What comes to mind when you hear the word homeless? It's their choice to be on the street? They're lazy and unwilling to work? They're mentally ill, alcoholics, or addicted to drugs, and dangerous?
Many homeless people have difficulty finding affordable housing and keeping jobs without a permanent address or transportation. While some have mental health or substance abuse problems, most do not. Dangerous? They actually live in constant fear for their safety.
Homeless people are just like you and me but have fallen on hard times due to illness, unemployment, accidents and abuse. Often, homeless includes entire families. They deserve compassion and understanding rather than being harshly judged by their circumstances or appearance.
This Book had to be written!
"Homeless" is stigmatizing and conjures up misunderstandings. "Unsheltered" is more neutral, and casts a wider net beyond unhoused, including those whose primary nighttime residence is unsuitable for human habitation (i.e., a city sidewalk, vehicle, abandoned building, or park).
Before you ignore another homeless person, remember...that could be someone's father or mother. They have a story - perhaps like the real ones you will discover here. Let's change the narrative: one human being, one voice from the street at a time.
