I know it’s easy to turn your nose up at the homeless people that populate down town Hali or be annoyed with them and judge them for what they are doing and how they got to that point in their life because I hear people do it frequently. Some of them are a lost cause. Some of them might be very bad people, but some of them simply had a turn of bad luck and struggle every day to turn it back around. Unless you have been there first hand you have no idea how hard it is to rise up from where they are so I have a Thanksgiving weekend challenge for those of you who routinely walk past these people. Next time instead of crossing the street or pretending to be preoccupied by your phone or the pretty shoes in the store window, look that person with their hand/cup/hat out in the eyes, smile at them and tell them that you hope they find what they need (or something along those lines). If they smile back and say thank you even though you did absolutely nothing to help them, you know they have a good soul so if you can afford to, walk into a coffee shop and buy a sandwich or a gift card or a hot cup of something that smells good and take it back to that lonely desperate human being who will actually appreciate it. You won’t be contributing to whatever addiction you think might have put them where they are and you will give them a little hope and the love they need and rarely see. It’s crazy, but a smile can change a life. The smile you get back might even change yours. —Smiles Often
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2012.
Good Idea! I’m a fan of buying a bowl of soup/stew for someone on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’d like to make a giant pot and dish it out downtown, but I don’t know if I’m a good enough soup cook for such an undertaking :S
You forgot the part where you slip in the botulism.
if the guy has a pair of underwear on the outside of his pants and is talking about The Tentacles with great concern, then you’re right op. I feel nothing but sympathy for the guy.
But if you’re talking about loser hipsters that choose this lifestyle because they have certain preconceived notions about “finding themselves”, you look at one of them someday. REALLY look at them. What specifically is it that keeps them from working? There is no lack of address, loss of brain tissue, inability to articulate. There is no wet brain, no missing limbs, no aging on the street or sickness. There isn’t even a religious reason for it (I can at least respect a zen buddhist master who begs.)
these people are fine. Able to work. Just not willing.
Fuck them.
I hate the homeless…..ness problem that plagues our city.