Everywhere in the world, people are struggling, and as much as we all wish we could help them, unfortunately, we can’t, I fear that one of the main reasons we hold back from even doing a “little” good is because of the things we keep hearing about homeless people and that makes us want to hold back. Many of these arguments contain stereotypical comments that we can never for sure know, ones that we cannot confirm. As much as these can be reasonable, it does not mean you should immediately assume the worst of someone you do not know.

Especially now with media everywhere, thankfully more people are taking this situation into their own hands and going out of their way to make content to show support for these people, giving food, money, shelter, and a comforting sense. Having people like this helps the situation. Though having people against it… doesn’t. “Don’t give these people money they will use it for illegal substances”, and to that I say what goes through your mind when thinking that? Most of these people being adults shocks me a bit. A lot of people may already point this POV out. Still, I’ll gladly do it again, so what if that homeless person was your kid? You would want someone to help them and as a grown adult and a parent, you wouldn’t want a stranger on the street assuming the worst of your child because of how they look in their situation. Well, I don’t know about you but I’d feel pretty enraged. I get it though, maybe it feels strange that you’re potentially helping someone get ahold of something they should not be consuming, how can you be so sure though? It is better to take a risk and have the chance to make someone happy than to ignore them. A reminder that these are people too, that person is someone’s kid and maybe even someone’s parent and there is always a chance that in their past life in the past few years, they could have been a horrible person and maybe it brought them to that place but what if you are wrong? It is a negative way to think of someone in that way just because of how they look, how negative do you have to be for your brain to automatically make up the most vile thoughts about a person in one of the most horrible situations?

One of many other arguments along with the previous one is the “just go get a job” which is just common sense as to why they can’t. Many jobs nowadays require way more information, a phone number, home address, and some jobs do not pay in cash that otherwise a homeless person would not be able to obtain, not only that but because of how they might look jobs won’t want them, if you have a job that you worked hard for just think if they would’ve STILL taken you in if you looked any other different than how you current look. Although it is not impossible, it’s also a hit or miss. Homeless people are not as privileged as you or the next person is and even though you think “I’m not privileged one bit”, maybe that’s true but you have a roof over your head, you have food, and you have more opportunities, and that is much more than they might ever have. Of course, this is not a way for you to go out and give all your money to someone in need, this is a way for you to understand you don’t have to think that way, no matter what you “grew up with” that’s not your set mindset. Go out and make that one person happy, just one, and it doesn’t have to take all your effort to either you’d be surprised at how just treating homeless people like actual human beings can do for them. 

This brings me to my last point, stop treating these people like nobodies. They are different than us for sure and yes they can all react differently sometimes but must you fuel that built-up anger they have? Be careful of who you talk to and be with someone when you do these things but it wouldn’t be the worst thing to hear them. “They’ve been out here for days with the same sign” Well because no one is helping them. “That’s a crazy situation there’s no way that’s real” You’d be surprised. “Why do they always ask for change” They probably haven’t eaten in DAYS. Please use your brain and please expand your mindset, think further into these things, and instead of judging maybe try to find a solution for it. At the end of the day if you have that mindset, oh you are most definitely the problem.