Homelessness

Homelessness

(Photo from this morning)

This morning when I went to pick up a friend because the buses weren't running my daughter spotted a homeless man sleeping in a doorway. It rained last night and he slept there seeking shelter from the elements. I got out of my SUV and gave the man the emergency blanket that was in my trunk and covered him up. It was a cool damp morning and I figured I should give him as much comfort as I could.

Most people think of homeless people as drug addicts or alcoholics and avoid them like the plague. I worked as a Counsellor in Oshawa at various agencies to help homeless and impoverished peopled. I learned many things working there and used to tell people I worked with human garbage. Most people agreed with me. What I actually meant was I worked with people society had thrown away and gave up on. No one sets out to be homeless. No one says hey Mom I want to grow up and be a drug addict and while I can't argue that a lot of homeless people have substance abuse problems, the majority have mental health issues. I found a correlation between addiction and concurrent mental health issues. If you think about it, no rational human being would choose to live on the street if there were any other option for them. Society has failed these people as a whole. Instead of caring for them, providing treatment for their mental health we walk by and think there goes another boozer. I'm not saying you should dig into your pockets and fork out your money to them, but do donate to causes who help them. Understand the problem before you judge. Spend a day at a drop in centre before you judge. I've known homeless people with university education who ended up homeless because they simply suffered from a disease called schizophrenia, people with doctorates who aren't drug addicts they are simply just sick.

So this thanksgiving while you are eating your turkey, ponder what you can do to help those in need and be thankful for what you have.