The Twenty-Something Homeless Population
Months ago I was approached by a homeless woman in her early twenties in the parking lot. She wanted spare change so she could go into a motel room to take a shower.
For me, giving or not giving money requires serious thinking. On one hand, the majority of the homeless on the streets have substance abuse issues. I don't want to enable them. And on the other hand, a shower is a basic necessity and a luxury in the homeless world.
On this particular day I didn't have money to give. The decision was automatically made for me. However, I sensed the young woman needed a shower, so I did the next best thing--I gave her resources of shower facilities for the homeless.
After I gave her the information, we talked about her homelessness and the reasons for the large twenty-something homeless population.
She informed me that she had to leave home due to family conflicts and unresolved issues. She was no stranger to homelessness, and spent years on and off the streets. She did some "couch surfing," but eventually landed on the streets 24/7. There was no other place to go.
As for the reasons for the twenty-something homeless population, she believes many people her age have drug-related issues, hold vastly different views from their parents, and experience constant friction at home. Home is a battlefield, and the young adults either leave or get kicked out.
Note: Every effort was made to protect the identity and respect the privacy of the person above.
Disclaimer: The content regarding to give or not to give to the homeless is only my opinion and is not meant to sway your decision. That decision rests solely with you.
