The addicted homeless bias…
“A common stereotype of the homeless population is that they are all alcoholics or drug abusers. The truth is that a high percentage of homeless people do struggle with substance abuse, but addictions should be viewed as illnesses and require a great deal of treatment, counseling, and support to overcome. Substance abuse is both a cause and a result of homelessness, often arising after people lose their housing.” -National Coalition for the Homeless
So what came first? Does it matter?
It is important that we are good stewards of our resources and no one wants to be taken advantage of. But I get tired of hearing how the ‘concern’ for money given to a homeless person will be used for drugs or alcohol, as the excuse to not to do anything. Really? Sounds like a huge cop out to me.
The fact that many homeless have addiction problems does not give us permission to let them starve or freeze to death. Do they deserve it? Oh my, I hope I never get what I deserve. Do we have the right to sentence them to even more hardships than they already have?
I am sure many of you reading this, myself included, have family members or friends who struggled with alcohol or drugs. I grew up with family gatherings that always included beer and mixed drinks. Granted many of my family members handled the alcohol consumption with no problem, they went to work on Mondays and paid their bills. But I also had family members who had self-sacrificing spouses, children or siblings that bailed them out often…giving them a bed to sleep in, a hot meal or a ready excuse to a boss. If not, they would have been on the streets or in shelters.
Whatever your experience has been with a drunk or addict, set it aside. There are people (and if we began to see them as such it would be easier) that need a hand out. Here are some ‘safe’ ways to help:
- Hand them a fast food gift card
- Hand them a blanket, socks or coat
- Donate to a local shelter or organization serving the homeless. They know the best way to use your donation
- Give them a smile or hello…just to let them know “I see you”
If you walk down the street and see someone in a box, you have a choice. That person is either the other and you’re fearful of them, or that person is an extension of your family. — Susan Sarandon
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Well said, my friend! And you just gave me a great idea! Why not carry a box of new socks, gloves, winter caps and scarves, fast food gift cards, etc. in the car at all times? (Especially right now with winter well on its way.) You can buy this stuff really inexpensively at WalMart or other discount stores. That would help to meet a small need when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign where a homeless person is asking for help without the concern for handing them cash.
I love what you are doing, Cathy! Thanks for encouraging the rest of us to shake off our fears and biases for the sake of another human being.
There but by the grace of God go I! Praise God for such merciful grace!
Have a blessed day, my friend!
Mary
You have made us all think about where we stand on the issues of homelessness, I’m sure. Who of us have not judged those we see and tried to understand their situation? I don’t know the difference between the addicted and the abusers by sight, we tend to lump them all together I think.
I took the boys to the Loveland Park at the old fairgrounds. We were rather early for the day to begin and there were people cleaning there as well as homeless men sleeping under the footbridge. I could not understand what was going on until the tarp was being folded up by one of the men and they were taking turns using the restrooms there. I had the little boys and didn’t want to frighten them so just let them play. I was afraid but not afraid enough to leave. I used the experience to talk with the boys and help them understand homelessness. We try to ignore the things we don’t understand. If you understand those things you don’t avoid or ignore them but try to help the situation in any way you can.
One thing I’m sure of is that these people are not homeless by choice, or maybe some are by now. They probably are comfortable being taken care of because some have come to that place where they know how to get by and it is the pattern they are accustom to. It simply works for them but others hate it and those are the addicted and abusers possibly. Are there any stats on that possibility? Might be interesting to gain knowledge of this information. What do you think?
Love your ideas Mary…thanks for sharing them. Like you said, we just have to step out a bit and press through, beyond our fears and biases.
In His Grace,
Cathy
You were right on Linn with your comment “We try to ignore the things we don’t understand.” I guess we would rather not see than be challenged to think differently.
The stats are out there Linn. Click on the link above and check out all of the information they have gathered. Be warned…some of it is hard to read. We think of America as being a wealthy nation, and we are by the world’s standards, but there is still poverty here. Maybe not by world standards but by ours. Regardless, hunger is still hunger, fear is still fear, loneliness is still loneliness….
I think our feelings/reactions to homelessness (and homeless people) are so complicated. I find it so uncomfortable and confusing when I am asked for “spare change” from a person on the street. I always feel conflicted. I love that you make specific suggestions about how to give and help, because I think many people just don’t know how to think about the problem or how to be helpful. And to be reminded that we are all so much more similar than different is uncomfortable and so important.
Your comments are so good Allisun, thank you. It is the complexity of our reactions and feelings that also keep us stuck and nothing happens. If we can ‘break free’ through understanding of ourselves and others, we can get a ‘new flow’ going.