This morning as I was walking to Dunkin Donuts to get my morning coffee I ran into a homeless man. This man was carrying 3 very large garbage bags of empty cans and bottles that he obviously had been collecting and was off to redeem them for cash. This is not the first time I have seen homeless people walking the streets of NYC with their bags of empty bottles, and it’s not just men - it’s women too.
Somehow the fact that I accidentally ran into this man has shaken me and I can’t seem to get him out of my mind. Since I have returned to NYC three months ago I have noticed more and more homeless people.
I know you might be saying “Nancy you are an advocate against domestic violence so why are you writing about the homeless”. Well there is a correlation between homelessness and domestic violence. Due to the economy there are more incidences of domestic violence and more women and their children are fleeing abusive relationships.
Unfortunately shelters are filled to capacity and many of the women and their children are finding there is “no room” at shelters – hence they become homeless. In fact, one day my partner was walking along Third Avenue and came upon a young mother with an infant and a toddler sitting on the street. He approached her and tried to help her. Clearly she was fleeing something or someone. She was an illegal immigrant (from Eastern Europe) and told my partner that she was afraid to seek help because she "didn't have papers".
Clearly the homeless and victims of domestic violence need and deserve our help. Unfortunately the way the economy is and with the contentious and incessant political brawling that is going on I fear the neediest among us will be shoved aside and ignored.
It’s clear that as a country we are so divided that we can no longer have civil debate and without civil discourse those in our society those who need help to rebuild their lives will not get the help they need and deserve.
The United States has many problems but we have to address them. From joblessness to homelessness none of our problems have a chance of getting resolved if our political leaders continue brawling. If you believe as I do that the brawling has to stop then please tell your member of Congress and your Senators that “your job is to help solve the country’s problems so stop brawling and get to work”.
