Years ago, while walking back to my apartment late at night, I turned onto a quiet street. Finding myself alone, I noticed ahead of me a few individuals camped out in a make-shift tent. I quickened my pace and moved to the opposite side of the sidewalk. When I arrived at home I reflected on my experience. Regrettably, my initial reaction was to think about how these individuals’ presence impacted me before thinking about how their situation affected them.
I think it’s safe to say, I’m not the only person who has had thoughts like these. As a society we often think of homelessness in terms of its impact on ourselves and those we associate with; we think of safety concerns, inconvenient unsanctioned encampments and even the spread of illegal substances. These are important issues, but equally — if not more important — is the need to focus on the experiences of people that are living through homelessness.
A few years ago, I felt the need to do more to help people experiencing homelessness in my community. With the support of a modest grant from a foundation in Utah, I set out to try to make a difference. Given that I had limited funds at my disposal, I believed that the most impactful use of this money was to facilitate interactions between community members and individuals experiencing homelessness.
For a year, I offered to fund a meal to anyone that would find someone experiencing homelessness and share a meal with them. Nearly 100 individuals took me up on the offer.
What struck me were the stories that came back from those who participated.
“I met Billy today. He told me some days he doesn’t eat. Isn’t that terrible?”
“I met a man today who used to work in the same industry as me. I can’t believe that could happen to someone like me.”
“I had no idea some people couldn’t get into shelters in the winter. I wish I could do more to help.”
A simple conversation over a meal had the power to foster compassion towards individuals facing homelessness.
Homelessness is a complex and multifaceted challenge — there is no silver bullet or quick fix. Clearly homeless people need homes, but we need to stop viewing them as homeless people and start viewing them as people. Let me offer a few suggestions of how you might do this.
First, see everyone as your neighbor. I grew up watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” In every episode, Fred Rogers would sing, “Please, won’t you be my neighbor?” When we see people as our neighbors, we recognize their humanity and dignity. It’s only when we do this that we can understand how to help them.
Secondly, do what you can given your means. I understand that each person’s capacity to help others varies, but each of us can help in some way. You might consider making a donation to a local nonprofit, dedicating your time to volunteer at a shelter or simply saying hello to the next person experiencing homelessness you brush shoulders with.
Finally, make it a habit to cultivate compassion. As time goes on, it can be easy to grow numb to the struggles people face or focus on your own hardships. Challenge yourself daily to remember that at our core, we are all human beings with our own stories and challenges. Simple acts of compassion can go a long way in fostering understanding and empathy.
While compassion alone may not be the sole solution to homelessness, it serves as a fundamental cornerstone upon which we must begin.
Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Utah’s 2023 Truman Scholar. He currently works as a consultant for Cicero Group focusing on social impact and strengthening public-private partnerships to solve challenging social issues.
