Morning Musings…
So, on my drive to work this morning, I saw two people pushing carts along 98th Ave. It looked to me like their entire life’s possessions were in those two carts. My “take” on the situation was that they were heading downtown. No idea why, of course, but that is what I thought. Anyway, I had the same recurring thought I always have when I see those without homes…
What a tragedy! I firmly believe that not having a home is the worst thing a person can go through. I can empathize. I know where they are coming from. I myself
spent some time living out of my car and let me tell you it was no fun at all, the only saving grace was that it was late summer so at least the weather was decent.
Every one of these people needs support and help. There are times in your life when things just get to a point where you feel like you have lost all control over
your situation. Having support and guidance to help you get back on track is essential to feeling like you might be able to regain that control and get back
to a life that you can live, not just survive.
Help and support are essential to getting back on track, but these people have to “want” to get back on track. There are those out there who prefer this kind of life; they do not want to be told how to live their lives or be responsible for anything but themselves. As long as they can get by, they are content. I really feel for these people. Society has really failed them if they have chosen to live homeless and with nothing but what they can carry from place to place.
I feel for the homeless and have talked to some of them. I give out Tim’s cards so those I can help can get a meal and coffee, especially on the colder days. I
do not give out cash because I have seen it misused. I want to help, not “enable”.
But there is a big difference between supporting and providing resources to help people get back on track, and giving them handouts to empower them to maintain
that lifestyle…
When I got back on track, the resources I was given came at a small cost. I had to give up some freedom and get a job and a place to live. I was given what I
needed to get that apartment. It was a small bachelor suite with a kitchenette and a bathroom. It had a bed, and I was given vouchers to buy clothes and food.
The price was that I had to try to find work, even if it was as a janitor or some other job I was not really interested in. The point was to get both feet on the ground and stand on my own. Then I could take the time to improve my skills and look for something I really wanted to do.
There is more that our society can do to help these people, but at the same time we need to make sure that we are not just enabling them to live a life of survival
and non-productivity. Giving them shelter and basic necessities is only the first step, we need to give them back their dignity and “sense of worth”. They need to feel valued and that what they have to offer has value.