Choosing their independence or not, homeless deserve compassion
By Alonzo Weston
The fireworks in my neighborhood began well before the Fourth. The explosions always start around my bedtime. I went to sleep a few nights to the sound of snap, crackle and pop.
It seems fireworks shooters decided to celebrate our independence by expressing their own independence to celebrate whenever.
For some reason, my mind drifted to the homeless down on Sixth Street and the images entered my dreams — or nightmares.
The homeless everywhere exercise independence by living how and where they can. Many, I’ve learned, choose the lifestyle and no amount of social services help can change them.
I remember when we had Tent City down off Fourth and Monterey Streets by the river. They had their own community complete with a population sign. The inhabitants shared food, booze and everything laid out on big wooden wire rope spools used as tables. The police deemed the whole scene illegal and broke up Tent City. Now you see these folks everywhere. Wouldn’t it be OK to let them have Tent City? The people were out of sight and within reach of law enforcement. These folks express their independence by living as they choose.
In our last homeless count, there were about 100 people considered homeless in our community. The number rises if you add in homeless teens and other individuals sleeping on someone else’s couch. National statistics say 13.6% of the U.S. population is homeless.
We can drive by and say to ourselves ‘Why don’t they get a job?’ but we don’t know the circumstances that put them on the streets. As a reporter, I interviewed some of these folks and found some chose the lifestyle while misfortune put others in the circumstance.
We’re all one step away from homelessness. We lose a home, a spouse or a job and here we are. Don’t judge until you know all the facts. In fact, don’t judge at all. Just be grateful for your life as it is now.
I remember my 10-year-old grandson Jace feeling compassion for these individuals down on Sixth Street. He took his allowance money and bought pizza for all of them one day. At his young age, he knows these folks are human and need our help.
We have to remember that everyone is someone’s baby, a child they had big hopes and dreams for. They’re still a son, daughter or grandchild. Remember, we’re all loved by someone.
