Lilmizmoore edited this post 1 year, 1 month ago. Read the previous text »
Would You Help a Homeless Person? I wrote this poem based on actual events.
Man of the Street
Did you see the man standing in the middle of the street?
The one with the sign.
It says “Will Work for Food”
I barely caught a glimpse if him as I drove right by.
I pass by him often, not really giving much thought.
Car after car passes by also.
I’m thankful for what little I’ve got.
Yet, I still do wonder about that man standing there.
Why day after day he looks motionless,
probably wondering if anyone will stop to care.
Then one day I noticed out of the corner of my eye.
A stranger threw some change at him,
Quarters, nickels and dimes.
Quickly he bent over to pick up the mess,
hastily picking up what he could, and leaving the rest.
He stood back up and stretched out his back.
He looked to the sky to see the clouds turning black.
A downpour soon followed, yet he didn’t leave his spot.
That day I again passed him being thankful for what little I’ve got.
He still stood there with his sign “Will Work for Food”
More cars drove by some making gestures that were awfully rude.
The water splashed upon him as the puddles around him grew deep.
His clothes were so soaked; his shoes were we as well right down to his feet.
Yet he still remained there, and when the sun came out,
He wiped off his sign, and he faced due south.
That was the time I left a parking lot, looking for an alternate way out.
There he was standing there, his face was so sad.
Again, I was thankful for what little I had.
As I waited for my turn at the light up ahead,
somehow he caught my attention; it was a moment I wouldn’t forget.
For it wasn’t a man at all but a woman, her face was red.
I thought it was from the sun, then I looked closer then to myself I said,
“She’s crying. What has happened to this world?”
“Doesn’t anyone show compassion? This woman’s dignity has been totally unfurled!”
I decided to act, and I couldn’t let this go on.
I got her attention, because this whole thing was just so wrong.
I pulled off to the side, and she came slowly up to me.
She explained that she is a single mother of three
She just lost her job, and there’s no-one to help.
She hasn’t anyone really, just her kids and herself.
I asked where they are staying. She said they live in a shack.
It was an abandoned building on the north side of the tracks.
I told her it’s not safe to stay there. She said, “What should I do?”
“My kids are all hungry, and there’s no money for food.”
She explained that she is a single mother of three
She just lost her job, and there’s no-one to help.
She hasn’t anyone really, just her kids and herself.
I asked where they are staying. She said they live in a shack.
It was an abandoned building on the north side of the tracks.
I told her it’s not safe to stay there. She said, “What should I do?”
“My kids are all hungry, and there’s no money for food.”
I convinced her to come and get a bite to eat.
I hoped I could help get her and her kids off the street.
I placed a few calls, and not too long after that
a woman from the local shelter met us at the restaurant,
and soon drove with the lady from the street to show her where the kids were at.
When I look at that corner now where the woman once stood,
I wonder who will be next holding a sign made of wood. (Maybe me?)
I never saw that woman again, and I hope she knows she taught me a lot.
And I am still thankful for what little I’ve got.
Most of the people in my town with those signs are scammers. Not all of them, but most. I’ve tried to offer them food before and they demand cash. Right buddy; I’m not supporting your drug habit. It really sucks because the people who genuinely need help aren’t going to get it because those jerks ruin it for them!!
but there’s also lots of shelters and progams for free meals in my town, too.
very good :)
i became friends with a homeless person
he was cold& thirsty so i gave him my gloves
then i bought him a hot cup of tea every day for a wk
wk after that,he came to my works with 2 hot cup of teas
weve been friends ever since
hes no longer homeless,he has plenty of friends
he still drinks hot tea :)
angela 2008 wrote:
very good :)
i became friends with a homeless person
he was cold& thirsty so i gave him my gloves
then i bought him a hot cup of tea every day for a wk
wk after that,he came to my works with 2 hot cup of teas
weve been friends ever since
hes no longer homeless,he has plenty of friends
he still drinks hot tea :)
AWW what a nice story. Thanks for sharing!
your welcome.
i always think of my friend john when i have a hot cup of tea
makes me smile :)
I have a good job, I work hard to take care of my wife and kids. Unfortunately we live check to check, it would take very little to off set the scales and we’d be tossed into the streets.
A few weeks ago My 2 younger sons went to the store. On our way out of the parking lot there was a homeless man with a sign asking for help. I stopped and gave the $3.00
and a bottle of water. My son asked why I always do that. I told him “That we all need help sometimes” He asked me “Would anyone help us?” to which I replied “I have faith in mankind, if we all would just lend a little help, then we could change the world”
Its a nice poem, but certain things don’t really add up.
Lilmizmoore wrote:
day after day he looks motionless, probably wondering if anyone will stop to care
If this person didn’t spend day after day begging in the street, he could be using his time more wisely and find themself a job.
[quote Lilmizmoore]Quickly he bent over to pick up the mess, hastily picking up what he could, and leaving the rest[quote]
A begger would never leave coins on the ground, they would most definately pick them up.
I do feel bad for the genuinely poor elderly people who always do it tough, but as nikki said, the dishonest ones spoil it for the honest ones. There are shelters and charities to look after people like this. We are very limited as to what we can do for them.
Buying a cup of tea for the homeless man, I thought that was really sweet. But in all honesty, thats about as much as you can do, because if you offered for them to stay at your place, or be too generous, you could nearly guarentee things would go missing.
Twice this year in my town alone, we have had someone going door to door with a Salvation Army donations can and (looked genuine) a ID badge. I find out later, this person was a scammer. So they were collecting donations for the Salvo’s, but the Salvo’s had no idea who this person even was.
This is what I mean. It’s very hard to get the motivation to help anyone now days, because it is just too hard to figure out who is telling the truth and who is just trying to scam you for your cash.
I try to give to institutions rather than individuals. So those groups can go out and help the individuals. Choices and the YWCA usually. (Choices is a program for battered and homeless women and families)
Many people in our lives are living just one pay cheque away from being homeless…that is a reality during these times and I find it’s best not to judge as you just never know what the future holds for any of us. I’ve had my life turned upside down by a turn of events. It gives you a whole new perspective and appreciation for the little things we often take for granted. I have helped homeless people and will continue to. Sometimes even just a smile or a kind word can mean the world to someone if that is all you have to give.
A thoughtful poem, well done :)
Gabz wrote:
Its a nice poem, but certain things don’t really add up.
Lilmizmoore wrote:
day after day he looks motionless, probably wondering if anyone will stop to care
If this person didn’t spend day after day begging in the street, he could be using his time more wisely and find themself a job.
[quote Lilmizmoore]Quickly he bent over to pick up the mess, hastily picking up what he could, and leaving the rest[quote]
A begger would never leave coins on the ground, they would most definately pick them up.
I do feel bad for the genuinely poor elderly people who always do it tough, but as nikki said, the dishonest ones spoil it for the honest ones. There are shelters and charities to look after people like this. We are very limited as to what we can do for them.
Buying a cup of tea for the homeless man, I thought that was really sweet. But in all honesty, thats about as much as you can do, because if you offered for them to stay at your place, or be too generous, you could nearly guarentee things would go missing.
Twice this year in my town alone, we have had someone going door to door with a Salvation Army donations can and (looked genuine) a ID badge. I find out later, this person was a scammer. So they were collecting donations for the Salvo’s, but the Salvo’s had no idea who this person even was.
This is what I mean. It’s very hard to get the motivation to help anyone now days, because it is just too hard to figure out who is telling the truth and who is just trying to scam you for your cash.
This was an absolute real situation that I wrote about and the woman was not scamming. Change was thrown and some landing right in the middle of the street. Would you rather this person get hit trying to get the money?
Maybe it don’t add up to you, but it did to me because I was there and witnessed this.
anothernikki wrote:
Most of the people in my town with those signs are scammers. Not all of them, but most. I’ve tried to offer them food before and they demand cash. Right buddy; I’m not supporting your drug habit. It really sucks because the people who genuinely need help aren’t going to get it because those jerks ruin it for them!!
but there’s also lots of shelters and programs for free meals in my town, too.
About the drug habit;i think this is a bad attitude that too many of us have, i had it too but Giving is giving. I know we should never be an enabler but when we give, even if its just a smile we are giving hope.
Sorry Lil, I guess I was trying to get more to the point of answering the question (Would you help a homeless person) and how hard it is to pick the difference between a scammer and a genuinely needy person. It’s very hard.
Your a good person with a good heart (obviously) and I don’t discount the fact that you found a genuinely needy person who you felt deserved your help, and I’m sure she will be forever grateful. She won’t ever forget you.
no offense taken Gabz. This is a hot topic with me becaue I myself have one foot on the curb. Im already disabled with little money and Im one step away from being in that situation.
God Bless
I actually do help a homeless person. Theres a guy thats always at the corner of an intersection that I pass every time I leave the grocery store. So every time im at the store, I buy a bottle of water and give him some money.
That’s great kemmy. Good for you! :-D
Thats why we have things like welfare and institutions to help people not be homeless. i dont believe they have to be where they are.
I once left $15 near a homeless man in my city; we don’t get them very often, and I always want to talk to them, but I’m afraid, they might be crazy and I wouldn’t know, or try to mug me, when I do give to them, it’s often descretely.
Unfortunately, welfare won’t help a person not be homeless. The housing market in my state stinks. There is no section 8 open anymore, and waiting lists everywhere else are full a beyond capacity.
In my state the benefits break down like this:
Family of Gross Income Limit Max Monthly Benefit
1 $286.75 $139.00
2 $471.75 $229.00
3 $592.00 $288.00
4 $712.25 $346.00
Welfare won’t keep a person off the street and in their own home…in my state Id be out on the street. No, they don’t have to be there, but some don’t have a choice…some do. As a whole, I do not think people choose to live on the sidewalk.
okay my chart didnt come out right
should be:
family of 1,2, and so on
1st dollar amount is the gross income limit
2nd dollar amount is the max monthly benefit
in my country, you choose to be homeless. no one has to be homeless.
That’s right no-one has to be homeless, and no-one should be homeless, but not everyone has the same support system in place, and not everyone has the same set of circumstances. I just applied for housing and was told “go live in your car” Why? There is a waiting list so long Ill be likely dead before it ever opens up again.
When circumstances fall one after the other like dominoes, and a person cannot possibly keep up no matter what, homelessness happens.
I wouldnt choose to be homeless, but the way things go in my life it could happen rather I want it to or not. A sad reality the way our economy is going.
no, im saying, in my country, you CHOOSE to be homeless. you dont have to be.
How does one in your country CHOOSE to be homeless?
our welfare system is far, far better than the one in the states. if youre struggling, you can apply for an emergency benefit to be repaid at a later date to enable you to catch up on debts. you can apply for emergency housing, council or state housing.
the government will help you if you are struggling. youre not gonna get rich doin it, but you wont be on the streets. no one in nz has to live on the streets.
I see, thanks for the information. The welfare system here stinks. I cannot get housing if my life depended on it. If something happened to my mother me and both my kids will be on the streets. We split the expenses but I cannot carry the entire load financially.
There is no place to help us and frankly, no org. cares cares besides. I am disabled and for me to work a job that will 100% carry me financially is just not a realistic goal because of my health. I went through a place here called Vocational Rehabilitation and I was evaluated and told they could not assist me for employment and school because (they determined) my health was as such that no employer would put up with all my hospital stays, etc.
I deserve a place to stay and every day I know Im one day closer to being on the streets myself without a place to help. So many people are losing their homes under all sorts of situations.
God Bless,
your’ story,touchs’ my heart,deeper than anyone knows.yes,i would help a homless person.as a matter of fact,it’s something,we do in our home.no,we have only 1 meal a day here in my home,mostly starchs,not much meat,rarely vegtables,nver fruit.sometimes bread.only 1 meal,our stomaches hurt,it has affected our health.our souls,run our life.there is always,someone,who has less than you.(us)i don’t know what happened to our country,maybe the goverment,is too busy,fighting wars,and bailing out loan company’s.money that,should of gone to the people that that needed their loan,morgage.instead,they bailed out companies,that were not doing there job right in the first place.to busy to look at the so called ‘little poeple.we bring poeple into our home.sometimes for,a warm place to sleep,sometimes for a meal,a shower.help them get other help,(sometimes imposable to get other help).i buy stocking hats,in the spring.i stop on the street,offer a hat,to someone who looks cold,the ones walking.yes,to answer.i would help,jana
yes i would help a homeless person in heartbeat and i have. i just figure maybe someday i might be in the same problem and struggling and i hope that someone would help.
Yes, in certain situations I would… and I did. I volunteered one Christmas to work at a shelter. There was a homeless family that I got to know. In order to accept help from Social Services the next day they had to be split up, mother and daughter in one shelter, the man to another. Obviously, they did not want that.
I got them a room in a hotel and my wife and I invited the family to celebrate Christmas with us the next day. The following week, with the help of a local church we got them an apartment, and helped the husband get a job.
I guess it helped that it was a family, that I had a chance to have a long talk with them and really got to know them first, and determine there was a real need, and that they were just down on their luck. … It was a great Christmas for all of us!
I faced being almost homeless at one point in my life, so I know the potential devastation that it could be. Although I did not live it, I felt the fear of it and grew extremely compassionate for people in that position.
Yes! I do help the homeless all the time.
Nobody deserves to be homeless.
i do wonder how it does happen. when the paper i get every day is crammed full of jobs. i do wonder.
mmmm, well Urine Sane… unexpected life tragedies, forclosures, job losses,etc…
More people than not live one paycheck away from homelessness. It is a worldwide tragedy.
not really. my country doesnt have too many homeless people at all, and those that are choose to be.
my own mother raised me and my sister and ran our whole house on less than $250 a week. its living beyond your means that puts you in these situations.
Lilmizmoore wrote:
Unfortunately, welfare won’t help a person not be homeless. The housing market in my state stinks. There is no section 8 open anymore, and waiting lists everywhere else are full a beyond capacity.
In my state the benefits break down like this:
Family of Gross Income Limit Max Monthly Benefit
1 $286.75 $139.00
2 $471.75 $229.00
3 $592.00 $288.00
4 $712.25 $346.00
Welfare won’t keep a person off the street and in their own home…in my state Id be out on the street. No, they don’t have to be there, but some don’t have a choice…some do. As a whole, I do not think people choose to live on the sidewalk.
im in the situation with my kids im on the street not by choice no one will care ms
This account has been deactivated.
ok, so get a job, and dont rely on benefits that dont pay the bills. srsly, there are tons of jobs out there.
janaedgett invited 1 user to read this post 1 year ago.
Ξ.Ģäβž.Ξ wrote:
Its a nice poem, but certain things don’t really add up.
Lilmizmoore wrote:
day after day he looks motionless, probably wondering if anyone will stop to care
If this person didn’t spend day after day begging in the street, he could be using his time more wisely and find themself a job.
[quote Lilmizmoore]Quickly he bent over to pick up the mess, hastily picking up what he could, and leaving the rest[quote]
A begger would never leave coins on the ground, they would most definately pick them up.
I do feel bad for the genuinely poor elderly people who always do it tough, but as nikki said, the dishonest ones spoil it for the honest ones. There are shelters and charities to look after people like this. We are very limited as to what we can do for them.
Buying a cup of tea for the homeless man, I thought that was really sweet. But in all honesty, thats about as much as you can do, because if you offered for them to stay at your place, or be too generous, you could nearly guarentee things would go missing.
Twice this year in my town alone, we have had someone going door to door with a Salvation Army donations can and (looked genuine) a ID badge. I find out later, this person was a scammer. So they were collecting donations for the Salvo’s, but the Salvo’s had no idea who this person even was.
This is what I mean. It’s very hard to get the motivation to help anyone now days, because it is just too hard to figure out who is telling the truth and who is just trying to scam you for your cash.
Just because you’ve never been there you think you know everything. You are a jerk, but even so if you asked me for money I would give- and I am homeless.
Atym wrote:
I once left $15 near a homeless man in my city; we don’t get them very often, and I always want to talk to them, but I’m afraid, they might be crazy and I wouldn’t know, or try to mug me, when I do give to them, it’s often descretely.
I love people like you. It bothers me when people are afraid of me just because I’m in a different situation than they are, it bothers me a lot- but when they give anyway it means so much more. To see the fear in someones eyes while they RISK IT ANYWAY means more than the money.
like i said b4 yes i would and i have its how things should b
lol i have to laugh at some of the things that u people say because in the state i live in the average age of a homeless person is 9 yes 9 years old
anothernikki
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