WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, CHOOSE COMPASSION

WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, CHOOSE COMPASSION By Margaret Eskins Executive Director DARS Dedicated Advocacy Resource Support A situation many of us encounter more and more across Durham Region is a person sitting outside a store, sleeping in a doorway, carrying their belongings in bags, or asking for help at an intersection. I often get asked by community members, How Can I Help?? The best place to begin is simple. I always suggest leading with an acknowledgement. The nicest thing you can do is treat any individual with dignity. A smile, eye contact, or a quiet “Hello, how are you doing?” may seem like a small gesture, but it can be meaningful to someone who is regularly ignored. People experiencing homelessness often describe feeling invisible. Being recognized as a fellow human being can make a huge difference. If you would like to offer assistance, ask the person what they need rather than assuming. Asking if there is anything you can do that would be helpful is a great place to start. Their answer may be something as basic as water, a meal, warm socks, hygiene products, transit fare, or a cup of coffee. Sometimes, they may simply want someone to listen. Offering money is a personal decision. If you are uncomfortable giving cash, consider providing a gift card to a nearby restaurant, grocery store, pharmacy, or coffee shop. During the winter, gloves, hats, hand warmers, and dry socks can be especially helpful. In hot weather, bottled water, sunscreen or SPF lip balm are items that are always appreciated. Whatever you decide to offer, please give it without conditions or judgment. Homelessness is rarely the result of one decision or circumstance. It can follow job loss, rising rents, family breakdown, domestic violence, mental-health challenges, illness, disability, trauma, or the lack of affordable and supportive housing. Some people experiencing homelessness are also working or receiving income support, but still cannot find a place they can afford. Keep that in mind when chatting. I’ve had lawyers, teachers, landscapers and business people walk through our doors at DARS. The first time I was shocked. Now, sadly it doesn’t faze me. If someone appears seriously ill, injured, unconscious, inadequately dressed for dangerous weather, or at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, call 911. Clearly explain that you are concerned about the person’s health and safety and request a compassionate response. If the situation is not an emergency, call Durham Region’s Street Outreach Team at 311 extension 5510. They can help connect someone with local shelters, outreach, food, mental-health, and housing services. When appropriate, asking whether the person experiencing homelessness wants assistance and involving them in decisions that affect them is always a best practice. People experiencing homelessness still have the right to make choices about their own lives, even if it’s not a choice we would make for ourselves. Community organizations such as DARS and outreach teams can provide essential support, but homelessness cannot be solved through these services alone. Communities also need affordable housing, supportive housing, accessible health care, income security, and long-term services that help. Write your local politicians; all levels. Let them know you are concerned. If you are comfortable speaking directly to the person whenever it is safe to do so. It can mean the difference from a person feeling ignored or invisible. When you see someone experiencing homelessness, you do not need to solve every problem. You do not need to have the perfect words or a large amount of money. You can simply choose not to look away. Homelessness is a circumstance—it is not a person’s identity. Behind every visible sign of homelessness is an individual with a name, a history, relationships, hopes, and the same basic need for dignity that all of us share. Sometimes the most important thing we can offer is recognition: “I see you. You matter. How can I help?”