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.
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