Myths and facts about homelessness. I have worked with them long enough in this mental health field as a therapist…. a system that fails everyone….. 16 years I have heard the pain, struggle and trespasses against them.
Why do you judge people?
How much do you even know about another person?
Why do you feel more entitled to being treated better than another?
Why are you better than another? Have you ever asked a homeless person what you could do to help?
Why are you so afraid of them?
They are just people who are treated like wild animals, at the hand of political paychecks, the people you admire on TV instead of those who are real heroes in your backyard..
Please, just for one second (this is glamping to us in the video below). We are fine with camping, we know how to make do with less while many others do not…. but what do you consider FOR YOURSELF as being “Humane vs INHUMANe”. We are at the precipice of the criminal code being changed to treat people and control them like animals. This is basic psychology of Pavolv’s conditioning 101.
What do you feel like you are more deserving of than others and who made you think that way? Think about that when you approach and judge another person with less than you. #unpopularopinion?
Next time you see a homeless person, or anyone, just talk to them. Listen and hold space for their story, no one gives them the time of day because they are too busy forgetting that people fall on hard times that sometimes aren’t a fault of their own, but a matter of systemic abuse. This is why people don’t like me. I speak the truth because I believe that our systems can do so much better for those with less.
I ask homeless people that I see, “What can I get for you, or how can I help?” Sometimes, and very often, it’s water. They just ask for water. How can anyone judge another for asking for water? Sometimes I say, “Ok, well anything else? Do you need to eat?” Because they often forget about eating, they’re just needing water to survive. The last time I bought a supersize meal for a homeless man, right afterwards, he put it in his backpack and walked away from the liquor store. So while you go purchase wine at the liquor store as a high traffic facility judging the person begging outside of it for help, make sure YOU are the one with your priorities right. They might just need water with your “fun” money that you purchase at the liquor store.
Don’t stigmatize, don’t stereotype. We are all doing the best we can at any given moment. Just step UP.
