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I Want to Help the Homeless

This Old Lady

By: lifegirl
Written on August 1st, 2009

There is this old lady who seems to be homeless and is always begging on the streets downtown close to where I live. She has kind eyes and hurt legs. I really feel for her and usually have money reserved for her. So every time I see her, I give her some.

This morning, on the way home, I saw her half naked hiding behind a car using the street as a toilet. that was pretty schocking and I felt again so sorry for her. She saw me and I pretended not having seen her so that she is not even more embarassed.

I am in a foreign country, so I do not know how welfare works here, but it is probably not very good, but I will ask someone if there could be a solution for this lady. In any case, it feels like a hopeless situation. :(

 

By: lifegirl
Age: 31-35 , Female
337 people have read this story

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3 responses
  • lifegirl
    lifegirl

    yeah, i have seen this before. you take them in, next day they are on the streets again. they feel freer outside, despite the horrible conditions, and do not have to cope with the certain discipline required in the shelters.

    Aug 1, 2009
    1 like
  • Iusedto
    Iusedto

    I have worked at homeless outreach programs and sometimes the best thing you can do is give them a little money. Some of them told me that they felt that they were safer sleeping outside than in a shelter. About 25-30% are veterans and the military only taught them how to live in deplorable conditions. Some have substance abuse problems and a lot of them are mentally ill or retarded. For whatever reason, they cannot be members of the work force and there really isn't anything available for them except the street. I don't think that we will ever get around to truly trying address a humane solution to homelessness, but if the bankers ever have a problem we will open the doors to treasury and only ask them how much they need.

    Aug 1, 2009
    1 like
  • EnigmaVest
    EnigmaVest

    I always feel helpless when encountering the homeless. Sometimes I give my spare change, sometimes I don't. I know that as bad as my life seems all the time, at least I have a roof over my head and food in my belly. It's alright to be concerned, yet still have to idea how to help.

    Aug 1, 2009
    1 like