Supplements

Commentary

By Liz Quirin

Seeing Images of the Homeless

After interviewing many members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the supplement in this issue, I have a number of competing images and thoughts. First, I can’t get the image of a woman at cathedral’s Saturday breakfast out of my head. I went to talk with Vincentians about the breakfast, and one of the diners was sitting next to a man who could be described as what we perceive as looking like a homeless person. He was disheveled, not very clean; he needed a haircut. We’ve all seen these people, many of whom panhandle near the stoplights at busy intersections. We don’t usually make eye contact for fear they’ll approach us and ask us for money.

Okay, the woman sitting next to the homeless man in the cafeteria at the cathedral turns out to be his sister. Both are homeless, but it wasn’t their living conditions that struck me, nor their issues with hygiene. I can’t get rid of the image of her sitting next to her brother and with a gentleness and a tenderness, she is feeding him because his hands are shaking too much to be able to get the food into his mouth. I hope I never forget what it felt like to realize that no matter where we find ourselves in this life, we can only hope someone stands or sits beside us to care for us in our darkest hours.

Over the course of a few weeks, I have spoken with Vincentians that reach out to others with their eyes wide open. They know that some folks are working the system, but that isn’t what matters most to them. They want to make sure that those who call out will be answered; that those who despair can find hope in and through them. Yes, people take advantage of others; we all know that and have probably experienced it as well.

My daughter, Kate, and her friend walked by a panhandler on the streets. Kate gave the man some change because she was in high school and didn’t have much money. Her friend, probably much better off than Kate, looked at the man and yelled: “Get a job!” Kate was horrified and expressed her horror as she told me the story. I was horrified as well. How could a young person be so cold, so calculating in determining that the panhandler was trying to work the system? In fact, what difference did it make if he was? While a few folks are not deserving, most of the people looking for help are not working any system; they’re trying to find a way to keep themselves and their families fed and sheltered.

While Kate’s friend responded to someone with cruelty, not all young people do. In fact, many of our young people want nothing more than to be of service. They learn about giving through their families, their parishes, their Catholic schools. It is truly amazing to see what our youth can accomplish with a little help from the adults in their lives.
It helps when I think of the brother and sister at that breakfast last week, especially when I add the image of a young person pouring a glass of juice for the pair as well.