I'm not looking for kudos here. I want to tell a sad story about homeless on a micro level.
There's a man who lives at the entrance to the parking lot where I shop. He has the usual signs - "Please help, God bless." I don't give money to people begging (I hate that word, begging) on freeway offramps. I kind of soured on it when a woman with small children was near the front of the market. I bought her supplies - bread, peanut butter, baby food and diapers. She said "F*ck you, give me money.
But this guy touched me. I don't know why, but he did. So I bought him a sandwich and a banana. I approached him and told him I brought him something to eat. He was so grateful. He should have not been so grateful for a meal.
We talked. He was obviously in distress. He told me that he isn't a bad person, that he had fallen on bad times. It was worse than bad times. I told him that I believe bad things happen to good persons. I touched his shoulder when I said that, (I'm a touchy person), and he told me that he couldn't remember the last time another person touched him, but he said he is a a good person. I believe him.
He was too proud to eat the banana in front of me. When I pulled out of the parking lot, he was devouring the banana.
Our mental health system sucks. We all know that. This is another example of a failed mental health system.
Patty