Does it really matter that we walk past a homeless person and don't even see them?
Does it really matter that we walk away not giving it a second thought?
How I respond to life does matter. How I respond makes a difference to those people around me. How many of you have witnessed a horrible accident and responded? It doesn't matter that the people you helped didn't even know you were there. What does matter is that you stopped. How many have responded to helping out in the AIDS epidemic a thousand miles away but don't see the epidemic of loss of life right in your back yard.
Here are some statistics:
According to estimates by the National Coalition for the Homeless, about 3.5 million people are homeless in the U.S. Among the homeless population:
* 39 % of homeless people are under 18.
* 40 % of the homeless in urban areas are single men; 14 % are single white women.
* 40 % are families with children.
* 50 % are African American, 35 % are white and 12 % are Hispanic.
* About half of homeless women and children flee their homes due to domestic violence.
* 40 % of homeless men have served in the military.
* 23 % of homeless adults are mentally ill; another 30% have addiction problems.
Here's the crazy thing. I spoke to a young woman in a homeless center and she was bright and well-educated. Her family had pushed her away. She had a great job and one night after work she was standing at a bus stop and she was hit by gunfire which had her in the hospital for a month. She lost her job, she lost her apartment. She was hopeful. That's the crazy thing. I saw the hope that she portrayed and it made me see beyond the situation.
Next time you walk past a homeless person -- stop and say hi. Not only will you touch their lives, you might just touch something inside you.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I think that this is a very good idea in theory, but the next time I pass a homeless person begging for change I can honestly say that I'll probably just keep walking. I think there are too many homeless people out there that would use my money for booze.
With that said, I think it is a great idea to donate clothes, food, etc.. to the homeless and even volunteer in a homeless shelter.
I agree! don't give them money. How about you just acknowledge them and maybe even say hi? Some of the homeless just want to know that someone cares.
"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving" ~ Mother Teresa
If you feel that way, please read this post:
http://www.progressiveu.org/145802-yes-you-can-help-homeless-one-powerba...
I address your specific issue directly.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Yes, I think the point here is to not treat people like they are invisible. Homeless people face an incredible number of disempowering experiences. Do we really need to add acting like they don't even exist to that list? Is pretending they're not there going to help them take whatever the step is next for them? Looking someone squarely in the face and saying "good morning" doesn't cost us anything and accomplishes a lot.
Smile at the people you see on the streets; you might be the only person who does so all day.
Downtown Portland is home to many homeless (as weird as that sounds.) I go down there sometimes; to eat, hang out, shop... You simply cannot make a trip to Portland without passing a homeless person. I won't give them money, but when I offer them my perfectly fine left overs, they deny my offer. Only once have my left overs been taken; and it was with a gracious and thankful person who accepted them. Not all homeless people are begging for money for food, they are usually looking for drugs or beer. Those are the same homeless people who don't want to talk to you, they just walk by you if you don't have anything to offer.
Now they aren't all like that. There are a nice bunch of them who really do need help, and have amazing stories to tell to anyone and everyone who listens. We have a thing called Night Strike here; a local Christian group goes down to Portland every Friday night and hangs out, eats popcorn & drinks cocoa with the homeless. They give them shoes, warm clothes, blankets, books, haircuts, and they help them get out into society and start making a living. They talk with them, listen to them, pray for them, and are an amazing group of people; the Night Strike team is pretty cool too...
We had our local news team do a report a few years ago, and they found that a good percentage of our homeless people weren't homeless at all. They were like the freegans Oprah was talking about a few days ago on T.V. They sat down there and got a good chunk of change, and when it got dark they hopped in their car they had parked in the parking garage and went home to a two story house. It's kind of crazy.
I do agree with the idea may.i.please. It's a great idea; but the reality of it isn't that easy.
maybe in Portland it's not as easy, but I always offer leftovers to homeless in LA and I have not had one person turn me down yet. I also find that if you just acknowledge them, they generally offer a smile, a hello or a God Bless You.
Maybe a wall needs to come down?
I wouldn't take your leftovers, either. If you have no health care, it's really stupid to eat something with someone else's germs.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Downtown Portland is home to many homeless (as weird as that sounds.) I go down there sometimes; to eat, hang out, shop... You simply cannot make a trip to Portland without passing a homeless person. I won't give them money, but when I offer them my perfectly fine left overs, they deny my offer. Only once have my left overs been taken; and it was with a gracious and thankful person who accepted them. Not all homeless people are begging for money for food, they are usually looking for drugs or beer. Those are the same homeless people who don't want to talk to you, they just walk by you if you don't have anything to offer.
Now they aren't all like that. There are a nice bunch of them who really do need help, and have amazing stories to tell to anyone and everyone who listens. We have a thing called Night Strike here; a local Christian group goes down to Portland every Friday night and hangs out, eats popcorn & drinks cocoa with the homeless. They give them shoes, warm clothes, blankets, books, haircuts, and they help them get out into society and start making a living. They talk with them, listen to them, pray for them, and are an amazing group of people; the Night Strike team is pretty cool too...
We had our local news team do a report a few years ago, and they found that a good percentage of our homeless people weren't homeless at all. They were like the freegans Oprah was talking about a few days ago on T.V. They sat down there and got a good chunk of change, and when it got dark they hopped in their car they had parked in the parking garage and went home to a two story house. It's kind of crazy.
I do agree with the idea may.i.please. It's a great idea; but the reality of it isn't that easy.
i didn't mean to post that twice... sorry. :]