Harmless, really. However I understand how many are afraid to even speak to the homeless. It’s not that we look down on them, it’s more so the fear of what’s unknown. Personally I have wondered about my safety at times or have had thoughts of being followed for more money. We don’t fully understand their situation, making it hard for us to engage even in something as simple as conversation.
I’ve been doing a fair bit of research on homelessness in the last year and a half, and more recently, on women who are homeless. My findings have allowed me to engage in friendly conversation with ones such as these. I have found a few interesting truths in the process; I’d like to share them with you:
-No teeth does not equal axe murderer. It equals someone who has nothing and is probably ashamed of their smile. (If I struggle with a slight coffee stain, how must they feel?!)
-Saying “hello” does not mean unending harassment.
-Giving money may indeed go to booze, but it may remind them that someone cares. Wouldn't you drink if you were on the street in the dead of winter?
-If you have no money to share, I've found finding out their name and introducing yourself brings more than money can buy; it brings humanity back to their existence.
There are many contributing factors to what causes homelessness. Because of how vast the subject is, I would like to highlight a couple of factors when it comes to women you may see on the street who are homeless.
Did you know?:
-Many women on the street have come from situations of domestic violence. If they don’t have children, there is very limited shelter space for them.
-Women on the street will often hook up with a man for survival and a place to live – even if that man is abusive or feeds her substance abuse habits.
-Women only make up 20% of homeless shelters, mostly because of the dangers that exist for them while staying at a shelter.
Some women you see on the street were once just like you and I. Maybe they were trying to support themselves through University and chose an escorting job that led them to a party lifestyle of crystal meth that depleted their beauty and thus their employability. Prostitution was the next best option for them. Some women are homeless due to mental illness and no family that is around or willing to help them. Single moms have a hard time finding affordable housing in Calgary. Imagine working a $10/hr job and having two kids that cost more than that for childcare and your rent is $1500 a month. How does one survive?
Knowing some of these facts has brought their humanity back to my heart. Knowing their name has become important to me. Thinking about where they have come from means something to me. I don’t see them as separate from myself; I see them as valued members of our community, our city.
Seeing value in them makes them visible to me. I don’t need to solve their problems, but having them and the issues surrounding their situation makes them no longer invisible to me. This becomes the start to building a city I want to live in.
Check out Connie Jakab's blog at http://culturerebel.com where she blogs about her family's adventures in serving the less fortunate and her continued rebellion to what culture tells us. Be sure to pick up her book, "Culture Rebel - because the world has enough desperate housewives" at http://culturerebel.com/books/. You can find Connie on Twitter at @ConnieJakab
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