Homelessness is a problem.
"an estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless."
The above statistic is from the 2005 United Nations Commission on Human Rights. 2005. That is almost 10 years ago. That number has increased dramatically in the past decade due to a variety of influences, including natural disasters, war and conflict, increased poverty, and others.
It is very difficult to know the exact number of homeless people, in any community, but especially worldwide, as different countries have different qualifying characteristics that would classify someone as homeless or not.
Homelessness is a problem. There are statistics and numbers and data that can clearly outline why homelessness is a problem. The important thing to note about that data however, is that it focuses primarily on the economic aspect of homelessness, and not the social aspect.
Homelessness is a social problem. A homeless person is not a problem. He or she is not a situation or an event. They are not issues. Homelessness is the issue, and the way society views a person living in homelessness makes up a significant portion of the problem. Society finds it hard to talk about homelessness. It's hard to talk to a homeless person. Why? Below are a few of the responses that I got from my survey asking about societal views on homelessness in local communities.
The question: "What is your first reaction when you see a homeless person on the street?"
The responses:
"Uncomfortable."
"I feel bad."
"There are times where I'm scared."
"Sad."
"I make sure to avoid them to avoid talking with them."
"Keep my distance."
"Depends- sometimes pity and sometimes disgust- especially if they are looking for handouts."
"Normally do not make eye contact."
"I am skeptical."
"Ignore them."
"Don't ask me for money."
"Awkwardness."
"Pity."
"Please don't bother me."
"Suspicion."
"That sucks..."
"I wonder if they are actually homeless or not.."
Those are a few of the answers that I received. Take a moment to let those sink in and think about how you might respond to that question. If you ask me, those answers sound extremely harsh. And yet they're true. THAT is the problem. We are too scared, judgmental, untrusting, or simply self-absorbed to realize that homeless people are, wait, what was that? Homeless people are PEOPLE. And thus have as much right as any other person on the planet to be treated as such.
Those feelings and responses are natural. Feeling uncomfortable, sad, guilty is normal because homelessness is a problem that we do not want to acknowledge. Acknowledging it would be admitting that we are doing something wrong in the way we look at and view homelessness and the issue as a whole.
If you want to know what you can do to help, treat the next homeless person you see as a person. Don't intentionally avoid eye contact, don't conjure up feelings of disgust, don't rush by. Smile at him or her. That person is a person and by making a little bit of difference, you will make a lot of difference.
It is very difficult to know the exact number of homeless people, in any community, but especially worldwide, as different countries have different qualifying characteristics that would classify someone as homeless or not.
Homelessness is a problem. There are statistics and numbers and data that can clearly outline why homelessness is a problem. The important thing to note about that data however, is that it focuses primarily on the economic aspect of homelessness, and not the social aspect.
Homelessness is a social problem. A homeless person is not a problem. He or she is not a situation or an event. They are not issues. Homelessness is the issue, and the way society views a person living in homelessness makes up a significant portion of the problem. Society finds it hard to talk about homelessness. It's hard to talk to a homeless person. Why? Below are a few of the responses that I got from my survey asking about societal views on homelessness in local communities.
The question: "What is your first reaction when you see a homeless person on the street?"
The responses:
"Uncomfortable."
"I feel bad."
"There are times where I'm scared."
"Sad."
"I make sure to avoid them to avoid talking with them."
"Keep my distance."
"Depends- sometimes pity and sometimes disgust- especially if they are looking for handouts."
"Normally do not make eye contact."
"I am skeptical."
"Ignore them."
"Don't ask me for money."
"Awkwardness."
"Pity."
"Please don't bother me."
"Suspicion."
"That sucks..."
"I wonder if they are actually homeless or not.."
Those are a few of the answers that I received. Take a moment to let those sink in and think about how you might respond to that question. If you ask me, those answers sound extremely harsh. And yet they're true. THAT is the problem. We are too scared, judgmental, untrusting, or simply self-absorbed to realize that homeless people are, wait, what was that? Homeless people are PEOPLE. And thus have as much right as any other person on the planet to be treated as such.
Those feelings and responses are natural. Feeling uncomfortable, sad, guilty is normal because homelessness is a problem that we do not want to acknowledge. Acknowledging it would be admitting that we are doing something wrong in the way we look at and view homelessness and the issue as a whole.
If you want to know what you can do to help, treat the next homeless person you see as a person. Don't intentionally avoid eye contact, don't conjure up feelings of disgust, don't rush by. Smile at him or her. That person is a person and by making a little bit of difference, you will make a lot of difference.