Have you met a homeless person before? Has a homeless person talked to you asking for money or food? Or maybe someone charged towards you about to ready a knife? No? Just me? Well, I am not going to tell you how to handle homeless people. I simply wanted to catch your attention. Rather, I will be talking about my personal experiences with homeless individuals that I have encountered on my travels. Yes, one does include almost getting hurt. Afterward, you can feel free to take my advice or not. Use your better judgment depending on the situation. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure and this might sound crazy but, homeless people are also human just like anyone else you meet. I want people to realize this because there are some people who look at homeless people with disdain. Do you think they choose to be homeless and destitute?

Tent After Tent

There are homeless people in or around metropolitan areas across the world. You might find more of this group in cities where there should be homeless shelters and wider opportunities. In America, the largest population of homeless resides in Los Angeles, California. There are rows of tents on the street filled with people wanting a simple life.

A city outside of America where I have walked many times is Seoul. When I studied and worked in South Korea, I always noticed many people sleeping outside Seoul Station. This station is the center of the city and is one of the major travel nexus in the country. Here is where many folks come to look for opportunities. Although the number of homeless is significantly smaller compared to the United States, it is still a huge hurdle for a developed country such as South Korea.

The Busan Subway Man

My boyfriend and I were on vacation in Busan, South Korea. We would hop on the subway every day from our hotel to get to different places. On one of the days, my watchful boyfriend asked me if I noticed a peculiar man who was there every day, but sat or stood at different spots around the station. “No…” I answered embarrassingly and half scared. I was wondering what man he was talking about. He looked over to the man who appeared to be in his 50s or 60s wearing oversized clothes with a stuffed duffel bag. “He has been here every day since we arrived.”, my boyfriend said. I felt ashamed and sad that I did not pay enough attention to the homeless man. I have noticed him a few times, yet not all the time. I felt ashamed and sad. I also felt proud of my boyfriend for noticing.

When we were arriving back at the station near our hotel, we noticed the homeless man standing near a column. He was eating a meal packaged in a styrofoam box. Suddenly, my boyfriend reached into his pocket and took out his wallet, pulling out a 10,000KRW note. I could see how anxious he was because he did not want to embarrass the man as Korean people are very proud even when they are in dire straits, but we quickly and quietly walked over to the duffel bag that was behind the column from him and my boyfriend placed the bill on top of his duffel bag. We swiftly made our way to the exit of the subway station hoping that he will use the money wisely.

Did We Almost Get Attacked?

Born and raised in Philadelphia, I have never had a stranger yelling angrily demanding something while progressing towards me from across that street. My boyfriend and I were walking near District Six Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. We were on our way to our next location when a man with unkempt hair, a scruffed jacket, and baggy pants yelled out something that I could not make out. He came charging across the street from us and my boyfriend pulled me behind him. You can tell something was not right just by the look in his eyes. This man had his right arm behind his back and his left arm swinging wildly trying to make a point. I had no idea what to do while my boyfriend stood between us telling him we had nothing to give him. The stranger gave up and turned away. The whole time I was holding onto my boyfriend’s hand for dear life. We rushed across the street before the man decided to come back. The whole event could not have been more than 5 minutes. Other passersby looked to be on alert as well. I was later told that that man could have had a knife behind his back pocket and he could have gotten violent and stabbed us to take our belongings. The best way to handle this situation, not a person, is to try to de-escalate everything and get away. I was never confronted by an aggressive homeless man. I wish I could say it did not affect me but, it has traumatized me.

Of course, homelessness is a huge issue in South Africa. However, that does not mean all the people are violent. Another time, my boyfriend and I went out for lunch at a Caribbean restaurant. We were not able to finish the generous portions and packaged what we couldn’t finish into a to-go box. We had just stepped out the entrance when a young man walking by asked if we had food and we gave him what we had. The man thanked us and we hoped he would enjoy the still-warm meal. As we got in our car and drove home, we passed the man sitting at a wooden bench and table eating the food we gave him. It was heartwarming to know that we helped someone less fortunate to stave off hunger. We really hope the best for him.

There is No Way to Help

It’s understandable that you cannot always directly help, especially when the issues of mental health and substance abuse are present. In my personal experience in Kensington of Philadelphia, it is oftentimes difficult to tell how they will use the money you give them. Will they try to stay the night at a shelter, get a hot meal, or purchase drugs? Even though I really want to help, a lot of the time they continue to stay on the streets and do not look for help from clinics or professionals due to their addiction. Perhaps the best thing you can do is to offer them food, some comforts like clothes blankets, and other resources to help them get back on their feet. You may feel as helpless as I am, but below is information on how you can help.

The Act of Giving

Homeless folks should be considered our neighbors. And like good neighbors, we should come together in the name of compassion and empathy. A great way you can help is by looking up homeless shelters and public housing in your area, volunteering, and making donations to recognized and accountable organizations. Some of the creative ways to help and restore the dignity of the less fortunate are by providing self-care services such as haircuts and hygienic products. There are numerous ways to help the homeless in your area. You can start with the list I have below and then move to more specific ones in your area.

We should not look upon the less fortunate and wish to never be like them but rather build a world that does not forsake them.

• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• Office of Homeless Services (Philadelphia)
• coalition for the homeless
• Los Angeles Housing Department
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Homeless World Cup

What were your experiences with homelessness?

Sincerely,
Amy♡