Kieran Revell
Jul 29, 2017 · 4 min read

Homelessness Isn’t Contagious

Homeless people are not invisible. They’re just like you and me, but they’ve fallen on hard times. Offer them friendship, not judgement

There’s an old saying, possibly attributed to the 16th Century reformist and martyr, John Bradford: ‘There but for the grace of God, go I’ (1). It means that the misfortune of others could very well be our own, if it was not for the blessings we have in our lives, irrespective of the challenges we face: It’s something for which we should always be grateful.

What images are conjured in your mind when you hear the word ‘homeless’? What does the word make you think about? Are you repulsed? Does it frighten you? Are you completely disconnected?

Hi and welcome. Thanks for your company. Homelessness is one of my hobby horses. As you might be aware, I did spend some time living on the streets to try and understand what it is that sees people living in such a disengaged way.

On any given day in almost any city in the world, you’ll invariably find dozens and even hundreds of people who are homeless.

That means they live on the streets: They live rough with no reasonable shelter; often with little or no food and no means to get themselves into a more safe and secure position. It’s a tragedy.

Homelessness is not a disease. You can’t stand in the vicinity of a homeless person and be somehow infected: It is however rapidly developing into a pandemic.

It continues to sweep the world as economies struggle to cope with a multitude of problems.

They often result in downsizing, redundancies, unemployment, loss of income, increasing mortgages and rents, arguments, disputes and health problems … and all these roads, can lead to disadvantage.

When you have some degree of security in your life it’s easy to push images of homelessness out of your mind. When it doesn’t affect you then it’s not an issue. When it’s not in your face every day then it’s not in your mind every moment.

I once thought, quite naively, that homelessness must somehow be a choice. I couldn’t understand why people would just check out of society and so easily fall through the cracks?

What was wrong with professional people who seemed to have it all and then, in the blink of an eye, just fade into oblivion?

On closer examination, homelessness is a very complex matter. There is a multitude of reasons why people are found in this vulnerable position.

They’re often unable to cope and subsequently slip into tragic circumstances. Some of the reasons for homeless can include:

• Unemployment/business failure

• Lack of affordable housing

• Poor physical or mental health

• Drug and alcohol abuse

• Gambling

• Family and relationship breakdown

• Domestic violence

• Family tragedies

• Physical and/or sexual abuse

The brief period I spent on the streets was a time of true awakening for me. From that I gained a much better understanding of some of the issues involved in homelessness.

I know now that tackling this insidious problem is very complex. It requires an understanding of the underlying issues with the support and assistance from public institutions, charitable organisations, government services, family members and friends.

There is inevitably a great deal of intervention, support and counselling required. It asks for a strong cohesion and liaison among all parties involved to ensure the best outcomes possible.

It’s too easy to push homeless people aside, as if they’re an inconvenience. They are not. They’re people; real people, just like you and me. They eat; they breathe; they laugh; they cry; they feel emotion and they bleed just like the rest of us. They just happen to be living on the streets through tragic circumstances.

The issue of veteran homelessness is also of immense importance. These individuals made the selfless decision to put their lives on the line for the greater good. It’s a sacrifice many of us would not be prepared to make.

They return home and many find themselves alone and largely forgotten. If it was not for the sacrifices made by these patriots, I can’t imagine the kind of world we could be living in. We owe them our freedom and our liberty. We owe them our lives. We really owe them a debt of gratitude we may never be able to repay.

Before you criticize the less fortunate, turn your nose up or look down on them, be grateful for the blessings you have in your life each and every day. You have a roof over your head; food on the table; clothes on your back; an income and the love of a family and friends.

You might not have a million dollars in the bank and a holiday home in the Bahamas, but you do have far more than countless millions of others. Be thankful.

Next time you see a homeless person, spare a thought for their current circumstances. You can’t hope to know what has occurred in their lives and what challenges they’ve faced. Offer a smile and a kind word. If you have a few dollars to spare, give it over. Offer a meal and a hand in friendship.

Don’t procrastinate. Every day you hesitate means the future remains out of your reach. Take steps today to add zest and energy to the present.

Build your own character by taking steps to move out of your comfort zone and give a ‘hand up’ to someone less fortunate. With a positive attitude, you can disconnect from the past and work with passion and purpose in the present, towards a more enriched and empowered future.

Imagine the possibilities. I look forward to your company again very soon.

1. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/there_but_for_the_grace_of_God_go_I

Kieran Revell

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I’m a leadership consultant, specializing in an ethical approach to others. I consider your success as important as my own. Its a shared process of growth.