Homelessness

What Do The Homeless Do All Day?

If you found yourself wondering about this, then you’re not the only one. This is a common question about homeless people. There’s a misconception that homeless people just bum around all day spending welfare money.

But nothing could be farther from the truth. Homeless people spend their day just like the rest of us – trying to improve their lot in life.

For many homeless people, the day starts even before the city stirs to life. Waking up from the icy pavements, most of them line up in public washrooms or wherever they can clean themselves. Then they prepare to go to work or look for work.

Yes, contrary to popular belief, homeless people have jobs too. In fact, a survey in California found that about 13% of the homeless population is working full time. They just don’t earn enough to afford rent.

Of course, getting a job or keeping one when you’re homeless can be especially challenging. Social prejudices against homeless people often keep employers from hiring them. Even if they overcome that stigma, applying for a job and showing up in interviews can be difficult when you’re sleeping rough.

Those who can’t get a job are often forced to panhandle or rely on social programs to fill their stomach for the day. Sometimes, they have to walk for miles to find a food bank or a soup kitchen. Remember, they don’t have cars and most likely no money for Uber either. So a trip that usually takes just a few minutes for most of us can take hours of walking for a homeless person.

This is how most homeless people spend their day. But when you’re living on the streets, each day is a fight to survive. So there is no such thing as a “typical” homeless experience.

Where Do Homeless People Sleep?

Not all homeless people sleep on the street. Remember that there are varying degrees of homelessness. Some homeless people move back home with their parents or crash on their friend’s couches. Others stay in garages/sheds, backyard tents, and even parking lots. They may have homes but they’re still technically homeless. When the hospitality wears out, they usually end up on the streets.

Then there’s the second type of homeless – the ones who stay in shelters. Most shelters require some form of rent from their occupants. So most of those staying in shelters either have jobs or are receiving welfare. Shelters also set a maximum occupancy period so they can’t stay in there forever. Though there are many shelters around the country, they’re not enough to house everyone. Most of those who get turned out of shelters have to live in their cars or wherever they can find a safe place to lay their heads in.

But due to ordinances banning camping and sleeping in public areas, homeless people can’t just sleep wherever they want. In San Diego, doing such can even lead to jail time.

The Dangers of Living on the Streets

Every living space has its own share of risks. But when you’re living on the streets, the risks of bodily harm or even death is significantly higher.

Reports of violence against homeless people usually include incidences of:

• being deliberately hit or kicked
• having things thrown at them
• being urinated on
• sexual assault
• verbal abuse
• intimidation and harassment

Aside from these acts of violence, homeless people also have to contend with the ever-present threat of starvation. On particularly harsh winters, the danger of freezing to death is also a grim possibility.

It’s a Place of Refuge

We all have those moments where we just want to take a break from the rest of the world. Home is where you can do just that. It’s that little slice of paradise that is completely your own. It’s where you can be in your pajamas while eating ice cream right off the tub in your bed – and not worry about anyone judging you. It’s your personal sanctuary, the only place you can be totally yourself. But more than that, it’s where you can hide and cry when things just seem to be so overwhelming and where you know someone will always be there for you.

Home Means a Future

When someone has a place to call home, it gives them a sense of security and stability. Once you have these two things, you can stop thinking about surviving day in and day out. You can finally look beyond the horizon and into the distant future.

For some people, this is how important a home is. It allows them to start dreaming and make plans for the future. It’s where hopes and dreams take shape and slowly becomes a reality.

What Does Home Mean For the Homeless?

No matter your definition of home, one thing is clear: everybody deserves one. From the birds making their nest in the trees to the earthworms burrowing on the ground, all creatures big and small deserve a place to call home.

If you have one to call your own, then you are very lucky. But many people around the world aren’t. Every year, the number of homeless people continues to rise. It’s just ridiculous how having a home nowadays seems like a privilege rather than a basic human right.

Yes, home is more than just a walled structure that protects you from the elements. But it can be difficult to feel warmth, security, and stability when you’re sleeping on the cold pavement. It’s hard to dream about the future when you don’t even know where to get your next meal.

There’s a reason why the homeless are called “homeless” and not “houseless”. Their troubles extend far beyond not having a house.

According to a Canadian news website, home can also mean various things for the homeless. One homeless woman shared that home for her means protection from abuse and finally having the time to confront her mental illness. It gives her hope and self-esteem. Another wrote that a home means a stable ground from which they can start to find their way back into society.

If you’ve never been homeless, it can be hard to understand where they’re coming from. It’s one of those things that you’ll only fully appreciate once you’re in it. But this shouldn’t hinder you from extending a helping hand. We may not be able to provide them the security of a house but we can make them feel loved, safe, and appreciated. In our own little ways, we can help them feel that someone still believes in them so they’ll feel confident in themselves again. After all, that’s what home is about.

11. This very moment

This moment right now is something you will never ever go back to for the rest of your life. Time is precious and the fact that we get it for free is something we should appreciate.

12. The people that care for you

If you have people that care for you, constantly checks on you, and want you to be a better person, they are your greatest blessings.

13. Bad days

If it were up to us, we’d rather not have bad days. But it is those days that make you appreciate the good ones.

14. Peaceful mornings

The relative serenity of early mornings is sometimes our only haven in this fast-paced world.

15. Living on this beautiful planet

The Earth might not be the biggest or the most beautiful planet in the universe but it’s perfect for us. This scarred but amazing planet has provided us with the means to live for billions of years.

16. Your voice

If you can still speak and sing, then consider it a blessing. Not everyone enjoys such privilege.

17. Your parents

Your relationship with your parents may not be perfect but they gave life to you. I’m sure they love you too, though they may have different ways of expressing it.

18. Having clothes to wear

Again, if you’re wearing clean clothes right now, you are better off than half the world’s population.

19. Being a citizen of a country

According to UNHCR, there are around ten million people around the world who are stateless. So even if you don’t like some aspects of your country, you should still be thankful that you have one to call your own. 

20. The ability to love and be loved

Being able to give and receive love is one of the most special gifts endowed to us.

21. Your senses

The ability to see, hear, smell, and touch things is a blessing that not all people get to enjoy.

22. The people who rejected you

Rejections and disappointments make you stronger. So instead of hating on the people who rejected you, thank them. If not for them, you wouldn’t be the strong, courageous person you are today.

23. Your job

With unemployment rates skyrocketing, having a job in this economy is a blessing.

24. The people who hate you

Just like the people who rejected you, your enemies also help you become a better person. They inspire you to prove to the world that you are so much better than the person they think you are.

25. Nature

4. Borrow Some Money

If you’re being evicted because you’re falling behind on rent, borrowing some money will solve your dilemma. If you have a job, you can try applying for payday loans. Some places are also offering loans online. Or you can always ask friends and family for a temporary loan. This especially works if you’re expecting or have just started a job and just need some cash to keep you afloat until the next payday.

5. Sell Some Stuff

Aside from loans, selling your stuff is another way of raising that much-needed rent money. You can sell clothes, jewelry, gadgets, collectibles, some furniture – anything that’s not essential. If that’s not enough, you can also sell your car.

6. Move-in With Friends or Family

If all of the above fails and you’re still getting booted out of your house, then the next obvious choice is moving in with friends and family.

You can ask friends if you can couch surf for a few days. Just until you’re able to get back on your feet. If some past issue prevents you from moving-in with family members, then consider this as an opportunity to reconnect.

This will affect your ego, of that there’s no doubt. But if it means not sleeping on the pavement, then it’s worth a bruised ego. Besides, if they really care for you, they’ll understand.

7. Look for a Local Shelter

Unfortunately, not all of us have people we can turn to in situations like this. If you’ve just moved to the city or have just immigrated, your family and friends might be miles away to be of some help. In cases like this, local shelters are your best bet.

Shelters are designed to provide accommodation for people with nowhere to go. In some cities, the shelters can be packed. Most shelters also have curfews.

8. Live in Your Car

This might be the first option you had in mind when thinking about your impending eviction. And it’s really practical – if you live in a humid area. But in the northern part of the country, the winters can be unforgiving. If your car doesn’t have a heating mechanism, you could freeze to death. So if you’re planning to live in your car for the time being, it should be as a last resort.

Addictions

We all have things we are addicted to. But some addictions can ruin lives. Unfortunately, our society’s pre-programmed reaction to addiction, particularly illegal drugs, is endless condemnation. They are often derided by the people who are supposed to help them. This is why a lot of them end up on the streets.

Family Problems

A lot of the homeless kids who end up in shelters have run away from home, mostly due to family problems.

3. Systemic Factors

Lack of Mental Health Support

Despite the country’s glaring problem on mental health, it only has a little over 600 non-federal psychiatric hospitals. The country also has less than 5,000 outpatient facilities. While the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that there are about 46.6 million adults in the US who are living with a mental disorder.

Even if we don’t crunch the numbers, it’s fairly obvious that we need to ramp up our mental health support system. With no one to turn to, people struggling with mental health issues often have trouble finding a job and keeping their homes.

Lack of Access to Medical Care

The rising costs of medical care in the country often puts disadvantaged people in perpetual debt. The money that was supposed to be for rent also goes to their medical expenses. So it’s no wonder why a lot of them get turned out from their homes.

Effects

Homelessness affects not just the individual, it leaves an impact on society too. Here are some of the ways homelessness affects both a person and society as a whole:

On an Individual

Health

Sleeping rough and exposed to the elements can take a toll on someone’s health. Plus, not eating regularly can weaken one’s immune system. This is why homeless people are very much prone to diseases, especially in winter and during the flu season.

Personal and Psychological

When someone loses their home, it can also mean losing everything they have and all they’ve ever worked for. This, in turn, can do a number on their self-confidence. It affects their self-worth and how they see themselves, often leading to depression.

On Society

Increased Cost of Public Services

Studies reveal that the government spends more on public services for the homeless than if they were to give them homes. And that money came from your taxes. So before you shrug and say that the country’s homelessness problem doesn’t really concern you, better think again.

Social Barriers

Homelessness widens the existing social barriers. It underscores the wealth gap in the country which, in turn, fuels hate and division among the people.

Public Health Threat

Not only are homeless people more prone to illnesses, but they are also more likely to transmit it. This could pose a threat to public health, especially during epidemics.

What We Can Do

Now that you have an idea about the causes and effects of homelessness, let’s talk about what you can do to end it. Yes, you, me, and everyone else can help put a stop to this tragedy in our own little ways. Here are some of them:

Educate

The first step to eliminating homelessness is to change the world’s perception of it. Start by educating your family, neighbors, and acquaintances about homelessness.

Create Awareness

Since not everyone has experienced homelessness, the true extent of the problem is only known to those who have been through it or those who are working against it. What we can do is to create awareness so as to drum up public support and effect policy changes.

Volunteer

Many local charities like soup kitchens and shelters are actively helping the homeless and they are usually in need of volunteers.

Empathize

Rather than criticizing the homeless, try to put yourself in their shoes. Understand where they’re coming from and why they ended up in such dire circumstances.

2. Dark Days

We’ve often heard about people living in squalid conditions but this documentary can still shock and horrify even the most placid of viewers.

The documentary follows the lives of people living in New York’s underground tunnels. But despite its black and white aesthetics, it presents a picture of hope. It does not paint poverty in a bleak way as we’ve come to expect in most documentaries.

Rather, it shows us that these people are very much just like us. Their days are focused on earning a living, taking care of family, and socializing. It’s just that they do it literally under the city’s towering skyrise buildings. They have no electricity or even running water. But their ingenuity and optimism that helped them survive in such conditions can also serve as an inspiration for all of us.

3. Field Niggas

A critically-acclaimed documentary, Field Niggas focuses on the lives of homeless people in New York’s Harlem Street. Most of which are African-Americans who are either recovering from addiction or have just been released from prison. It presents a clear-eyed depiction of the struggles of the country’s marginalized sectors. It also touches other social issues that plague the country such as racial divide, mass incarceration, addiction, and an ever-widening wealth gap.

4. In the Wee Wee Hours

Although shot in the mid-’80s, this documentary’s depiction of homelessness still very much resonates today. Its confrontational approach of presenting homelessness earned it an Academy nomination for Best Short Documentary.

Combining interviews with footage at shelters and soup kitchens around L.A., the film offers a raw, unfiltered picture of homelessness.

5. It Was a Wonderful Life

Just like “Us and Them”, this documentary zooms in on the life of homeless women. Dubbed as the “hidden homeless”, these women don’t fit the stereotypical homeless. They’re educated, sophisticated and at some point had even enjoyed affluence. One was a successful singer, another was a painter who once lived in Malibu with her servants, another was a law student. They’re the sort of people you’d never expect to become homeless and yet they have. Their stories are a stark reminder that most of us are just one divorce or one wrong choice away from homelessness.

19. The worst poverty isn’t about not having enough money to survive. Real poverty is when there is no one in the world who loves you. When there is no other human to make you feel like you matter. As if you aren’t worth the air you breathe. Poverty of love is the worst thing you can be deprived of. – Paige Dearth

20. Homelessness is not just about having a job or an apartment. Too often homelessness is due to a disordered mind. – Danielle Steel

21. After all, a homeless man has reason to cry, everything in the world is pointed against him. – Jack Kerouac

22. Before you ignore another homeless person on the street, just remember that that could be someone’s father or someone’s mother and they have a story. – Syesha Mercado

23. Most homeless kids are on the streets because they have been forced by circumstances that cause them to think that they are safer there than in any home they once knew. – Jewel

24. To save a life is a real and beautiful thing. To make a home for the homeless, yes, it is a thing that must be good; whatever the world may say, it cannot be wrong. – Vincent Van Gogh

25. Poverty is the mother of crime. – Marcus Aurelius

26. When we bear witness when we become the situation — homelessness, poverty, illness, violence, death — the right action arises by itself. – Bernie Glassman

27. Don’t try to drive the homeless into places we find suitable. Help them survive in places they find suitable. – Daniel Quinn

28. People will sooner aid a sick dog lying on the sidewalk than to try to find shelter for a sick person. It’s too much to deal with. – Michael Zaslow

29. One of the toughest jobs we have is convincing some people that we’re not making up this problem. The homeless out here may be harder to see, but they are all around, right beneath the surface. – Dottie Kastigar

30. The world of the homeless is a tough and interesting world. – Paul Dano

31. To those who are struggling. To talk about a struggle, you’re likely to forget about it. To be shown a struggle, you’re likely not to forget it. But, to live through a struggle, you’ll understand it. – Valerie Owens

32. Homelessness is not the result of not having a house, it’s a lack of a soul in a body. – Goitsemang Mvula

33. There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help. – Jan Schakowsky

34. Freedom is meaningless if people cannot put food in their stomachs, if they can have no shelter, if illiteracy and disease continue to dog them. – Nelson Mandela

35. People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes. – Sheila McKechnie

36. Not everyone who’s homeless is a drug-addict or in need of mental health care. Some are normal people who’ve been knocked down, and it can happen to you too. Not all of us made bad life choices.  – Sherrilyn Kenyon

37. If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not that God didn’t care for them, but because you and I didn’t give, were not an instrument of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing; because we did not recognize him, when once more Christ came in distressing disguise, in the hungry man, in the lonely man, in the homeless child, and seeking for shelter. ~ Mother Teresa

38. There’s no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless or jobless. – Chris Kyle

39. Seven out of ten Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless. – Pras Michel

40. These things become the norm: that some homeless people die of cold on the streets is not news. In contrast, a ten-point drop in the stock markets of some cities is a tragedy. – Pope Francis