Where Did The Homeless Come From?

Are YOU a Friend In Need?  Are YOU Homeless?

IF, you are Happy Living in the Streets.  That is YOUR Business. 

IF, You "Think" You are Happy living in the Streets, Want to get off the Streets, or are Trapped in the Streets.  THAT is OUR Business!

So, where do these as we call them.....our "Friends In Need" and the "Homeless" come from?
They are viewed as the bottom of the Earth, they are Over Looked, Turned Away from, Ignored, Scoffed at, Heckled, viewed as "Losers", beaten, murdered, set on fire, prostituted, "used" (smoke & mirrors) for funding sake, to support high nonprofit salaries and luxurious homes and more.

THEY used to be members of a FAMILY.  Maybe even YOUR family.  They used to be NEIGHBORS.  Maybe even YOUR neighbors.  Literally.
They do not just appear like some slug under a rock.  They are REAL people.  With feelings, desires, needs. They have had their personalities, their tears, their smiles, their laughter all "Stolen" from them by us as a Society.  We as people hurt each other terribly and think we do not have to be accountable.  We ARE accountable, YOU are accountable.

By the way, a Friend In Need can be anyone, they do not have to be what Society labels as Homeless.  That is why we are trying to change from using the "Homeless" term to using Friends In Need.

What we say, What we do, and how we treat others can do a great deal of "damage" and it is just a "cop-out" to remove ourselves from accountability and to put the blame on the "Friend In Need" or the "Homeless." Yes, there are "bad apples" out there in the streets, just like there is in your neighborhood, 2 blocks from you, yes, even in the gated communities, no matter what color, race or culture origin.

Do you know what got them there, sleeping under that bridge or in those woods?  Do you know why they are drinking or drugging until they cant see, hear or breathe anymore? Until the snot is running out their nose and they are defecating all over themselves?  Do YOU? Do you know?  Most likely not.  Because you Turn Away.  Because you Heckle, Blame, Scoff at, Ignore and just plain call them a "Loser."  "Ahhhh just get the Hell up and go get a job" you say!!  How about most of America right now that have been trying for the last TWO years to get jobs.  Even those with experience, educations, and homes cannot locate jobs.  Are they, YOU losers? NO.  But i tell you this, many, many of you have and will end up Homeless soon, I could end up a "Friend In Need" - and myself and my crew juuuuust might come upon YOU in the Streets and In Need --- "How Would YOU Want To Be Treated?"  How should We Treat You??

How often have you seen those on the streets crying? I mean on the streets, not in the shelter where you just came from having fun helping serve them.  I mean on the streets as you drive by.  Have you seen them crying?  Most likely not.   The tears are not there.  They are numb from the World as we know it.  They have given up and given in to the thought that this is what their life has to be now.   IT DOES NOT.  IT WILL NOT, if we have anything to do with it.

Again.  THEY used to be members of a FAMILY. Maybe even YOUR family. They used to be NEIGHBORS. Maybe even YOUR neighbors. Literally.
They do not just appear like some slug under a rock. They are REAL people. With feelings, desires, needs. They have had their personalities, their tears, their smiles, their laughter all "Stolen" from them by us as a Society. We as people hurt each other terribly and think we do not have to be accountable. We ARE accountable, YOU are accountable.  We help them to "Take Back Your Life" we say, really, to "Steal" back their life from those who stole it from them in the first place.

The old style "Mental Institutions" as we knew them are now the "Streets" and have been for many years now.  The thing is, there just is not enough being done in the streets to help.  It takes money, and lots of it. And it takes people to use that money properly.  Do you feel comfortable donating to an organization that operates 9-5? And supports executive salaries in excess of $100,000.00 per year and supports the executives $300,000.00 - $900,000.00 or more homes?  Do You?  I invite you to check up on those salaries of the nonprofits you Donate to.  They need a salary yes, i most definitely agree, because the work, IF done properly is intense and very difficult and draining. However, in excess of $100,000.00 is the average salary of a nonprofit Executive?  And how many of those levels of executives are employed by the nonprofit you Donate to?  Why did those people get into the business?  Was it for the benefit of the beneficiary?  The Friends In Need, the Homeless?  Could an executive live good on say $85,000.00 max?  Absolutely.  It does not matter if the org is a 10 million dollar org.  The bottom line is the money has to be properly spent for the intended reasons, those in need.  IT IS NOT.  THAT is why we have so many in need out there.  I shudder to think how many we could help if we had $200,000.00 of one of their salaries.  And many people donate to support those salaries and lavish homes.  The executives of nonprofits should not have salaries the same as the millionaires donating to their cause. It just doesn't compute. 

So, you see. It is not the fault entirely of the "Friends In Need."  There are many many factors.

I am asking that from now on, you look at our "Friends In Need" and the "Homeless" differently.
Look at them with concern.  Concern for, do they want to be off the street? Do they know they do not have to be on the street?  Do they know there are people who care? Do they know they deserve to be off the streets?  Do they understand how deep they are in? Do they need medical care? Are they dangerously hungry? In dehydration?  Have they given in and given up to the streets?  Why? Why are they on the streets?  What got them here?    Why? Why? Why? What? What? What? 

Ask, Ask YourSelf.  "What can I do Differently, to help this Friend In Need." What will maybe give a more permanent result to this "Friend In Need?"  It is NOT always a bag of socks.  It is NOT always a sandwich.  It is NOT most definitely NOT always that $1 or $5 you just gave them from the window of your car.  It is more, much much more then all of that.  It is TIME, lots of one on one time.  And the follow up with them and to back up what you, we just got them to agree to try and do.  THAT my friends is where the money comes in, LOTS of $$.  For example: Just like if You were going to rent an apartment.  ALL the same things are needed.  How much does it cost?  Think about that. You know what it is.  It is ALL the same.  The needs are ALL the same.

So, please.  Look at Charity Differently.  Look at our "Friends In Need" and the "Homeless" differently.

Start TODAY. Start Right NOW.

Thank You.

Lance Greene / HOMELESSCRISIS and Founder of Straight Ahead Outreach (Taking Back Your Life) Inc.
Knoxville, TN