I worked in the shelter system for a number of years. Often what people forget is that each homeless person they see did not make a decision to be this way.
Something happened in their lives that created this situation.
At one of the shelters I worked at, the director made it clear to the staff that, "Each person is three bad decisions from the street."
This can be divorce and losing their home, debt that requires bankruptcy to clear, being mentally ill and discovering all of the spaces are filled for others.
There is a myriad of reasons.
So the next time you see someone clearly in a rough state, acknowledge them as another human, consider an act of kindness towards them and remember, it really could be you at some point in your life.
Holly Baxter