In conjunction with the internet fad of making lists, I decided to make one myself. Here are 10 things I learned from my time in LA working with homelessness so far.
1. There are plenty of food options.
Being homeless in Hollywood sucks. That's for sure. But there's one thing that you won't go short of. Food. Through all the agencies serving here, our friends experiencing homelessness can easily eat 3 meals a day. Don't feel obligated to buy someone food on the street.They'll be just fine.
2. Socks are in short supply.
Think about it. If you were homeless, you'd walk everywhere. You'd likely not be doing laundry that often. You'd worry more about jackets and blankets early on. But after time, your socks get completely ruined. Have you ever gone more than a few days without washing your socks or wearing new ones? They get ruined quickly. Instead of buying that person some food, ask if they'd like some new socks instead.
3. Showering isn't as hard to come by as you would think.
From all the guests in the shelter, only a few struggled to find somewhere to clean themselves (mostly for health issues). Sure it's inconvenient to go somewhere to shower, but they're not that hard to find. From leaving the shelter, our guests were able to get showers at two different places (five days a week) within a half mile. If they really felt they needed a shower, they were able to take one. One guest even had a 24-hour gym membership solely to use the shower whenever he felt necessary.
4. Having a cell phone is very common.
Of the guests in the shelter, less than 5 did not have cell phones. It was the easiest way to keep in touch with case managers. Cell phones were watches. It was one of the few items that guests were attached to.
5. You can be vegan and homeless.
I really didn't believe it when I met the vegan homeless woman. But yes. She did it. Through all the meal services in the area, she was able to find places that served what she could eat (or just be extremely picky while eating). She too did not struggle to fill her stomach every night.
6. Women can be more troublesome.
Men were not the most problematic. Of all the disputes that occurred in the shelter, women were involved in almost all of them. When living on the streets, women usually spend their time with men, not other women. When living in the same space as other women they feel threatened. It's an interesting dynamic. But again, think about it. It makes sense.
7. The majority people of experiencing homelessness smoke.
My advice on not becoming homeless: DON'T SMOKE. It's a big expense. Know that I absolutely cannot say smoking leads to homelessness or homelessness leads to smoking. It's simply something I've taken note of.
8. Building a relationship with someone is way better than giving them money.
This is a view that I hold strongly. Sitting and speaking with someone, getting to know them, will benefit a person significantly more than handing them $5. When experiencing homelessness, you don't have as many friends with whom you can share your story. It's a time of mental distress. Seeing someone going through this is so painful. Once you become friends, you can help more than you realize by encouraging positive behavior. If you smoke, try offering a cigarette to a friend on the street. Talk with them. See how they are and where they've been. You'll be amazed by some of the stories you might hear.
9. Words are important.
Duh John. Without them we couldn't communicate. What I mean is how we speak with one another. If you greet someone on the street with, "How are you?" you might be disappointed with the response. Instead, try saying, "Hi, I'm [insert name here]. It's great to see you today." Starting with a positive comment is rarely followed by a negative one.
10. Homelessness is an experience, not an adjective.
Adding "homeless" to someone's description is just like adding "white" to my description. There are so many different "white" people in this world, it really means nothing. The same goes for homeless. There are so many people. So many stories. Just because someone is living on the street doesn't mean they are any less of a person than you. Homelessness is an experience. Just like having a rough day. It is not something that you should instantly think less of a person for.
There's plenty more to share, but this is a good start. Thanks for all the support. I couldn't be here without you.
-John
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