Our Politicians need a Homeless Holiday
Homeless Holiday Invitation
It is a complete and utter waste of time talking about, or spending money on the homeless. Why? It's like subsidizing toilet paper, instead of treating a contaminated water supply. And, with the very real possibility of rising inflation and interest rates, or worse, a deflationary economic spiral, there may soon be a lot more people looking for toilet paper in the not too distant future.
Like it or not, your identity, how you feel about yourself and especially how others regard you, is to a large extent determined by your material wealth and social standing. You are a doctor? Welcome, sir. You are homeless? The dumpster is out back.
Homeless is a powerful word that evokes fear and hatred amongst the rich and poor, but for different reasons. What homeless does not do, is come close to describing the disparate group of people who are without a home. To be sure, some have debilitating health or psychological problems and need special care, but most are simply destitute and poorly educated. Currently, most government programs, employing thousands of well-paid, highly educated employees, are designed more to support homeless people for life than to provide them with a path to a more productive and fulfilling life. Education, mentoring, and opportunity are all that is missing; NOBODY living on the streets wants to be there.
This is why the homeless label is so dangerous; it keeps the public fearful and ignorant, and does nothing for those that need help. Be realistic, would you take a chance on hiring a homeless person who might be a drug addict or maybe a person with a history of mental illness or violence? Of course not; but because of the broad-brush homeless label, very few companies are willing to take a chance on capable, but impoverished people who want nothing more than to become productive Canadians.
Take a walk through the East side of Vancouver, and look into people's eyes. The homeless have a look about them that is unmistakable. That look is the result of the precarious and impoverished world in which they live. It is almost impossible to maintain or build a healthy self-image when, on a daily basis you must grovel for food, clothing and shelter. You feel worthless.
Please do not take my word for this. In fact, I beg you to try something quite remarkable, that you will never forget: Try homelessness for yourself. The experience will touch your soul and you will learn some remarkable things about yourself and others. You will expand your capacity for love and appreciation.
How would you experience homelessness? Read on.
Here are my five suggestions for having your very own Homeless Holiday.
1. Clothing - it is essential that you look the part, so drop by one of the no cost clothing stores. You will be amazed at the variety and colors of your new "old" duds and you can donate your own clothes on the same visit. Believe me, at this point you will look homeless and feel oddly out of place in someone else's shoes, shirt and underwear.
2. Money - good news here, you do not need any. In fact, you will not need money, credit cards, laptop, cell phone or anything else that reminds you of who you are in the materialistic world. Your identity is about to change.
3. Food - no problem here either. Any homeless person knows of several places to get free snacks and meals, so just ask anyone with that homeless look about them. Some free meals even come with a prayer service, and it's the perfect opportunity to meet your homeless brothers and sisters. Don't forget, this is for your benefit so talk with lots of people, it won't take long to spot the drug addicts and people with a variety of unusual and debilitating medical conditions.
4. Shelter - this is a little trickier because shelters are often full, and frequently have inconvenient rules, like throwing you back out on the street at 6:00am. If you are unable to find a mat in a shelter, there are always plenty of doorways and dark places where you can spend the night. Your natural shivering response will be useful here and should keep from dying from hypothermia.
5. Employment – when you are not busy looking for food and shelter or trying to keep warm, you can go job hunting; without a home address, phone number, or money to take a bus or transit. You walk everywhere, and with your cap in hand discover what people really think of the homeless. I promise you, after a week or two of experiencing the plight of homeless; you will develop a wholesome new appreciation for what it means to BE homeless.
Good luck and please be generous in sharing your homeless experiences with your family, community and politicians. Ignorance of a problem is no excuse for making bad laws, wasting people's money, and destroying people's lives.
