Homelessness

For years, homelessness is a problem within our community. In the article "My Turn: Somewhere for Everyone" John Grisham argues that homelessness is a problem that has been ignored throughout history; therefore, it has grown. In his article, Grisham explains how "hobos" and "winos" among us are an issue for us, and how we plan to get rid of them. Grisham also shares with us his sudden encounter with a homeless man, and how this incident made him realize the homeless existed.

For years many people have seen the homeless as nonhuman. People stop at a red light and roll up their window as soon as they see a homeless person about to walk up to them. They figure that if they ignore the homeless they will go away. People look at the homeless and ask, "Why don't they get a job rather than asking for money?" But what they don't realize is that sometimes when a homeless person goes to apply for a job, they are sometimes automatically judged by their way of dressing; therefore, they are denied a the job. Some homeless people do try to create a better life. Whether by asking to wash our windshields or asking to wash our cars, but we deny their assistance. We do not wish to help them.

For years I have ignored the homeless. I have based my opinion on one horrible experience that my husband has went through, not realizing that every homeless person is different. But who am I to judge the homeless? I used to judge them as crazy, but after reading Grisham's article I have realized that all homeless people are different. Not all homeless people are homeless by choice.