The Home for the Homeless - Essay Example

Creeping along the cliff wall, the yellow beam from my headlamp, the only light piercing the black night, I could hear the icy rush of the river below me. My knee throbbed with pain from the fall I had few weeks ago. Hungry and hurting I pushed on through the darkness and the black night had gone terrifying silent. Doing volunteer work enabled me to realize that, “I could do some good” and with a deprecating laugh, “then I could go off and have fun”. I finally reached the old aged home- the home for the homeless. The sights and scenes that met my eyes were heart-rending. Tiny hovels, dark, sunless and unhygienic, in crowded tenements where two and sometimes three generations were huddled together. Three of them were blind and helpless. Old family photographs and pictures filled almost every inch of their walls. For these dear folks, Sunday was like any other ordinary day- for their loved ones had failed to come and visit them. The only furniture in most of the spaces was either a wooden cot or a battered sofa-cum-bed. I was unable to find any tables, chairs, wardrobes or even a fan. I don’t remember seeing a mirror anywhere. This is where volunteers like me play an important role in not only trying to lend a ‘Helping hand’ for if not life for these homeless people would be worse- if that is possible. The present day fashion entails the strengthening of a country means catering to the needs of youngsters, since more than half of a countries population comprises of less than 24years of age and everyone’s opinion is to look at the youngsters as the country’s savior’s. In this scenario wherein the youngsters are given importance, one fails to forget the importance and respect for the elderly people. A recent article featured shocking news of an old lady, who died of old age, and her children who worked overseas were unable to attend her funeral. I was speechless to read this true story for after all that lady was their mother and she was left to die abandoned and homeless. This is the scene of present day old age people wherein their families have forgotten to take care of them and thus the oldies become lonely and abandoned without any physical or financial security as well as emotionally deprived of love and this is the price these respected old people need to pay in the name of development and modernity. There are many who would have forgotten their parents, their identity and the stage of unconditional sacrifice. I remember the days when dad’s were knows as super dads and moms were called as cool and all off a sudden these parents have become irksome and burdensome. When I spend time with the old folk’s, no I don’t think they are old for these lovely people are still young at heart, for they make me laugh and understand the real essence and meaning of life. For them laughter is the medicine they utilize to forget their pain and sorrow. The happy part is that their faces light up and begin to shine whenever a volunteer or a friend like me visit them and the warmth and love is have never felt like this anywhere before. I just cannot comprehend or even digest the fact that because of such treatment, these very same homeless people would have dreamt that after their retirement they would lead a comfortable life only to be betrayed and abandoned and now long for companionship, care and love from their children who have no time and who are unwilling to reach out. When one ponders over these incidents, it does make one angry and to be true I also call many of such homeless people as emotional fools for they have spent their entire life earning and saving for their children and keeping nothing for themselves and now they are left out in the cold to die. I still don’t believe it, when I argue at times with the homeless and try to make them understand that their love for the kids are useless instead love people like me who find the time to be spent with them. Instead most homeless still pray for the safety and happiness of their children. Do you think it is wrong to expect much from the abandoned and homeless? I have heard about Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India. An Irish woman who was a teacher but whose heart always reached out to the homeless and the abandoned. She would go out onto the streets and slums of Calcutta and attend to the homeless giving them love and care. This is what inspired me and made me to think about how the homeless and the abandoned. For a moment let us imagine ourselves to be homeless left with nothing, not knowing where our next meal is coming from and where am I too sleep the night? It does frighten one and this enables one to truly understand the needs and emotional feelings of the homeless who are abandoned for no fault of theirs. I once stood in front of a homeless person and realized that they was nothing between us and at any moment, our positions could be reversed and how would I feel being homeless? What will I loose if I helped a homeless person? I loose nothing but gain many things, the most important of all making them know that they are loved. I once read that in Japan once the parents are old and the children have no use for them, the parents are taken to the forest and left to die or to be killed. One such son was taking his aged mother to the forest and all through the way the mother was spilling beads. After sometime the son got impatient and asked his mother why she was doing that? The mother replied that when the son is old and his time comes to enter the forest, at least he will be able to find his way. What an extraordinary and tantalizing story. Homelessness is a primary existential displacement where people are living on the edge of life. All around the world, homelessness is a major problem due to several causes. People are not responsible for their condition of homelessness but there are a number of sociological factors interconnecting at the same time to make people homeless. One of the major causes of homelessness is poverty. Homelessness and poverty are attached together. Health factor is also a major determinant for homelessness. I once met a young girl on the streets; she was a teenager, pretty and begging for food. I began asking her questions like where are her parents. How did she come to this state? Why was she unable to find work and provide a better life for herself? She screamed at me and said that she would answer my questions if I bought her food, and I did. She ate as if she has seen food for the very first time. Having eaten she began to cry stating that her father ill-treated her and abandoned the family. Her mother married again only to be beaten and tortured. She was unable to bear this painful torture everyday and therefore ran away from home. I spoke to the community house and they took her in to rehabilitate her. I spent as much time as I could with her making her know that not everyone in this world is bad but there are people who still have a heart made of gold. The happiest moment for me, during one of my visits was to find this girl, who in the beginning remained reserved and unapproachable, now mingling with the older folks and helping in the everyday activities of the homeless home. This very girl, who wished her parents dead, now says that she has found her true parents who shower her with love. And the parents are the old homeless folks who were overjoyed to have a daughter who cares for them. In this world, I feel there is always a mismatch. Loving and caring parents end up with uncaring children. But for everyone there is always a cloud which has a silver lining. Just as these old folks who cry and yearn for their children, now have regained their lost affection for homeless youngsters who in turn long for love. I guess this is what completes the triangle of life. It is always a matter of time wherein a smile eventually is seen on the face of everyone. I always comfort and lend a helping hand for the homeless for this world consists of very few people who are human. Everyday we encounter various trials and tribulations wherein we grumble, whine and curse. But do we realize that who we are and what we have is truly a blessing when compared to the homeless. Everyone is born into this world and through no fault of their, misery and problems have to be encountered. As Michael Jackson sang, “We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving There’s a choice we’re making We’re saving our own live, It’s true we make a better day just you and me.” Heal the world, lend a helping hand and promote social dignity for everyone has the right to be part of this earth. Remove inequality and share the love with the homeless for they are humans also waiting for us to reach out to them and spread the smile. I strongly support the homeless and encourage them to be proud earthly citizens as I know like me there are millions out there who will help and save the homeless from perishing. HELP THEM? YES, WE MUST Bibliography Elaine Landau. The homeless. J. Messner, 1987. Read More