We are all one paycheck away

We meet some pretty amazing people on the streets. Unlike me and you, they can not quit homelessness after 24 hours. They are not able to grab their personal belongings, reach into their wallets or handbags and grab their cell phones to call a cab home. They dont have the luxury of taking showers or doing their laundry like most of us do. They cant shut the door, turn out the lights, and climb under the sheets and cover themselves with a warm blanket. They are left outside to sleep on the concrete; vulnerable, exposed, and ignored.

They did not just wake up one morning and decide to become homeless. They didn’t choose to become addicts. Some of these people had husbands, wives, and children that they catered to. A lot of the homeless are Veterans who served and fought for our freedom, and now it’s painful to see society shun them.

I hope none of you ever have to experience what it’s like to be homeless. What I learned about homelessness in the past three years is that it is a horrible situation. No matter how bad you may think you have it, just remember this: when you wake up each morning your feet land on a clean floor, you have access to clean water; look up when you get out of bed – you’ll see a ceiling above you: this means you have a roof over your head.

The least we can do for the homeless is to show some compassion. So the next time you pass a homeless person while exiting on your way home, stop and say hello, offer them a hand, hug or just a smile – it will make their day.

Remember, we are all one pay check away from being homeless.