When I lived in NYC I saw too many homeless people. Often the same ones for weeks or months, day after day. Wintertime they would make shelter with cardboard boxes. They really didn't bother anyone and usually kept to themselves. Most of them appeared to have mental problems or drug/alcohol adictions. There was one man that I used to pass every day for about a year, I'd get an extra egg sandwich for breakfast and give it to him sometimes. Then one day I never saw him again. I still think of him...he had a wonderful smile and I think he just hit too many bad circumstances that caused his situation because he didn't appear mentally ill or drunk. I hope he made it out.
In FL I still see homeless but not as many. There is a group living in the woods by my daughter's school. Her girl scout troup gathered up personal items (little bars of soap, little shampoo bottles that we all take home from hotels, old washcloths, razors, etc., and McDonalds gift certs. since there's one nearby and they can walk there to get food) and gave them to the people for Christmas. I haven't seen these people myself but the group has adults as well as children.
I can see how easy it is for someone to become homeless with a few months of bad luck (loose your job, loose your place to live, loose your transportation). I wish them strength to get out of their situations and get back to normal life. When you have no place to live, it's hard to get a job...no shower, no clean clothes, etc. I think most people are too quick to judge homeless, thinking it's just because they're lazy or have drug/alcohol/mental problems. Sometimes all they need is some help to get themselves back on their feet and many people don't know how to do that.
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