HOMELESS 101 / A FEW THOUGHTS...

#THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW...

HUMANASSIST.ORG IS AN IRS RECOGNIZED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH ONE SIMPLE ONGOING MISSION IN MIND. WE EXIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF ALL THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE IN DIRE NEED OF HELP.

WHAT KIND OF HELP? WELL, EVEN THOUGH OUR ORGANIZATION IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST A SINGLE ISSUE, HUMANASSIST.ORG HAS CHOSEN TO HAVE ITS PRIMARY FOCUS BE ON THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS WE ALL KNOW AS “HOMELESSNESS”.

#HOMELESSNESS...

YES, IT’S A MAJOR PROBLEM; A CRISIS REALLY. NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD HAVE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE ON THE STREETS, PERIOD. NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO MISTREATMENT AND BEING OUTCAST BY SOCIETY JUST BECAUSE THEY LACK AN ADDRESS.

ALL HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LAY THEIR HEADS DOWN AT NIGHT IN THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF SOME PLACE THEY CAN CALL “HOME”. ALL HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT SOME DECENT FOOD IN THEIR BELLIES ON A DAILY BASIS. ALL HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLEANSE THEIR BODIES AND USE THEIR OWN TOILET WHEN THEY NEED TO, AND HAVE SOME DIGNITY ABOUT THEMSELVES. JUST SIMPLE THINGS MOST PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERYDAY.

#TELL ME MORE...

THERE IS A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION IN MAJOR CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT LIVE ON THE STREETS. THESE PEOPLE ARE “INVISIBLE” TO MOST, BUT THEY ARE IN FACT HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE YOU. DON’T BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE AND MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THESE PEOPLE. PEOPLE HAVE BECOME HOMELESS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!

#BUT I DON’T UNDERSTAND... WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO BE HOMELESS?

WANT TO BE HOMELESS? HUH? JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO EXPERIENCE "VAN LIFE" AND IDEAS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT HOMELESS IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE. IN GENERAL, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORCED INTO THE SITUATION AND HAS CHOSEN THAT "LIFESTYLE".

NOONE “WANTS” TO BE HOMELESS. YA KNOW LIFE IS A FUNNY THING, AND DOESN’T ALWAYS PLAY OUT THE WAY WE EXPECT IT TO. EVERYONE LIVING ON THE STREETS ARE NOT DRUG ADDICTS AND FELONS. ONE COULD SAY... THAT THERE ARE MANY SO CALLED “CIVILIZED PEOPLE” OUT THERE; WHO DO LIVE IN HOUSES, WHO DO TAKE PLENTY OF DRUGS, WHO DO CONSUME LOTS OF ALCOHOL AND WHO DO PARTICIPATE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP AND THAT WANT DESPERATELY TO GET OFF THE STREETS VS FOCUSING ON HOW THEY GOT THERE. IT’S ALWAYS BEEN SAID THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE ONLY A PAYCHECK OR TWO AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS.

MORE HOMELESS 101...

#LIFE ON THE STREETS... WHAT’S THAT LIKE?

WELL, IN A FEW WORDS... IT SUCKS!!! IT’S THE WORST!!! BUT I GUESS THAT’S OBVIOUS RIGHT? APPARENTLY NOT THOUGH, JUST BASED ON SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HEAR THE “CIVILIZED PEOPLE” SAY CONSTANTLY. ANYWAYS, HOMELESS PEOPLE STRUGGLE JUST TO GET THROUGH THE DAY. MOST WILL CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE AT SOME POINT AND USUALLY IT’S OFTEN; AS THIS SEEMS LIKE THE WAY TO ESCAPE. BUT WITHOUT EVEN GETTING DEEP INTO THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TOLL IT TAKES ON A PERSON, I WANT TO JUST POINT OUT SOME BASIC “LOGISTICAL” STUFF...

CONSIDER FOR A SECOND, THE SIMPLE ACT OF “GOING TO THE RESTROOM”. #HOMELESS 101: PUBLIC RESTROOMS; NOTHING I NEED TO ELABORATE ON IN GREAT DETAIL😉, BUT WHERE DOES ONE GO IF NATURE HAPPENS TO CALL AFTER HOURS? THERE ARE NOT FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR HOMELESS. A HOMELESS PERSON OFTEN HAS TO CONCIOUSLY PLAN AND “SCHEDULE” RESTROOM BREAKS DURING THE DAY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE “EMPTY” AND WON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THERE ARE NOT 24-HOUR WALMART’S EVERYWHERE. MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE WOULD NORMALLY JUST POST UP NEAR OR INSIDE WALMART PARKING LOTS AND SUCH SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A RESTROOM. THE ONES THAT DON'T, END UP USING THE CITY STREETS AS A PUBLIC TOILET.

SO, NOW LET’S DISCUSS SHOWERS. HMMM, SO UNLIKE TOILETS, THAT AT LEAST YOU CAN ACCESS BY GOING INTO YOUR NEAREST GAS STATION/SUPERMARKET/FAST FOOD RESTAURANT ETC. I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE NOT SHOWERS READILY AVAILABLE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO USE. HOW DOES ONE WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS STAY FRESH AND CLEAN? ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOT SUMMER.

WHEN YOU SEE A HOMELESS PERSON IN A PUBLIC RESTROOM TRYING TO ”BATHE” IN THE SINK, WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING THIS JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT? NO. THIS IS JUST A PERSON TRYING TO CLEAN THEMSELVES BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT THEY DON’T SEE A BETTER OPTION AND THOUGHTS LIKE "GET A GYM MEMBERSHIP..." MAY NOT BE A VIABLE OPTION.

HUMAN BEINGS ALSO NEED TO EAT RIGHT? SO, HOW DOES ONE EAT WHEN THEY HAVE NOTHING!!! YOU DESPISE A “BUM” FOR PANHANDLING AND WHATNOT, BUT WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WHEN SOMEONE DOESN’T GET REGULAR NOURISHMENT AND SLEEPS ON A CONCRETE SLAB WITH MAYBE A LAYER OF CARDBOARD. WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO? SHOULD THEY JUST DROP DEAD SO NOT TO INCONVENIENCE YOUR LIFE? JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...

#WELL AREN’T THERE “SERVICES” FOR THEM? I MEAN... I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND...

DO YOU MEAN GOVERNMENT SERVICES, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND SUCH? WELL, YES AND NO. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A LARGE U.S. CITY SUCH AS HOUSTON, TEXAS WHERE YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS AND IN TENT COMMUNITIES. AND THEN JUST 50 FT AWAY YOU HAVE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUILDINGS, SPORT STADIUMS, HIGHRISES AND YET “THERE IS NO MONEY” TO GO TOWARDS SOLVING THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.

AS FAR AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN CHARGE THAT HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT HOW TO HELP ADDRESS THE HOMELESS PROBLEM. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THEY WORK ON WAYS ON HOW TO HIDE OR MOVE THE HOMELESS “OUT OF THE WAY...”.

ON THE PRIVATE ORGANIZATION SIDE, YOU STILL HAVE THE ISSUE TO WHERE THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE SHOW DON’T HAVE A CLUE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE; BUT IN FAIRNESS... SOME DO TRY TO MAKE AN EFFORT. CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS MAY OPEN UP THEIR DOORS FOR A FEW HOURS, A FEW DAYS A WEEK WHERE ONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A MEAL AND MAYBE A 5 MIN RUSH SHOWER.

IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, YOU MUST FIRST BE ABLE TO GET TO THE LOCATION AND DURING A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. SO FOR MANY WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH SAID LOCATION OR HAVE A METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION IN WHICH TO GET THERE THEY WILL BE LEFT OUT AND LEFT HUNGRY.

#SO HOW IS YOUR ORGANIZATION GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

SIMPLE. HUMANASSIST.ORG WAS FORMED BY INDIVIDUALS INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS CRISIS; SOME OF WHICH HAVE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS BEFORE AND KNOW THE REALITIES OF IT AND HOW TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE GUESSING ABOUT OR HAVE AN IMAGINARY FAIRYTALE SOLUTION TO. WE KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. WE SEE ALL OF THE BUREAUCRACY, NON-TRANSPARENCY, MISMANAGEMENT, AND MISFOCUS THAT PLAGUE THESE OTHER AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

HUMANASSIST.ORG BELIEVES THAT IN ORDER TO CURE AND ERRADICATE THE HOMELESS PROBLEM THE FOCUS ULTIMATELY MUST BE ON GETTING HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO HOUSING.

#WHAT DO YOU MEAN HOUSING?

THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR MANY “CIVILIZED FOLK” TO COMPREHEND/UNDERSTAND.

LISTEN. PEOPLE’S THOUGHT PROCESSES ARE MOSTLY DRIVEN BY THEIR PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCE. A PERSON ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY KNOW. HENCE... IF YOU HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, REAL POVERTY, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, STRUGGLE, ETC. AT BEST YOU CAN ONLY FORM AN *IDEA IN YOUR HEAD ABOUT A SPECIFIC SUBJECT AND THAT IDEA WILL STILL ONLY BE BASED ON THE LIMITED INFORMATION YOU HAVE.

EVERYTHING HUMANASSIST.ORG CAN PROVIDE TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY THAT IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ALWAYS WITH THE ENDGAME BEING HOUSING. ONCE A HOMELESS ADULT IS HOUSED THEY CAN BEGIN TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFE. MANY, WHO MAY JUST HAVE NEEDED TO REJOIN THE WORKFORCE CAN NOW GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP, GET A NICE SHOWER, PUT ON SOME FRESH/CLEAN CLOTHES, AND FACE THE WORLD WITH SOME CONFIDENCE AND DIGNITY. SOMETHING THAT CAN’T BE DONE LIVING ON THE STREETS.

#OK, SO I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT, BUT STILL IGNORANT ABOUT ALL THIS HOMELESS STUFF, BUT I FEEL LIKE I WANNA DO SOMETHING. HOW CAN A PERSON LIKE ME HELP?

YOU CAN HELP HUMANASSIST.ORG HELP THE HOMELESS BY MAKING A DONATION. EACH AND EVERY DONATION, EVEN A COUPLE OF DOLLARS WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE BASICS SUCH AS FOOD/DRINK/HYGIENE ALL THE WAY UP TO HOUSING. (WHICH IS THE ENGAME...) YOU CAN DONATE ONCE, TWICE, MONTHLY, AS OFTEN AS YOU WISH. REST ASSURED, YOUR MONEY IS GOING TO A GOOD CAUSE AND WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE.

EARLIER WE DISCUSSED HOW SOME SERVICES OPEN ON CERTAIN DAYS, CERTAIN TIMES TO PROVIDE MEALS, ETC. BUT MANY CAN’T ACCESS THESE LOCATIONS. IT’S WHY WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AS ONE OF OUR REGULAR SERVICES, A MOBILE-OUTREACH PROGRAM. WHERE WE DISTRIBUTE BASICS TO THE HOMELESS (IN THE VARIOUS PARTS OF TOWN WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE GATHER) ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE BEING LEFT OUT, SOMETIMES A NICE LUNCH AND SOME NEEDED ESSENTIALS CAN MAKE YOUR DAY WHEN YOU ARE LIVING THE HORRIBLE EXISTENCE THAT IS HOMELESSNESS.

#ADULTS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS...

“AYE, YOU BUM STOP BEGGING... GET A F*N JOB!”

WHAT JOB? ONCE YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO WHERE YOU ENDED UP HOMELESS, YOU DON'T GET ANY SLEEP, YOU SMELL LIKE SH*T, YOU GOT A LAYER OF DIRT ON YOUR BODY BECAUSE YOU CAN’T TAKE A SHOWER REGULARLY, YOU HAVE ALL YOUR BELONGINGS WITH YOU PUSHING/PULLING CARTS 24/7 WHO’S GONNA HIRE YOU?

YES, ITS REALLY EASY TO SAY “GET A JOB” BUT IN REALITY ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN. AND TRUTHFULLY A “JOB” (“ANY JOB” AS MANY LIKE TO SAY, "MCDONALDS", ETC) IS NOT GONNA GET A HOMELESS MAN OFF THE STREETS, SUSTAIN THEM, OR EVEN IMPROVE THEIR SELF ESTEEM (AND THIS IS ALL UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT SAID HOMELESS PERSON MANAGED TO LAND A JOB OR IS EVEN EMPLOYABLE.

ALSO ASSUMING THAT SAID HOMELESS PERSON FOUND A METHOD OF CONTROLLING THEIR BODY ODOR (SINCE THEY GENERALLY WOULD HAVE TO BE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT), AND ALSO FIGURED OUT A WAY TO STAY AWAKE DURING THE WORK SHIFT).

THE ONLY THING GETTING A “JOB” WILL ACCOMPLISH OTHER THAN SPENDING YOUR CHECK ON BIG MACS, IS MAKING THE “CIVILIZED" PERSON IN THE PEANUT GALLERY FEEL MORE *COMFORTABLE WITH THE SITUATION. NOW AT LEAST THAT PERSON CAN SAY “WELL AT LEAST MR. HOMELESS GUY HAS A JOB.”

JUST A LIL' BIT MORE READING...

#WHEN YOU ASSUME...

“UM, WELL CAN’T THAT HOMELESS PERSON OVER THERE GET FOOD STAMPS?”

NOT NECESSARILY, YOU STILL HAVE TO QUALIFY* FOR FOOD STAMPS, WHETHER YOU ARE HOMELESS OR NOT. IN MOST SITUATIONS THERE IS A WORK REQUIREMENT. SO FOR EXAMPLE IN TEXAS, IF A SINGLE PERSON CAN GET A MAX BENEFIT OF SAY $200/MONTH. THAT AMOUNT IS REDUCED WHEN YOU MAKE ANY INCOME. WITH MINIMUM INCOME FACTORED INTO THE BENEFIT CALCULATION... IT WILL BE REDUCED ALOT; SOME HAVE REPORTED BEING REDUCED TO UNDER $20/MONTH WORKING A 20 HR/WEEK MIN WAGE JOB. AS PER USUAL YOU ARE BEING PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO DO BETTER.

#FOOD STAMPS 101: YOU CAN’T BUY HOT🔥 FOOD OR MOST PREPARED FOODS WITH FOOD STAMPS. FUN FACT: HUMAN BEINGS ENJOY HOT 🔥 FOOD 🤷🏾‍♂️ AND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, EVEN IF A PERSON CAN GET THE FULL MONTHLY BENEFIT, THE MONEY IS WASTED!!! YOU WILL FIND THAT... THAT MONEY* WILL BE SPENT ON JUNK FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS CHIPS AND SODA EASILY SPENDING $20/DAY WHICH MEANS YOU WILL BE STARVING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WHEN YOUR FOOD STAMP FUNDS HAVE DEPLETED.

#WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE...

“HEY BUDDY, CHEER UP.. EVERYTHINGS GONNA BE ALRIGHT..”

NO! MR./MRS UTOPIA, EVERYTHING IS NOT ALL GOOD... WHAT DID WE DISCUSS EARLIER ABOUT THE HOMELESS "LIFE" TAKING A TOLL ON YOU MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

EVERYTHING GETS WORST... YOUR HEALTH DECLINES, YOU GET SICKER, TAKES LONGER TO RECOVER FROM BASIC AILMENTS... EXPOSURE TO WEATHER. USE OF EVERYTHING ‘PUBLIC’ 🤮... THE FACT IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE SICK YOU CAN’T JUST GO SLEEP IT OFF.

DOING THE HOMELESS ROUTINE DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, BAD TREATMENT, LOW SELF ESTEEM, DEPRESSION, IT ALL BREAKS YOU DOWN MENTALLY. A PERSON WITH AN ADDICTION FOR EXAMPLE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BREAK IT AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN HOMELESS, THAT VICE IS THE ONLY THING THAT GETS THEM THROUGH THE DAY.

#FINAL THOUGHTS...

YOU MADE IT HERE TO THE END, CONGRATS!

WANT TO SUPPORT OUR CAUSE? THEN PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION. ANY CONTRIBUTION LARGE OR SMALL TO OUR ORGANIZATION WILL HELP US IMMENSELY. TELL A FRIEND, SPREAD THE WORD, ANY AMOUNT HELPS. $2, $5, $20, $100, $1000 IT DOESN’T MATTER. THE MORE PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTE, THE MORE FUNDS WE CAN RAISE IN PURSUIT OF FULFILLING OUR MISSION.