Sympathy for the plight of the homeless can be abstract. The 24-hour SleepOut this weekend in Venice aims to put a face on the problem of homelessness. A coalition of groups, including Occupy Venice, will gather at Beyond Baroque to explain the hard and complicated facts of being on the street. And then, everyone who brings tents or sleeping bags will spend the night outside together.
Homeless advocate Peggy Kennedy says this is the second year for the event: “I think it makes people more sympathetic but what I think it did more than anything was created a solidarity between housed people and un-housed people. There’s this perception that people are homeless because somehow that’s their choice, but really that’s a very small percentage of people on the street. The services are so limited.”
By Ed Yourdon via flickr
Explaining what the reality of life is like for someone who has lost everything is a challenge, Kennedy says. She says we too easily criminalize the homeless, rather than work to find solutions to the problems that underlie homelessness. And studies have shown it’s far more expensive to incarcerate someone than it is to house them.
“People don’t understand. They think a high percentage of people on the streets are mentally ill. Well, if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time, you are ill,” she says.
Then there’s the constant fear. Kennedy says some homeless people will join the “sleep out” this weekend because there’s safety in numbers; for one night they’ll be able to rest, even if it is on the street, knowing they’re surrounded by people who won’t hurt or steal from them.
Starting at 4pm Saturday August 25th/Beyond Baroque, Venice
It is the failure of the entire country when masses of people, are unhoused. Hungry and without adequate healthcare and prevention. It becomes more of a financial “burden” as “leaders” would claim. When in truth nothing is lost when considering the potential benefits of uplifting someone in need. Yes it is not easy, and is rarely fast. But to teach a individual to once again walk with pride and determination, is something all people need. Myself included. I feel nothing wrong with homelessness. Because in my personal experience I have learned and gained more from it than being entraped by walls and electrical outlets that cloud my true vision of happiness. (which obviously differs from most) but to outright and blatantly criminalize a situation that an individual is in, in this particular case, where they sleep at night, is immoral. To evict families from their homes, and tell them that if you don’t join their program, you are bad. If you don’t feel safe at their overly biased shelters that pose strict guidelines on individuals with an already sustained lifestyle it is wrong. I have done it. They are places where desperate families would rather sleep in their cars than risk their belongings stolen, or subject themselves or their children to a routine room check. To be harassed and even denied entry because they are past the hours of operation. I know because my hours of work limited my entry into a shelter. Job or not. So when you “camp” don’t do it for just “them”, those people who you support. Do it also for yourself. As a reminder that things are the way try are because we allow them. And realize that it all comes down to perspective. So open your eyes and minds, draw the blinds….. And change the times…. There are no public spaces anymore. Every acre of land is bought and spoken for. There is no freedOm in this country no more. Just ask the disabled Iraq or even Vietnam veteran still sleeping on the bus bench, harrassed, humiliated, waiting for the payoff of sacrificing his personal view on life,for a shred of a sense of security.
My heart goes out to the homeless people. Especially the ones with mental illnesses.