Home Isn’t Always Where the Heart Is

Written by Olivia McGrath

Like the word, “love,” having a place to call home could have tremendous power. When we travel, we often call the places we stay our “homes away from home” and always put great stock into our shelters. But is having a roof over your head always congruent with having a happy heart and a happy life?

They are in the streets at any given time- not just in lower class neighborhoods, but in the

shadows of tall buildings and sitting, chilled, on park benches. They are homeless. Often, we are taught to avoid them, to not give them money at any cost- you never know what they could be buying with it. We feel bad and often wish to help, yet turn our eyes away when they greet us, asking for spare change or even just remarking on the weather. There is nothing evil about this- after all, avoiding discomfort is a part of survival. But like with feminists or religious groups, the vast majority of them aren’t evil. And even more so, they’re just like you.

A stereotype of homeless people is substance abuse. It is true that substance abuse is seen in those without a place to stay, but people start using drugs even in stable environments, too. Drug use can be spurred on by any number of things; in some cases, it is curiosity, but in others it is to escape pain, stress, or sadness related to various incidents traumatic or not.

Coincidentally, one of the top causes of homelessness is a tragic life occurrence such as the loss of a loved one, job loss, domestic abuse, sexual assault, divorce, or family disputes. Sexuality and gender can also lead to homelessness, as those who come out to family may be pushed out of their homes due to lack of understanding or religious conflict. Untreated mental disorders like depression and physical disabilities can contribute to homelessness. Veterans returning from war, some suffering from PTSD, are often present on the streets as well. They hold signs proclaiming their service, and receive nothing in return. And, of the 3.5 million homeless in America, over 1 million of these are children and 300,000 of these are on the street on any given night (Homeaid). And, lastly, natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, and fires can lead to a loss of shelter.

Our ignorance of these people is all too strong. In a social experiment on YouTube, several people’s family members pretended to be homeless, and were ignored as their loved ones walked by. It is as if they are invisible, a sub-category of humans that some claim were well deserving of their fate.  It can be hard to look past the appearances of those on the street and the warnings received time and time again from family, but it is possible.  Suicide among the homeless is a known health concern- up to 46% have attempted suicide and 61 percent have suicidal thoughts, so helping out in any way possible could make a difference.

Bringing along small items such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, or various other hygiene supplies when you go out to give to the homeless can be helpful, as well as starting a small fund of money just for the purpose of helping them out. (Remember, although the money could go to drugs, it could also go to food or supplies for these people.) Being kind and wishing them a good day, or having a brief conversation with them, or even just smiling can make a difference as well, no matter how scary. And, you can ask them to show you around an unfamiliar city or hang out with you in return for a meal or some shelter if mooching is of concern.

There will always be homeless in our world. There is nothing shameful about being homeless- after all, they are just like us in many ways. Some of them even get used to it and think of the streets as their home, similar to how we treat our hotel rooms or condos on vacation. Home does not always mean a four-walled structure and money for rent. Anybody can be homeless, including the people we know and love. Including ourselves. Home is a state of mind, a collection of experiences and, in some cases, objects.

So it is important to know that home isn’t always where the heart is.