I have never really been homeless; in my story I have only been near the edge. At times only the kindness of friends and family have kept me off the streets. Still there were a few times have I wandered the streets with no place to rest, eyed suspiciously by those who kept shops or those who were well dressed, obviously going somewhere. Suddenly acutely aware of the design of things meant to prevent comfortable ease; I felt unwanted. No loitering signs and benches with thin hard dividers to prevent one from lifting aching feet from the hard pavement were ubiquitous. I found a washroom to use, a warm place to take the chill from our bodies. In less than 15 min a machine gun toting guard made me move on. Legs tired and aching from the forced march, the Don't stop here + You aren’t welcome here message wore my spirit down. The sense that the world has revealed is true nature, from kind to harsh, grew stronger with each place I was denied rest.
Homelessness, and it’s cousin addition, all root in a perception of diminishing choices, a narrowing of options to meet desperate needs. A true perception in many cases.
A road less traveled may offer unexpected beauty; but may also be less traveled for a reason. It's a hard path regardless if it is by choice or if the choice is forced by the actions of others. These actions can be Intended or Unintended - Thought out or Thoughtless.
When the best perceived choice is only a moment away from tragedy - someone has not been honoured. When life is reduced to survival; we as a society have failed all these amazing humans that have found themselves on the street.
All humans are already amazing: we can ALL appreciate beauty even if we see it differently. We can even create beauty for ourselves and others to enjoy. We can love and be loved. Humans can think, dream, and wonder. We can have new ideas and thoughts; AND we can communicate these to others. We are as humans amazing!
This is true regardless if what we have or don’t have. What we think of ourselves or what opinions of others have been received as truth by our own mind. This is the basis for a practical humanism that I have practiced for years. I have been handed notes from passengers of the city bus I drove that told of how choosing not to commit suicide because of how they have been treated, important worthwhile, human. I have been approached by many and told of how their lives were changed as they listened and comprehended what my message could mean for them. This has always been my invitation..
“You’re amazing! What do you want to do with your expression of amazing?”
This is something all of us can do for each other.
The following has been picked up from various conversations over the years. (Not a complete last and I would like feedback on this)
Reasons people turn to a life on the street:
(Not in any particular order)
- Downward affordability spiral
- Increasing drug habits contribute to the above coupled with personal connections close to the street.
- Drugs and means of procurement are connected to the street.
- Drifting around because of feelings of alienation
- Opting out of society
- Mental health
- Opposition to others and or authority
- Abuse of all kinds
To fulfill the ‘contract’ of the system that needs a receiver for the good deeds done for parts of society to feel good about themselves.
Needs of those on the street:
- Safety - mental, emotional, and physical.
- Food security.
- Shelter immediate and future
- Self determination
- Respect
- Rebuilding of appropriate and realistic hope
- A positive mirror that supports the full development of the individual
- Practical support for the above
The bottom line is that all people need affirming, respectful, warm regard from other human beings and other living things.
This gift of ‘presence’ is crucial to the stages of human development. This includes some aspect of trust that all of us have to relearn to some degree.
We don’t need to help the homeless.
We need to welcome, invite our fellow humans along the journey. It is about removing barriers to the inclusion of all to the common experience of being amazing and seen as such.
YOU'RE AMAZING!
Jacob Enns