⠀╭┈ ❱ ❝ in perspective , part one .. shelters ❞ ┈╮ ⠀⠀⠀ᝰ ƒoɾꫀωᥲɾd .. ᯓ welcome to the first part of ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀my new series, 'in perspective.' in this ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀series, i will be addressing topics that ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀are often misunderstood or ignored. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀please keep in mind that most of these ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀pieces will be mosty based on fact and ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀personal experience. please be kind ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀if you are going to present an argument. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ᰔ thank you !! ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ᕱ ⠀if you live in a populous city -- or even one with a smaller population -- you are likely familiar with the issue of homelessness. panhandlers on the side of the road or at the corner of a sidewalk holding signs. tents lined up near trees and beside through streets. ⠀the govenment of the united states likes to refer to this increasing issue as the 'homeless crisis.' in a way, they are right -- it is a crisis, a major problem in our country and many others -- but not in the way they think it is. they see homelessness as one large conflict that can be resolved with shelters and hands-off feeds. however, homelessness goes much deeper than that. it is an individual problem. ⠀every homeless friend you see on the side of the rode is a unique person with hopes and dreams. yet somewhere between their birth and sitting under a bridge asking for money, those aspirations died. usually, someone else is to blame. someone's mistreatment of this person, someone's words or actions -- most often both. damage is done. a person is hurt and turns to substance. if you know what i mean, good. if you do not, i suggest you look into it. ⠀did you know that , according to statistics , around 1/3 of people experiencing homelessness struggle with substances? and this statistic is undercounted, as it is deducted from the addmitance of the individuals, a lot of which would be given to denial of reliance on substances. ⠀people do not simply use without reason. everyone who becomes homeless has a backstory. now in some cases, people who are homeless are simply subject to poverty. but in a lot of these cases poverty is a result of money spent on substances. ⠀the government is scrambling these days to try and end this problem. however, because of the sheer number of individuals experiencing homelessness, they just cannot be bothered with trying to get to the root of why these people turned to substance abuse. as such, they decided they would establish what they call 'homeless shelters.' ⠀the word 'shelter' is, however, the farthest from the appropriate term for this. i prefer the word 'container' or 'camp.' shelter is the last thing it provides. homeless shelters and government-operated programs often do more harm than good. many shelters are subject to an increase in substance abuse and v!olence. this is because those working at the shelter are not addressing the problem of the individual in their care. they are simply moving them out of the sight of housed individuals. ⠀this is not to speak ill of any of those working to 'fix' the homeless crisis in the united states. they are, after all, trying. this specific issue is more a call to action. if there are any homeless ministries or feeds, i encourage you to join the movement. educate yourself on rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters near you and think of ways you can help. as a minor, some ways your could help are: ⠀⠀- serving at a homeless outreach/feed ⠀⠀- donating money to the homeless ⠀⠀- avoid giving money to panhandlers: instead ⠀⠀⠀offer food and encourage them to attend a ⠀⠀⠀local feed ⠀⠀- if you are a person of faith, pray for a ⠀⠀⠀homeless friend every time you see any ⠀⠀⠀around your homeplace ⠀remember that people experiencing homeless are humans just like me and you. treat them as such. smile, wave -- make someone feel special today! ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ᕱ ⠀i hope that this issue of 'in perspective' has been educational and helpful! if you have any ideas for future issues, visit this studio to tell me about them .. [ link in progress ] signing off !!
