Most of us feel helpless when it comes to solving the plight of the homeless. After all, homelessness is a chronic problem in the U.S. According to the “The State of Homelessness in America 2014,” on any given night more than 600,000 people are without permanent housing.
So what can any single individual do?
First, it’s always good to try and understand the problem. Rather than sitting back and judging – why doesn’t that guy just go get a job? – realize that, just like shoes, one size does not fit all.
Many people now living on the street worked their entire lives and were productive citizens. Then, because of a medical disaster, natural disaster, or personal disaster, they lost everything.
Many people are addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling. Many are mentally ill. Others have stared in the face of failure for so long, they have finally given up.
Some have run away from abusive parents or spouses. And still others have been victims for so long they don’t know how to rise above their victimology.
But for whatever reason a person may be living on the streets, it’s certainly not paradise. I came across a blog on the internet recently called “The Homeless Guy,” written by a 54-year old homeless man who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. He has been homeless for much of his adult life and writes very eloquently about the plight of the homeless and what he goes through each and every day. Believe me, his life isn’t easy.
If he’d been able to keep a job or make his marriage work, I’m sure he’d much rather be sleeping in a bed, rather than in a tent, where he pees in a cup at night and is woken every few hours by noises outside. Frankly, I got hooked reading his posts and would encourage you to look up his blog.
One of the things he said that stuck with me, however, was that compassion is what homeless people need most of all. He addresses the fact that many of us judge before we understand, and that we look upon the homeless with disdain, rather than compassion. I thought that was profound.
Another site I came across was an interview a woman did with a homeless man. After a long conversation with this gentleman, she asked him what he needed most. He responded that he just need to be loved.
Wow. Compassion and love.
Since I’ve written about the homeless situation before, this time I was looking for something specific people could do to help. I recognize that loving the homeless may be a long shot for most of us. But compassion we could probably do.
By definition, compassion is our desire to help those who are suffering or less fortunate.
But compassion, like the homeless, comes in many forms. It might be a cash gift to the individual. Or better yet, financial support to one of the many organizations that provide services to the homeless. It might be toiletries delivered to a shelter. Or better yet, an individual care package given directly to the person on the street.
Perhaps the greatest gift you could give, however, is the dignity to look a homeless person in the eye and give them a kind word.
I watched a YouTube video the other day where a young man, named Karim, hands cash to a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk. Karim is just trying to be nice. But the homeless man insists that Karim sit and talk with him. A moment later, the homeless man jumps up and uses the money Karim gave him to buy two lunches – one for Karim and one for himself.
Karim stays and shares the meal with the homeless man, and in the end, it is clear that the human contact, the time Karim gives, is more important to the homeless man than the money or the meal itself. Someone has validated this homeless man as a human being, and that he is not something to be swept away with the trash.
And so, while the homeless need clean clothes, food, and housing, let us remember – the meal filled this homeless man’s stomach, but it was treating him with kindness, dignity and compassion that fed his soul.
SERVING THE HOMELESS/RESOURCES
Here are organizations that serve the homeless in Renton:
Vision House (transitional housing)
450 Bremerton Ave. N.E.
Renton, WA 98059
425-255-9263
Way Back Inn (transitional housing)
P.O. Box 621
Renton, WA 98057
206-517-6623
Salvation Army
Renton Rotary Food Bank
206 S. Tobin St.
Renton, WA 98057
425-255-5969
Renton Kiwanis Clothes Bank
1025 S. Third St.
Renton, WA
425-271-5091
St. Vincent de Paul/Renton (food bank)
5950 Fourth Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 767-9975
REACH Center for Hope (women’s shelter)
Renton City Hall, P2
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425-277-7594
A.R.I.S.E. (men’s shelter)
Catholic Community Services
1229 W. Smith St.
Kent, WA 98032
253-854-0077
Care packages for homeless
• Toiletries: lip balm, baby wipes, lotion, sunscreen, toothbrush & toothpaste, Kleenex, Maxi pads, band aids
• Water bottle
• Clean socks
• Fruit snack or applesauce cup
• Granola or cereal bar
• Comb or small brush
Note: Separate anything with a fragrance from food items. Better yet, avoid them. Put things in a water-tight, zip-lock bag.
Lynn Bohart is the executive director of the Renton Community Foundation that oversees a number of charitable funds that provide support to those in need in Renton. If you would like a list of acceptable items to put in a care package for the homeless, or a list of local organizations serving the homeless, please visit the Foundation website at www.rentonfoundation.org.
