Several years back while I was in the thick of my homelessness, I participated in an interview hosted by Mitch Albom and Say Play Detroit Radiothon at Somerset Mall. I was the invited guest of Father Tim from The Pope Francis Center, where he spoke on the issue of homelessness here in Detroit. From my recollection, I do not remember Mr. Albom asking Fr. Tim or me, the silly question he posed today in the Detroit Free Press.
I'm certain Mitch Albom has zero recollection of me, or that interview, but what it does demonstrate is the ignorance and lack of understanding most have about homeless or poor people. Mitch Albom runs a very successful non profit here in Detroit. How dare he ask this ridiculous question? How one treats or responds to homeless people, is no different in how one would treat or respond to anyone else. People are not less than, because they are homeless or poor. Destitute people are HUMAN BEINGS TOO, despite the negative narrative society tries to create about them. They are not murderers. They are not deplorable. They are real. Live. Human Beings!! I guess Mitch Albom has no clue that some of those who he encounters via his non profit work, are also homeless, have been homeless or knows someone who is currently in that situation. The answer to Mr. Albom's question is hidden right before his very own eyes.
People have NO RIGHT to injur, disrespect or even to kill a homeless person. If you truly don't want to deal with homeless people in your community, then you should utilize your skills and invest your time to genuinely helping this cause. What is needed first, is a change in how we think about street people. Some of these laws go against homeless people by design, and actually perpetuate homelessness by making it nearly impossible for them to get back on their feet. For instance here in Detroit, the mentally ill use to have a safe place to go, that kept many of them off the streets. That was until John Engler changed things up and eliminated their homes. That is a major reason why so many mentally ill people roam the streets here in Detroit today. Yet, nobody want to discuss or even remember that part.
When I was sleeping outdoors in downtown Detroit, The Baptist Convention came to town one summer. Because the police and powers that be did not want us in the midst of this money making convention, they moved several of the homeless people out of downtown to a temporary location. Some were even provided a hotel room for one night only. When the convention was over the homeless were still homeless and returned right back to the streets of Detroit. In other words, the goal was to hide the homeless in plain site, to make downtown more comfortable for our special invited guest. The goal has never been about actually solving the homeless crisis.
The stigma, disrespect, lack of understanding and hypocrisy against poor, needy people is unbelievable!! It is why I have chosen to use my story, and my voice to highlight these atrocities. Nothing will ever change as long as we ask dumb questions like Mitch Albom did on today. However, I fully understand the audience he is playing to.
Fearing the homeless or ignoring the root of homelessness is not a solution. Mistreating the poor and demonizing all homeless people is not a solution. Locking all the homeless people up, or even killing them is not a solution. The poor and the homeless will always be with us in every corner of this nation...until we shed our stigmatized and inhumane views towards these people. The solution is simple: choose to make an effort to understand homeless people and THEN do whatever you can to help them. You cannot solve any problem, including homelessness, unless you first understand it.
Ways You Can Help the
Homeless without Using Money
Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Make a sincere effort to talk to some of these people. Ask them about being homeless. Ask them about their goals, hopes and dreams. In other words, look beyond their circumstances and try to see them as human beings. I guarantee you will learn something you never knew.
Advocate against laws that target the homeless. Almost every state in the US have draconian laws that make it harder for homeless people, not easier.
Basic Decency and Respect. If you treat a person like an animal, then this is what you are likely to get in return. Try being humane next time you see a homeless person. Smile. Say Hello. I guarantee this will make their day and yours.
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