Blog Action Day: on the street

I've spent a decade or more working with folks from the streets, families who sleep in their cars, kids who go to school hungry, parents who are forced to decide between medicine and food.  I've had the honor of bearing witness to thousands of heroes, folks that will give the (last) shirt off their back, who will go without a meal so someone else can eat or give up their place in line so the person behind them might get a bed.  Each of them believing their luck is about to change, that they can never give up on hope, that things will start looking up.  For some or even many this dream comes true but for each person who walks out the door two more walk in.  Sometimes it feels like we are bailing out an ocean with a thimble and everyone's arms are getting tired.

We often talk about poverty in generalities; those people, the poor, the homeless.  As with many things we group people into categories, into a faceless bucket that somehow is supposed to ease the reality of the situation.  That every single day in the USA people do not have the means to take care of basic needs like shelter, food and healthcare.  That every single day these folks are ignored or worse, taunted and feared.

They are ostracized simply because they are poor and because they need our help. 

Imagine if you will, being on the streets tonight.  Imagine your child is right there with you.  It's dark and you are hungry.  You have nowhere to go.  You probably don't sleep much and you can't find a bathroom.  Your child is crying because she hasn't eaten all day.  You try and comfort her but you know it's futile.  You love her but you can't ease her pain and the shelter is full tonight and your purse was stolen when you were standing in line.  You are all alone.  And then imagine sitting there and a group of people walk by, maybe one has a coffee in his hand, they have on warm coats and you can hear them laughing and it sounds so nice.  They walk past you, one of them gives you a dirty look. The other's eyes are softer, you think maybe just maybe they'll stop and see you.  You scan their eyes looking for the smallest glimpse, that maybe one of them will take pity on you, their spare change might mean food for your child. They walk on. Your child's eyes close briefly, she's tired and you hope she can sleep.

There is a widely accepted theory that it's not a good idea to give money to people on the streets.  That they will use it for drink or for drugs.  We don't know for sure but the risk is there and for some reason that matters, even as we fill our cars with gas and buy clothes made in questionable factories perhaps by little children. 

But we also don't know that they might use it for food or for a bus ticket, to cobble together enough money for a room for the night.  We don't know the right answer and it scares us.  But when we are confronted by the rawest humanity we have an obligation to respond in kind.  One of us may have a better idea of where we are going in this moment but none of us should take it for granted.  In that moment we are simply two human beings on the street.

Jen also blogs at one plus two.   

Comments

[Glennia]

Beautifully written, and so true. Thank you for all that you do.

[Terra]

I just wanted to say that was very inspirational... Reminds me that I can do more... Thank you

[Ellen]

Very well done.

[lildb]

once again, mind blown by your words.

[Daffodil Campbell]

Thanks, as always, for sharing your experiences in such a relatable way. I appreciate your point of view, and your willingness to include us on the journey.

[Painted Maypole]

oh.

"We don't know for sure but the risk is there and for some reason that matters, even as we fill our cars with gas and buy clothes made in questionable factories perhaps by little children."

yes.

when I finally realized that it's not up to me to judge how they use the money it opened up doors to my generosity. it sure did.

[hele]

O Jen, you give me the strength to try harder.

[Ally]

Yes, Jen, yes. In the face of need, my friend Christina says, "It is my decision to be generous. It is their decision whether to be honest." In other words, how the person chooses to use the money she gives when they ask is up to them, and is not her concern. I believe this as well. Imagining being on the street with nowhere to go, my children in tow is so terrifying. And I know it's the reality for too, too many.