Earlier this year I wrote about how we need to focus on specific individuals and get them whatever they need to help get them off the street and stay housed. It’s too overwhelming if you obsess about all the 650,000+ people who are experiencing homelessness in the U.S..
On Thanksgiving I read this article about a man, Patrick Fealey, who has been experiencing homelessness for years. There are hundreds if not thousands of articles, YouTube videos, films, etc that chronicle the life of someone who is experiencing homelessness. This one, written by someone who is actually experiencing homelessness, really touched a lot of people with his first hand account of life on the street. How so?
As of this writing (December 2) the GoFund Me set up for Patrick has raised over $153,000. Obviously most people don’t need six figures, but the point I made back in the January article is solid. Focus on an individual, share their story (to the extent they want it shared) and get someone to organize a project to get what they need.
As Patrick wrote, it’s easy to look past or look through someone on the street. A lot of people will blame the homeless for their own problems so they won’t feel guilty for not helping. Those people are morons and no amount of evidence will sway them. I look past them and ignore them.
What Patrick’s story did (humanize his plight) and the out-pouring of help proves, if you focus on one person at a time, you can make a lasting difference. We can end homelessness for everyone, one person at a time.