Faces of Homelessness

Today we learned more about not only the effects of homelessness, but the various and extensive causes. The video, "Faces of Homelessness" opened my eyes to many horrific facts and gave me a new perspective of homeless people. Many of us, whether we care to admit it or not, have some sort of prejudice towards the homeless. The video I watched today though made me think hard about how I view this growing group of people. None of the homeless people in the clip were simply lazy. There were so many issues, varying from substance abuse to domestic violence, that led those people to the point they are at. I also was unaware of the conditions that homeless shelters were in. I knew they weren't ideal, but the stories of crowded living quarters, theft, unsanitary conditions, and even rape, really shocked my group today. This makes me feel like we not only need to help provide a shelter, but safety as well. Unfortunately, before that is a reality, the prejudice needs to fade and the cause become more known.

A quote that really stood out to me today was "First I thought I was crazy. That night, I went back to the shelter and just sat on the bench and cried uncontrollably because there was nothing I could do to change my situation." While I knew that many homeless people felt desperate, I did not know the extent that they felt trapped and hopeless. It was powerful to hear the goals of GED and reconnecting with children, or even just buying a home. Accomplishments and things we take for granted, people strive for over years. It put it into perspective how fortunate we really are and how important this cause is.


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