������Ƶ

We all recall the Governor’s initiative that went out a couple weeks ago where people can report “homeless” people in need. I had mentioned my personal concerns, namely how will the general public be able to truly discern what constitutes “need” outside of their own personal comfort zones.

After some initial praise for the number of calls that flowed into the hotlines, it appears things have hit a snag. Sunday’s Star-Advertiser that the large majority of calls concerned chronic homeless folks who had already repeatedly refused services.

So how do you spot someone who is homeless? Does the image of a stinky, grubby, despondent, feces-ridden, irrational beggar come to mind? If so, or even any version of that, then that’s a stereotype that doesn’t match the whole picture. It certainly doesn’t line up with all that I have seen out there amongst fellow un-homed.
The other day there were three guys at the Natatorium carefully shaving with tiny handheld mirrors. They all looked pretty well groomed with their hair as well. It got me to thinking about how, or where, do homeless get these needs met? Is there some underground system of personal care services that I haven’t been initiated into? Or are they doing what I do: I keep it simple and trim my own hair. It’s a mystery.

But I think the point is that many, who are un-homed, look just as normal as anyone else. And they’re going about their business as anyone would. So I have a slight difficulty with the notion that a stranger should feel comfortable enough to assume who is approachable and who isn’t.

Now, I’m not naïve to think that everyone on the streets is happy to be there. Nor do I think they are all unwilling to receive help. Many may be the severely disturbed or addicted ones who make consistent poor choices. Many may never respond to outside intervention out of convoluted pride. But I do believe that the bottom line for any offering has to include a re-evaluation on how we approach the whole thing.

Solutions don’t come without understanding, and understanding has to come at some human level of seeing what is there. There has to be a strong measure of acceptance of people’s choices as a starting point. Then we have to allow ourselves to look closely without the layers of anger, disgust, and dismissiveness. The looking can’t rely on some analysis and generalized notion of what people “should” be able to take responsibility for. Remember you’re trying to build trust in a system with a segment of people who have been outside the system.

Beyond that I just trimmed my hair recently so I should be good for a while. And the money saved can go elsewhere a little more critical.

Previous posts in this series:

• Nap Time On The Road
• A Funny Thing Happened…
• A Governor’s Decision
• Trying to Stay Clean
• Pity or Compassion
• Best Friends Forever… or For a While
• Going with the Flow
• Milestones
• Anger Paralysis
• Timing Is Everything
• It’s All Relative
• Riding Heartbreak
• The Courage Needed
• Bartering Along
• Getting Swept Away… Almost
• Neglect
• Small Measures of Success
• The Interior Life
• I Miss My Bed
• My Closet Has a Flat Tire
• Hopes and Dreams
• Homeless Are People, Too
• Full Monty or Not?
• Back Seat Office
• Staying Connected
• Those Small Indignities
• Putting Your Life in Storage
• One Step Forward, One Step Back
• Exciting New Career Opportunities
• End of the Day
• Solutions Wanted
• When to Hold On, Let Go?
• Location, location, location
• Range of Motion
• Food More Than Sustenance
• Figuring It All Out Someday
• Solitude
• The Good, The Bad
• From The Heart
• Does Anyone Really See Me?
• Keeping Perspective
• Showers at the Natatorium
• Achieving Homelessness