I don't think it is always wrong to help financially. Sometimes it is all you can do except walk on by.
There is a young man (late 20's?) who essentially lives in the subway entrance I often use. He sits there quietly with his back against the wall and legs out in front while he smokes a cigarette or sips mate. He doesn't beg, he just seems to be watching the world go by. If I'm there early enough he's sleeping on the hard pavement.
For quite a while I thought he was just maybe watching the girls walk by. He is alert and seems intelligent. But as I began to actually pay attention to him, I realized there was more to it then that. Finally one day I saw him walking... or more accurately, TRYING to walk.
He has some type of neuromuscular disorder, with great difficulty controlling both fine and gross muscular movements. Everything he does is with the greatest of difficulty.
Instead of seeing a slacker or just another homeless man, I started seeing someone simply living his life as best as he can. He spends money not on beer or drugs but on cigarette and mate. That is what he wants, however disproportionate the cost to him. This is HIS life.
Both require motor skills almost beyond his ability. His hands are burn and scarred from the daily effort. He is barely able to speak, one reason perhaps he doesn't beg, but neither does he us a cup or sign asking for help. He is there, at his home, watching the world go by and living his life.
As much as I would like to, I can't save the world. Unfortunately, I can't even save one human being. But I certainly can make life a little more pleasant occasionally. Every time I see him I give him money, and sometimes I buy things I think he can use but wouldn't spend what little money he has on.
I greet him by name and ask how he's doing. Occasionally I'll sit with him for a few minutes, even though communicating is so difficult because of his problem and my poor Spanish. He is grateful though, not only for the financial assistance but also for not being invisible. In almost a year, I've never seen another commuter even acknowledge his existence.
Anyway, all I can do is give a little of my money and myself or walk on by. And I can't just walk on by.
There is a young man (late 20's?) who essentially lives in the subway entrance I often use. He sits there quietly with his back against the wall and legs out in front while he smokes a cigarette or sips mate. He doesn't beg, he just seems to be watching the world go by. If I'm there early enough he's sleeping on the hard pavement.
For quite a while I thought he was just maybe watching the girls walk by. He is alert and seems intelligent. But as I began to actually pay attention to him, I realized there was more to it then that. Finally one day I saw him walking... or more accurately, TRYING to walk.
He has some type of neuromuscular disorder, with great difficulty controlling both fine and gross muscular movements. Everything he does is with the greatest of difficulty.
Instead of seeing a slacker or just another homeless man, I started seeing someone simply living his life as best as he can. He spends money not on beer or drugs but on cigarette and mate. That is what he wants, however disproportionate the cost to him. This is HIS life.
Both require motor skills almost beyond his ability. His hands are burn and scarred from the daily effort. He is barely able to speak, one reason perhaps he doesn't beg, but neither does he us a cup or sign asking for help. He is there, at his home, watching the world go by and living his life.
As much as I would like to, I can't save the world. Unfortunately, I can't even save one human being. But I certainly can make life a little more pleasant occasionally. Every time I see him I give him money, and sometimes I buy things I think he can use but wouldn't spend what little money he has on.
I greet him by name and ask how he's doing. Occasionally I'll sit with him for a few minutes, even though communicating is so difficult because of his problem and my poor Spanish. He is grateful though, not only for the financial assistance but also for not being invisible. In almost a year, I've never seen another commuter even acknowledge his existence.
Anyway, all I can do is give a little of my money and myself or walk on by. And I can't just walk on by.
