by Chattrelle Gillyard
Often we see homelessness as a choice. There is stigma surrounding homelessness that causes many of us to believe that people experiencing it are lazy. They’ve chosen to be homeless or unemployed or that they’re the reason why they are currently experiencing homelessness. But most people in this situation did not choose it. What’s more, many people experiencing homelessness have endured some sort of trauma in their life. According to SAMSHA, homelessness in itself is considered a traumatic event.
Could you imagine losing your home and your job due to a natural disaster such as a hurricane? Can you imagine aging out of the foster care system with no stable living place to go? Can you imagine growing up poor and never really having a place to call home? Or what about having to run away from home due to abuse or neglect at a young age? Though many are fortunate enough to overcome these particular traumas, others aren’t that fortunate. Mental health conditions, substance use issues, and even paranoia and lack of trust can develop from unresolved trauma. These conditions are also all barriers to employment, affordable housing, and proper health care. Many people experiencing homelessness battle with unresolved trauma every day and are constantly reminded of their situation and looked down upon. It’s easy to see what’s on the outside, and it’s easy to judge and make assumptions. It’s even easier to label people who are different from us. It’s harder to look past someone’s appearance or current station in life to sympathize with where they’ve been or what they’ve been through.
Though many of us have experienced the same or similar traumas as our guests, we still choose to believe the stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness. We still speed walk past them, frown at a particular smell they carry, ignore them when we see them, and even talk down to them. We put ourselves on a pedestal to make ourselves feel better, all while ignoring the reality that we could be one traumatic event from experiencing homelessness too. I challenge you to follow the tenets and values of Central OAC when it comes to interacting with someone who is experiencing homelessness. Meet them where they are with patience and humility. Treat them with respect, and dignity. Trauma is all around us and affects everyone differently. Don’t be in a rush to judge more than you are to understand.