Subject of Homelessness - Essay Example

 I had always heard news from various radio stations, TV stations, government bodies, and non-governmental organizations' campaigns regarding the subject of homelessness. As I grew up, I had loving parents that provided me with everything, right from shelter, clothes, and food. At that age, I could not imagine that some people lacked what I had. Most of the campaigns to assist the homeless usually appeared during the holiday seasons as society was reminded not to forget the homeless. There were organizations that went around collecting donations to assist the homeless. As I grew up, I realized there were increasing numbers of adverts and campaigns to assist these people. On one night show by a Fox News presenter, I heard the news anchor commenting, “Something needs to be done regarding homelessness. I believe it is high time the government made extra efforts and offered proper solutions instead of leaving it to non-governmental organizations” (Todd 2006, p. 23). This made me take a keen interest and try to find out more about the homeless.

As a resident of San Diego, I made attempts to inquire about the homeless. One day, I asked my dad, “Are you aware of where the homeless live? Can you walk me there?” My dad laughed and said, “I will take you there.” That Saturday morning, my dad and I proceeded to San Diego streets, as I joyfully carried some old clothes of mine and some dollar coins I had earlier saved in my piggy bank.  In my past years, I had always enjoyed coming to the city since my father took us to many fancy places in his car. That day, my father took another path as we walked to the city. I heard my father saying, “Welcome to Downtown. I am happy that you made a wise choice to visit these people. You will learn a lot”.

As we entered Downtown Street, we met a lady that had carried a child and she had sat on the cold floor with tattered clothes, looking emaciated and shivering from the cold chilly morning. They had no pullovers and next to them was a cardboard house that was about to crumple. The baby’s mouth had dried and it kept crying as flies were all over it. On seeing that sight, I asked my dad “Is she homeless?” My dad looked straight into my eyes as we approached them and only nodded his head in agreement. As we approached the mother, she turned to our side and I saw a grimace developing on her face, and she started to look around in her cardboard hut for a mug. She later dashed to where we were, leaving the baby on the floor as she screamed, “Mr. Can you please spare some change? I am homeless and I have not eaten for days.” Staring at her grotesque figure and emaciated baby, I was touched with great sorrow as to what she had to undergo while being homeless. As she spoke, every word cut across my heart as I wondered, “Why God? Why her? Why this child?”

My dad went calmly by her side and gave her some coins which he had. He then instructed me to donate the clothes which I had to help warm her child. I was moved by that act as I witnessed the mother turn happy (Todd 2006, p. 55). I was happy helping the needy. After a while, we continued with our journey and arrived at a homeless shelter.

The conditions in the homeless shelter were messy as it was full beyond capacity. From what the patron told us, the population meant for the place was 120, but instead, it housed 500 people. Some people were forced to sleep on the bare floor (Todd 2006, p. 113). From the look of things, I realized that the sanitation around that place was not good. In addition, I also saw some homeless people squabbling for food. I had never imagined people could do that. I had always watched movies, but that was my first time witnessing such a sad moment. I was touched and realized that for many years I had been ignoring this minority group in society. I regretted always enjoying Christmas while someone else was out there freezing in the cold.

At around 2 p.m. my dad and I left that place, and I realized how I had been neglecting the homeless for a very long time. I decided that from that day henceforth I would always make generous contributions to charity groups that run homeless shelters and support them (Todd 2006, p. 200). My experience with the homeless was one I could not forget.