Three Practical Principles
​​​​​By: lots houston
 

What are your first thoughts when you see a homeless person? Do you wonder why they’re homeless … or do you think you know? Do you ponder how you can help … or do you view the issue of homelessness and those who are homeless as helpless, so you’re resigned to not try?
 
I have the luxury of driving my car from LOTS to my home every day. I pass no less than three intersections near Interstate 45 where one or more homeless men or women are soliciting money, food or cigarettes. And every time I find myself at least a bit unsettled, aware of the chasm between my levels of comfort and security and theirs. Though I desire to be a person of empathy, I realize I still don’t fully comprehend what life is like without reliable housing, without a dwelling to which to invite family or friends to gather and dine together, without at least a margin of extra space in which to store more than bare necessities. Even after six years at LOTS I find myself asking, “How should I respond?” 
 
At LOTS, we pray and work to address the immediate and longer-term needs of our homeless neighbors. But we are also committed to being a resource to assist those who want more information in order to better understand homelessness and those eager to provide the kind of help to the homeless that doesn’t unintentionally eradicate their need and motivation for self-efforts or unnecessarily prolong their homelessness by providing ways to keep living on the streets. In both of these endeavors we draw on over 32 years of experience as a church community focused on meeting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of those who find themselves homeless, and on the collective wisdom shared among other agencies working with the homeless, and on the stories our homeless neighbors regularly tell us.
 
Here’s what we know. Not only do the places at which the homeless take refuge vary, as does the length of time of their homelessness, but the backgrounds of the homeless and the reasons for their homelessness vary, as well. While those who are homeless are categorized by their relationship to housing, they are not and should not be defined nor stereotyped by it. Our neighbors are always God’s beloved, always bearers of innate worth and dignity, and always deserving to be treated with respect that is not dependent on their behavior nor our feelings.
 
If this is true, what are some practical ways to demonstrate respect, to create the possibility for a human-to-human connection, while avoiding the kind of helping that ultimately hurts? Here are three practical principles for your consideration.
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Acknowledge

Those who are homeless frequently experience being ignored or looked down on. A former Vicar of LOTS, Murray Powell, often said, “when we refuse to look a homeless person in the eye, we diminish their humanity and our own.” Simply making eye contact while offering a slight smile has a chance to remind us both that we are connected by what we have in common more than we are disconnected by our differences. We both inhabit this planet, we both need food and water, we both face challenges and obstacles, we both need others to help us at least some times, and we both need to know that someone cares about us. Without a word, through the gift of eye contact and a smile we fight our temptation to judge and we affirm being in the presence of a real person

​Engage

If you feel safe and protected, engage a homeless individual by introducing yourself by first name and asking their first name. You can do this, say, through a car window rolled down only a small amount. It might sound like, “Hi, I’m Melanie. I drive by here, I see you, but I have never before introduced myself. Would you tell me your first name?” This offer of each of you knowing the other’s name makes possible not just a human-to-human connection, but a heart-to-heart connection. I can now greet a person, or pray for a person, not just with reference to their housing status, but by name.  Consider also saying something short but sincere like, “I am sad you have to brave the traffic and weather and ask people for help. I don’t have money for you, but whenever I’m at this location I will look for you, and if I see you, I’ll smile or wave.” And if there is time, or when next you encounter them again, you could engage further by asking to learn more about them and their story. You could offer to pray for them and ask what they want you to pray for. They may not take you up on your offer, as they may not share your beliefs in a good God worth praying to, but they’ll remember that you care.

​Support

​While it might feel good in the moment to give some money or food to a person in obvious or apparent need and to hear from a homeless neighbor an occasional “thank you”, it is far better instead to direct a homeless neighbor to agencies that are trained to address their immediate needs as well as end their homelessness rather than giving something that enables the person to stay on the streets and remain unnecessarily homeless. LOTS has curated a small booklet for you to give a homeless neighbor when you meet them that itemizes the location and contact info of agencies providing resources for those that are homeless, and it fits easily in a car glove compartment. If you have the means and feel compelled to give something based on encountering the homeless, we applaud your compassion, but we strongly recommend instead using your resources in donating to or volunteering with an organization, like LOTS. Organizations are better able to stretch resources further, impacting more individuals, and avoiding the all-too-frequent unhealthy choices our homeless neighbors make with money they receive.​

If you’d like to know more about the booklet we’ve produced, contact us! And look at our website (www.lotshouston.org) where we have some additional best practices we recommend. Should you have the means to donate to LOTS or volunteer with LOTS in our mission of welcoming, restoring and rebuilding live through relationship-focused ministries with the homeless, we gratefully welcome your support! You can learn more both about volunteering and about donating by clicking on the links below. ​
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Im Interested in Volunteering

Im Interested in Donating