Myth #1 – People “want” to be homelessNobody dreams of being homeless My personal experience working with people from the street tells me otherwise. The people I converse with on the street and in shelters tell me that everyone (including themselves) desires to wake up in their own room, have access to a bathroom and/or shower whenever they want, and have a comfortable bed to sleep in at night, sheltered from the effects of weather. Myth #2 – Those experiencing homelessness are rude and uncouth My experience with people from the street is that the majority of the folks are extremely appreciative and polite. One night, for example, I was talking to a man on the Boston Common. Suddenly, a woman approached me who wanted to talk with me right away. The man I was speaking with said to her: “I’m sorry. I would like to finish my conversation with Brian alone. Can he talk to you a bit later?” Then after I finished talking with the man, he suggested that I now go talk to the woman who approached us previously and directed me to where she was sitting. Constantly, whether we are giving snacks, coffee, or clothes, people from the street usually say “please” and “thank you” in appreciation to whatever we offer. Myth #3 – Shelters are better than “sleeping out” The reality is that both of these options are negative and are often extremely dangerous. Many of my friends from the street tell me of times when they have had their clothing or their personal items stolen, even while in a shelter. Others tell me of the frequent fights and chaos that they encounter outside or in a shelter. While being in a shelter protects people from the weather, staying in a shelter means that you will have limited access to your belongings and are subject to the strict rules of the facility. Myth #4 – People from the streets are uneducated and unintelligent There are those who are experiencing homelessness who have earned doctoral degrees, but they are still on the streets. There are those on the streets who have trade licenses in carpentry, plumbing, as electricians, etc., but still find their home on the street or in a shelter. In many of the conversations that I have with people on the street, I find that they have thought through their opinions and many are extremely astute in their comprehension of complex issues. Myth #1 – People “want” to be homelessNobody dreams of being homeless My personal experience working with people from the street tells me otherwise. The people I converse with on the street and in shelters tell me that everyone (including themselves) desires to wake up in their own room, have access to a bathroom and/or shower whenever they want, and have a comfortable bed to sleep in at night, sheltered from the effects of weather. Myth #2 – Those experiencing homelessness are rude and uncouth My experience with people from the street is that the majority of the folks are extremely appreciative and polite. One night, for example, I was talking to a man on the Boston Common. Suddenly, a woman approached me who wanted to talk with me right away. The man I was speaking with said to her: “I’m sorry. I would like to finish my conversation with Brian alone. Can he talk to you a bit later?” Then after I finished talking with the man, he suggested that I now go talk to the woman who approached us previously and directed me to where she was sitting. Constantly, whether we are giving snacks, coffee, or clothes, people from the street usually say “please” and “thank you” in appreciation to whatever we offer. Myth #3 – Shelters are better than “sleeping out” The reality is that both of these options are negative and are often extremely dangerous. Many of my friends from the street tell me of times when they have had their clothing or their personal items stolen, even while in a shelter. Others tell me of the frequent fights and chaos that they encounter outside or in a shelter. While being in a shelter protects people from the weather, staying in a shelter means that you will have limited access to your belongings and are subject to the strict rules of the facility. Myth #4 – People from the streets are uneducated and unintelligent There are those who are experiencing homelessness who have earned doctoral degrees, but they are still on the streets. There are those on the streets who have trade licenses in carpentry, plumbing, as electricians, etc., but still find their home on the street or in a shelter. In many of the conversations that I have with people on the street, I find that they have thought through their opinions and many are extremely astute in their comprehension of complex issues.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 06:09:43 +0000
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