News /
Freezing weather in Poland, 42 people dead in winter freeze... and no-one cares? [140]
Sometimes I wonder if everyone has been around homeless people in big cities.
I've talked to a lot of homeless guys, and only a few homeless girls. For some reason it seems guys are more likely to end up homeless? Maybe this has to do something with broken relationships? Social repression? Regardless, I know most homeless people have some kind of a trauma, or just a lot of bad luck!
Did you know some homeless absolutely REFUSE to go to shelters? You cannot make someone go to a shelter who absolutely won't go.
Some would, that much is true. But I keep hearing the exact same comment over and over, and if you ask me, I think it's a weak excuse not to help the ones who wouldn't refuse.
Volunteers from shelters will go out and tell everyone about the shelter and hand out brouchures so people will know it's there and some people would rather just stay on the streets. I've seen it. Some people live in homeless camps with tents and everything and would rather be there than in a shelter.
I've seen succesful moviestars who used to be homeless. I've seen a girl write a best-seller who used to be homeless. You have no idea how many people actually end up homeless each year, and most of these people are perfectly sane. Stress and problems can turn someone into a proper mess, and if there's no one around to help at that time, it's too easy to lose everything.
Getting back on your own two feet is much harder, trust me. They won't allow you to work, because you have no address. They won't allow you to open a bank account, because you have no work. It's a downward spiral, even for people who are perfectly sane, strong and capable. (Don't ever make the mistake of thinking these people are too lazy too work.)
Most of them are people like you and me, the only difference is, they didn't have anyone who cared when they got into trouble. Some have mental problems, and some have been beaten, threatened and chased off by people so many times, they don't really trust people anymore. Some of them are much like hunted animals.
I gave a homeless guy 50 € just a few months ago. He walked by, and after a few moments he asked me if I had something to spare. I said: Ofcourse man. I didn't look in my wallet earlier, and I thought I had some small money. I didn't. I only had 50 €. So I gave him that.
Everyone was staring at me like I was crazy. (A girl who saw it smiled though!) Anyway, some people said: What are you doing? He'll only buy drugs! I said: He doesn't look like a junkie to me. He couldn't believe his eyes, and thanked me a few times. I said: Just go on and buy something for yourself.
I stood there, and the guy couldn't believe I gave him that. He had tears in his eyes, and I watched him cross the street, go into a shop across the road, and he came out with a bottle of mineral water, a whole bread, a toothbrush, a packadge of cigarettes, (Hey, I don't blame him, I sometimes smoke!) and some meat. He came back to me and he wanted to talk a little. He said he had mental problems, and I told him I've had them myself. I told him a few things about myself. I told him he could either do nothing, and ask for money to someone else, because I wouldn't give him anymore if he didn't do something. I told him he was too young to give up so easily. I said: Look at me, I'm just a normal guy, who had some problems, like you have now. I said: You can come out of this if you really want to. I friendly pointed out that the other homeless guy across the street was beyond help, and that it didn't have to be that way for him. I said: You might have some problems, but you seem sensible enough. I gave him advice, and told him about a center for cases like him. He listened.
He promised me that he was going to use the rest of the money to go to Amsterdam to look for help. (I remember I was thinking: I don't believe a word of it, but I hope I made your evening!) Guess what? I contacted the center, and actually checked on him a few days ago.
He's doing much better now. He's recieving mental care. You know what he said? I gave him something he didn't expect. He thought everything in this world was rotten. He didn't trust anyone. I showed him some people actually want to help. I showed him not everyone is selfish. I showed him I was just like him. I gave him trust, and I gave him hope. I restored some of his trust. Enough trust to look for help.
He's doing a course now. He's going to be a mason. The guy was only one year younger than me. He also told me that if there was anything he could ever do for me, I would only have to ask.
I told him; You're already doing something for me. You're alive, and you've done exactly what you said you would do, and now you're about to make yourself useful again, and I know you will help someone else when he or she asks you.
The guy was baffled. I just smiled, asked him for a cigarette, and I walked off. I feel happy about doing this. Yes, I'm crazy, I helped someone who reluctantly asked me. I'm such a softie. I'm such a weakling. I didn't give it to him just like that though, I told him to tell me a bit of his story first, and while he was doing that I observed him a little.
He didn't smell, he looked as if he had only been homeless for a few weeks, (Most of his clothes were intact, if a bit dirty!) He didn't have a yellowish or pale grey skin, (Drug addict!) and he didn't smell of alcohol or weed. Worst of all, he was well-spoken, Dutch, blonde, and had blue eyes. Just like me. He made sense.
This is not a ******** story. It's what happened. So don't just give someone a bit of money, listen to someone's story first. Give someone advice if you think it might help. Restore some of his or her dignity. Give him or her a bit of hope. Show him or her that he or she matters. It matters a great deal. Regardless of who's fault or shortcoming it is, he or she is a human being, just like you.
I won't lie, I felt really stupid for giving him that much at first, but I'm happy for it now.
:)
