary, or mortal.
Yes, there's not really a way to solve this homeless problem our country is badgered with, but homeless people are like anyone--minus the will to live better. They should be respected highly as any educated professional would be because they have the courage and the strength to sleep unprotected in the face of danger.
Remember that old woman livingin New YOrk about two years ago who was brutally beaten and raped in the darkness. She is content to continue living in the streets, just now she ensures that she is protected with weapons for her next attacker. Her rapist was caught, but she doesn't let her guard down. She was traumatized, but that only motivated her to become more cautious. That deserves respect.
I did a service project where I helped the homeless and it was amazing. They were so thankful and it made me so happy to help them. I'll never look at homeless people the same way again.
I agree. I hate how people are so afraid of homeless people. The majority are harmless, and are actually quite kind. I volunteer at a soup kitchen, and they are amazing people to talk to. And, though they don't have much, are very generous with what they do have.
Yes. and they have such amazing stories. Its so east to sit and talk with them for hours!