The Value Of A Homeless Person

Coming from a smaller city like Denver, spending four days walking the uneven grounds of San Francisco was pretty overwhelming. The cultural dynamics are much different than from what I would consider “my city.” And unlike Denver the homeless is nothing like San Francisco. From my home in Highlands Ranch I see very little homeless people and by very little I mean I basically never see them. In the rare trip to Downtown Denver I am told to put my purse across my body and pull it to the front of my body “so it’s always in my sight.” In Denver, people think the homeless are our enemies but in the big city they are forgotten and left behind.

I don’t understand how some people can be so rude and hurtful to other individuals. I’m the type of person that is kind and helpful to other people, for the most part at least. It feels good to be kind.

“One single night in January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness in the United States” (“Facts On Homeless”, Project HOME). There is not a day that goes by were someone does not see a homeless person on the side of the street holding a sign describing what they need, trying to provoke you into giving them money. In many situations this tactic has several individuals handing out their money left and right. Within themselves they feel by doing this action they have helped someone in need, made someones' day, or maybe even thought of themselves as a good Samaritan. But has it ever crossed your mind if giving them money was the right thing to do? Examination of the uses behind

We have all seen it before. The man sitting on the cold street possessing only a few rudimentary goods while begging for food or the woman holding her child’s hand while asking for spare change. Some people saunter by these downtrodden individuals unconcerned, while others give them sympathetic looks and drop a few coins in their cups. We are aware of homelessness, almost too aware and yet we go on with our lives without further regard. Homelessness has become such an epidemic in the United States that it is normal and practically expected to be seen in our urban streets. Homelessness is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, “Having no home or permanent residence.” While that is true, there are many other dynamics that come into play with this social problem. Without proper housing, the homeless community is more susceptible to violence, disease, weather conditions, hunger and ultimately death. We all recognize homelessness but what can we do to help those in need?

Hey little cousin I hope you didn’t do anything wrong because one time I did something wrong but it’s a long story. I guess I could tell you about it. One time I was trying to get a pair of new shoes but I didn’t have the money. So I saw a big lady in the distance. She had a pocketbook and I’m pretty sure it had money. Then I ran at her and tried to steal it but I fell in the process. She picked me up and grabbed me by the arm. I told her to let go and she asked will you run. I had to be honest so I said yes, so she did not let go. Then she looked at my face and said I was dirty and asked me if someone at home washes me. I said no since I was homeless.

Many homeless individuals have stories to tell about how they ended up homeless. Some of them became homeless due to drug addiction. Some of them chose the life they did because it felt commendable at the moment, and they did not think about the future. While I was volunteering, I had the opportunity to meet with a few homeless individuals and they told me their experiences about how they manage to survive throughout the year. It was sad that most of them can’t control their circumstances because there are other complex reasons why they became homeless

Over half a million people are homeless in the United States. These people are all around us including; loved ones, family, and friends. Most homeless people around the country are easily looked over. People tend to think it doesn’t affect them, so they shouldn’t have to help. Although helping the homeless is not required, it is definitely the right thing to do. Helping the homeless is not not always a group effort, although it can be, all it takes is one single person to make a difference. It should not be the fame that makes one want to help the homeless, it should be that warm fuzzy feeling inside that makes it feel like it is the right thing to do. It also does not take a huge donation of some sort to mean something to someone, it should be the things that actually have meaning behind them. It is the little things that matter the most.

What really impress me about the speaker, is that they were able to create something that will help everyone. The speaker and everyone that pitched in, create an act in Illinois that the hopeless are able to vote as well. They march all the way to Springfield to change the law. Showing that every voice is important no matter the economical crisis that they might be facing. News reporters came to interview her asking her the same question how did they become homeless? and she always said, “Don't ask me. I'm not homeless. Ask them.” This shows how there word is important, that she saying something to the reporters wouldn't mean as much if she said it then the homeless

When I was little, I pitied the homeless and wanted to help them in any way I could. Part of that being I was a Girl Scout and was taught to help those in need. Another part being, I pitied those who completely messed their life up by one mistake. I grew up in a place where people who were homeless chose drugs over paying bills and ended up being evicted. At that time, I thought that they made a tiny mistake and it completely messed up their life and their priorities were out of order. Since then, my opinion on the homeless have changed. My opinion changed back in October/November (I’m not completely sure which month but it was about the time of October and November). Well, back during those two months, I saw a man. This man was homeless.

When I was young, I grew up in a middle-class family, and my parents provided all of my needs. Seeing a person sitting on the side of the street begging for money, in ragged clothings, tugs and aches my heart. I remember asking my parents for money to give to a man, and I weeped when I turned away. My parents had taught me to give and not expect something in return through their acts of kindness. However, I know that the amount I give will not be able to change their lives completely. I want to share what I have with someone who has so little compared to what I have. Just thinking about this subject causes me to tear up. Growing up, I have always felt sympathetic for homeless people who have no home to return to at the end of the day.

According to Katie Dowd (2016), “the thing that stands out the most — other than the heartbreaking family circumstances that so often led to homelessness in teen users — is the kindness of strangers.” (para.2). This article Dowd wrote explains how when asked the question of “what can we do to help?”, homeless people state the thing they remember most from being homeless is the people who saw them as people. They remembered the people who were kind to them and didn’t see them as just another person living on the streets. They didn’t remember the people who just gave them a few dollars and walked away without saying a word.

As I was listening to music on my iPod touch, I heard a kid on the bus say he saw a guy holding up a “feed us” sign. I turned my head and noticed a man, probably around 40 years old who had a family of 3 kids and a wife with them on the side. They were wearing tattered clothes that they probably had for years and they were extremely dirty from sleeping outside every night. We still had extra burritos in the car and my friend Lola asked Nick, the other counselor if we could give them to the poor family. We immediately pulled over and introduced ourselves to the family. I stood in the back alone because I had never seen a homeless person before and I thought they were one of those people who offered you candy or tricked you into getting into your car and then you’d disappear

I volunteer with our church to feed the homeless twice a year and sometimes I just buy a plate lunch for a random homeless person. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to some of them and one was a nurse with young children who had an abusive husband and had no choice but to live on the street until she could get back on her feet. I bought them a pizza and they were so thankful and I was so empathic when I heard their story.

I would recommend this book to people who think there is somewhere else out there to live and want to improve there lives because they think that they have it bad like Holly. I think that people that want to see the truth of what it is like when you run away would also enjoy this book because it gives information from a person who has actually experienced running away and becoming homeless.

I was able to held a quick conversation with a man named Jason. Jason has been homeless for about a year at the time and I asked him if he has ever gone to the Mission or another shelter. He talks about the waiting period for the shelters. That many of the shelters have a month to a year waiting list, some longer. Due to the weather everyone floods to the shelter and since homeless people are limited on transportation it’s difficult for them to get to each shelter. He is unable to use the city transit buses because it costs money, money that he unfortunately doesn’t have. We talked about how people within our society treat homeless people. Some people say they put themselves in that situation, their addicts, lazy, uneducated, criminals, and many other stereotypes. I think Jason was a kind-hearted person, from the brief interaction we had. Jason talk about how he feels unwanted here because of the reaction he gets from some people in our society. He gets ignored and treated differently because of his situation he is in. I think we, as a society needs to realize that, that is a human being. It doesn’t