This was written as a response to a conversation on a local social media site.
I also have been homeless, living in my car. Several times. Several times, I was also employed, the most recent time as a computer tech. (Still didn't cover rents in Seattle). I am not a drug addict; I get drunk on the cheese fondue, for cripes' sake. My mental illness is an anxiety disorder; well controlled now that I have a roof over my head. I am completely harmless and often spent my spare time at the library listening to Broadway show tunes.
If you-all want to *help* homeless folks, please start treating them like you would any other person you meet. I met many homeless folks while I was living in my truck. The worst thing any of them ever did to me was run a noisy generator near my car because they apparently didn't like my parking there. The guys sharing a wine bottle or playing chess might catcall or make insulting comments, but when they found out I lived in my truck, they were usually caring, intelligent, and kind.
Folks with homes and money did much worse to me on a regular basis, including abusing my cat to get back at me for parking an empty car in a middle class neighborhood during the day (in an area that couldn't have interfered with anyone's parking needs).
I know of one group of homeless guys who watched out for a woman who stood on the street corner and ranted; she was probably schizophrenic. "We watch out for her," one guy told me. "There's a guy with a shop who doesn't care if she sleeps in his doorway. The church let her live in a house they have, but she's usually too paranoid to use it. She has it if she wants to be inside."
As long as we continue to criminalize not having a place to live, as long as we assume that everyone who doesn't have a home is dangerous, as long as we react in unwarranted fear, we are making it much harder for us all to survive what's around the next corner. Assuming you will never end up in your car, or worse, is completely unrealistic in this economy.
I suggest you *ask* people if they want help, and ask *what* kind of help they want. Shelters are not nice places, and many folks prefer their car or even the streets.
Donate regularly to an agency that helps people out. Buy the "Real Change" (and then read it; it's a great newspaper). Offer to buy a panhandler a sandwich or a soft drink of their choice. Bum a cigarette and *talk* to them. Listen to their story instead of assuming you know who they are. Offer them that paperback book you were going to jettison. Give them a quart of oil, a gift card to Jiffy Lube, or a gas can and 5 gallons of gas if you aren't comfortable giving cash.
Also, please keep in mind that the average wait for an apartment via various low-income housing agencies is at least two years - and that is if one is disabled. It can take much longer in some situations.
Maybe just smile and wave and say hello, like you would any other neighbor. If we're wise, we realize we are all in this together.
