Op Ed

Op-Ed
You see them on the street. You see their signs, their clothes, their food, their families,
and their faces. You have no idea what they’ve gone through or how hard they’ve tried to get
back on their feet. You just see them as homeless.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, roughly 553,742 people, which
is 17 in 10,000, in the United States experiences homelessness on any given day [1]. We see
them and their needs, but many of us don’t do anything about it. Some of us don’t even look at
them.
This past summer, I worked at a retirement home in North College Hill, a community right
outside of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is considered one of the most dangerous places in the
state and the homelessness rates are through the roof. Every single day I would drive past
multiple people asking for money, food, clothing, and shelter. As a high school student getting
paid minimum wage and preparing to pay off thousands of dollars in student loans, I had very
little to give.
It broke my heart to see veterans sitting on the side of the road begging for a few dollars
to buy groceries or a couple pairs of socks. Or to see mothers with her children asking for some
food or a book for her kids. Surely I felt there was something I could do.
This brings me to the story of the Omelas [2]. Many of the citizens of Omela ignored the
fact that a child was suffering in return for their happiness and contentment just as we ignore the
homeless out of our own fear or discomfort. We feel as if there is nothing we can do that will
make a big difference.
Even though the people ignored the child, it was still there and still suffering. Ignoring the
child, either by staying in the city or leaving the city doesn’t solve any problems. The only way to
solve this problem would be to actually take action and free the child.
Going back to the problem of homelessness, the only way to help is to first start noticing
that there is a problem in the first place. We need to look these people in the eye. We need to
talk to them. Even small actions make big differences.
Several times on my way to work, I decided to stop and talk to these people. I prayed for
them, asked them how they were doing, and asked them about their story. Just the fact that I
talked to them made their day so much different. These people don't just need money, they
need personal connection and they need to know they’re cared about. This gives them the
confidence to move forward and pick themselves back up.
[3]
Most of us don’t have the means to personally help someone out of homelessness, but
even encouragement helps.
Unlike the child in the Omelas, the homeless people we see in our cities aren’t stuck in
that position forever. They can get out of this, of course they need monetary support, but they
also need human connection and encouragement. This encouragement stems from small
actions of kindness.
So what can we do about this? One of the simplest ways we can help them is by making
a human connection! Ask them what their name is. Listen to their story. Pray for them, if you feel
empowered to do so and they feel comfortable with that. If you have the means to give them
something, buy them a good healthy and filling meal. Get them toiletries and new socks and
underwear. Ask them what they need and if you can, provide them with it. If you have the means
to financially support the homeless community around you, do so! You can donate to shelters or
directly to someone in need. Despite what many think, many homeless people, when given the
monetary support to get out of homelessness, do use the money to get back on their feet rather
than going out and buying drugs or alcohol [4].
If you have the means to help, help! If you have nothing to give, you’re wrong! You
always have your time and you can always make a connection. Small actions can make big
differences.
Sources
[1] “The State of Homelessness in America,” National Alliance to End Homelessness,
endhomelessness.org. [Online]. Available:
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-
homelessness-report-legacy/. [Accessed: Oct. 21, 2020].
[2] U. LeGuin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” 1973. [Online]. Available:
file:///Users/gracerindels/Downloads/LeGuin%20-%20The%20Ones%20Who%20Walk%
20Away%20from%20Omelas.pdf. [Accessed: Oct. 21, 2020].
[3] T. Tenborg, “Helping the Homeless Is An Art,” Giving Compass, givingcompass.org.
[Online]. Available: https://givingcompass.org/article/helping-the-homeless-is-an-art/.
[Accessed: Nov. 3, 2020].
[4] R. Koenig, “Researchers gave homeless people money and what they did with it might
surprise you,” Oct. 10, 2020. TODAY, today.com. [Online]. Available:
https://www.today.com/news/researchers-gave-homeless-people-money-study-t193940.
[Accessed: Apr. 24, 2021].

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