Everywhere has them. They're usually found in doorways, wrapped in layers with an old blanket or sleeping bag, with a plastic cup for spare change. What I'd like to know is what do you do when you see them? Are you one of the types that walk on past and pretend that they aren't there? Do you give them your spare change or cash? Have any stories to share?
My mum and my grandmother were homeless for a while once when my mum was a little younger than me now. Women and children seem to get different treatment to men, but that didn't mean that they didn't sleep rough some nights. They were eventually taken in by the Salvation Army, and then my nan met someone and they moved in with him. So my mum has raised me to take notice of them, and not just walk on by without a second thought. On the few occasions that I have, I've always felt bad afterwards too.
I have parted with change a couple of times, when I've had it to spare. I've bought a homeless guy McDonalds cheese burger one lunch time when I was getting myself something once, and got a cup of tea for one in the tube station down the road from where I live on one very cold morning. It is just little things like that which make a difference to someone's day. I know 50p, a cheese burger or a tea is nothing important to me particular, but for someone who has nothing, just that small act of kindness has got be be something.
There was this middle aged woman who used to sit outside of Boots near a shopping center I go to, who always looked so frightened and cold. Me and my mum used to spare her change whenever we were up there and walked past if she was there. Right across from where she used to sit was a newspaper stall, and I found out from the guy there one day when I was up there alone that she'd died one very cold winter evening (he knew I'd say hi to her because he saw us so often). It was really horrible news, but I know that wherever she is now, it's got to be one hell of a lot better than sitting in a doorway waiting for the time to come.
Every homeless person has a story to why they're homeless, and I don't think enough is being done to treat the problem. Most of us are fortunate to have family and friends to turn to when we have nowhere else to go, and then an education to find even the smallest amount of work to keep food in our stomachs.
I did watch this program one evening about how a lot of "homeless" people only act homeless as a side job, and actually come from a decent household. In some areas of London, a homeless person can beg for hundreds of pounds a day. It does make you wonder who really is and isn't, but there are a lot of genuine ones about - like that lady.
So yeah... that's it really from me. Time to hear from you guys.
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