In class this week, we further explored the realities of homelessness through several readings, a film, and an exercise. These same mediums gave us a glimpse into the, at times shocking, lengths that people will go to prevent anything that might “attract” the homeless to their communities. While the realities – read hardships – of the homeless were on a scale of their own, what interested me far more were the reactions of the politicians, community members, and neighbors to the homeless. Specifically, what interested me is why I thought they stood out to me.

Objectively, the way people characterized and treated the homeless was horrifying; some calling these people a waste of space and human life. Others campaigned ferociously against the creation of affordable housing units in their neighborhoods or worked feverishly to criminalize the feeding of the homeless on whatever grounds possible. Even more disgusting, was that one attempt to criminalize the feeding of the homeless was predicated on “concern” that these homeless persons would contract a food-borne illness. An argument that may seem reasonable until you consider the testimony of experts that insisted the dangers posed by possible food-borne illness were insignificant compared to that of malnutrition and starvation.

I thought this interested me because I was seeing a level of hate and dehumanization that was mind-boggling. It seemed these people lacked such a basic sense of humanity, that they could have easily become dehumanized to me. How could someone have so little basic empathy for another human-being? A manner of thinking that seems increasingly popular, especially amongst the left. After some reflection, I realized that it actually interested me because I understood how one could come to see people this way.

Poverty is acceptable and a condition that deserves our sympathy if you’re from a developing country where resources are scarce, and safety is all-but guaranteed. Why else would I willingly donate to UNICEF out of my – at best – 10-hour a week, minimum wage check? But when you’re poor in the land of opportunity, why should I care? There are accessible social services at every corner – at least that is something believed in the past. Why should I care especially if caring might come at the cost of my property value or serve as a very uncomfortable reminder that my success is hardly the sole product of my own grit and determination. To be clear, I don’t nor have I ever believed that the homeless were a “waste of space and a human life”. I simply understand the aversion to them. The desire to avoid that uncomfortable truth and the persistent reminder that I sleep in a warm, safe room, spend money at starbucks, and type this blog post on a luxury laptop when there are people sleeping in the rain at the park across the street.

To fully address Hunger and Homelessness, especially for myself, I believe that I must engage in deep self-reflection about my own attitudes about the homeless and be determined to remember what that transition looked like. Without that, I will not have the toolkit to empathize with those who have less kind and altruistic views of homeless persons. Something that is a requirement to address their concerns and have any chance at making effective change.