Quote:
Originally Posted by Secretum
There were a lot of homeless individuals in the city where I went to college, and it broke my heart. I'd give them some money when I had cash, but a dollar here and a dollar there isn't really going to change much.
For those of you who have been homeless: what is a simple thing that an average person passing you on the streets could do to help you? I've always wanted to help. I think that it is so wrong that some people get to live $10 million houses, while others sleep on the streets. And you're right; I'm sure some of the mentally ill homeless are incredibly smart and kind people, and that the "healthy" people treating them like garbage are missing out by not stopping and getting to know them.
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The absolute best thing you can do is speak to them as though they are just regular human beings. Give them dignity and respect, instead of looking away like they are invisible, or showering them in pity. Ask them questions, listen, make appropriate eye contact. Tokens of kindness like small gifts or money are always very sweet of a person, but more than anything what everyone I met seemed to want was to feel human, and not like a feral animal. They wanted relationships. They wanted to talk and be heard. They wanted friends and to be able to trust people. You can't save them as far as giving them a house, medication, etc or forcing them into a program. But you can help them feel human, which is like the square one foundation to them working up the courage and determination to accept help when it is offered on down the line.
Based on my experiences/observations, sooo many of them are struggling with mental problems, so it's important to keep yourself safe while also acting normally with them. It's like that fine line between having empathy for someone with severe paranoia issues, while also keeping yourself safe.