My cousin has only been to Atlanta once. It is sad that the only thing she remembers is, "It was scary! People were coming out at us everywhere."
I suppose it is rather true. I've gotten a bit jaded. I'm frankly tired of people asking me for money, and it seems most of them are not even legit. Tonight I was approached again by the supposedly deaf man who likes to frequent the trains, holding up a piece of paper asking for 50 cents. I get peeved with him now. He has literally been asking me for money for at least five years. So I have no qualms chewing him out because this is how he makes his living. And besides, soliciting is illegal on MARTA.
Ironically he was on the train tonight, and shortly followed by another man who was asking for money to buy food. He seemed too smooth to be honest. And it is usually a better policy to buy people food rather than give them cash, as many are indeed making their living from begging, while others use the money for bad habits. However, I was completely struck when the woman sitting next me turned to me after we had been solicited and said, "I just became homeless."
Here boy wonder with his two dollar speech is making his rounds while the person sitting next to me, probably more in need, wasn't asking for anything. Because of this, I was much more inclined to want to help and got her phone number. She is looking for a job and has cashiering experience. Please post a comment if know of resources or job opportunities for her. Also, feel free to share ideas and resources for those looking for work. I'm sure there are many people like her, especially with the state of the economy right now.
The bigger issue includes education and how people can survive hard economic times. I am lucky to have many options and skills...easy to take for granted until you meet someone who did not have the encouragement or opportunity to get more education. And what can we all do to help? What resources are available to those who don't have a home or a job?
I actually was talking to my dad about this tonight. They used to provide farms where the homeless could live and work for their housing. Even in small towns today I am not sure this exists anymore, and it seems that in general, we don't take care of each other as well as we once did. Part of that has to do with cities and the sheer size of populations there.
I'm not sure what the solution is today. There is always donating time and money to local shelters, maybe volunteering your time to help train or support those looking for a new future. Here are a few resources to get started.