No room at the Inn
In Britain, there is a scheme whereby homeless people or those in insecure housing or those getting themselves together for whatever reason can sell a magazine called ‘The Big Issue’. I buy it whenever I can, as a lot of the money you pay goes directly to the homeless person selling it. Due to the nature of the project, it’s also an interesting read and has a lot of alternative politics in it- things you should read even if you disagree. The adverts at the back are for social work and for donations to homeless charities and similar.
Every year one homeless shelter in London runs adverts with a picture of a young homeless woman, with the text, ‘Would you give Mary a bed this Christmas?’.
I was walking on my way to a concert a couple of days ago, when I passed a young woman in the street, with an eighteen month child stretched out across her lap, fast asleep. The woman was dressed in such a way that I’m sure she is Eastern European, and had a McDonalds cup in front of her, with a few coppers in it. She had hollowed out eyes full of sadness. I walked past, for about a hundred metres.
Would you give Mary a bed this Christmas?
I walked back, gave her three pounds, wished her a Merry Christmas and all the best, and hurried off, wanting to cry.
Jack said to me, “You’re such a nice person.” But I’m not. £3 is nothing to me. I did it as much to make myself feel better as to help her. I gave her all the pound coins in my purse (which happened to be 3), gave her the money and ran away from her as fast as I could. This makes me a more hypocritical person than someone who just walks past without meeting her eyes. She has a little baby. I should have given her £50. I should have gone to the cashpoint and got it out and given it to her and sat down and asked her how she was, asked her where she was staying, what her plans were, and how I could help.
If Mary and Joseph walked down Oxford Street today with no where to stay, and ended up sitting in a doorway, hundreds of us would all hurry past. Hundreds of us would tut under our breath if they asked for money, and feel inconvenienced, and feel bad, and rush away from them and our consciences.
Please don’t leave me notes about how homeless people spend their money on drugs and drink – I give to homeless charities as well (not as much or as often as I should), I think you have to do both. And far be it from me to judge the behaviour of people who have experienced things I will never go through because I have a loving family who will always give me a roof over my head.
I am feeling lovely and festive at the moment. My world is warm, candle-lit, fire-toasted, full of baubels, pine cones, and smells of cinammon. Christmas cake is on the table downstairs, the pantry is full of food, crackly presents are all around the house wrapped in shining reds and golds.
But as I type this, in my parents’ nice warm study, there are people outside in the cold with nothing to eat. And this is not right.
yours sadly,
therumtumtugger
xxxx
It is a difficult time of the year, especially for homeless mothers. A shame everyone’s heart isn’t as big as yours…the world might be a different place.
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You are a much more conscientious person than I. Have a good christmas.
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True. Very true. It won’t be a merry Christmas, for a lot of people. And we should do more.
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This entry made me teary-eyed. Sadly, the world is just not always a nice place. I’m as guilty as everyone else for averting my eyes and usually saying, “Sorry — no change,” and as much as I’d like to be just the opposite, I’d wind up on the streets myself if I helped as much as I would like to help. Just to touch one life, though, is an amazing thing — and in your case, it was two lives!
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You have a good heart. I’ve always been troubled by the disparity between the Haves and Havenots. Best wishes,
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There was an article in the paper yesterday that had a quote from the guy who started the Big Issue (having being homeless himself) and he belives that the worst thing we can do is give them money because we’re funding them living on the street instead of forcing them to do something. I thought that was really interesting to hear from him. Don’t know if I agree, I’m like you I divide between the
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actual charity and those I often meet on the way home. It’s so hard to know what is the right thing to do. have a lovely christmas:)
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Beautiful and thoughtful entry. Hope you had a good christmas. Best wishes, Andy
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Interesting stuff. My Millennium Eve was spent helping organise a party for the homeless in London with the charity Crisis. Homelessness is a complex issue and I am kind of with the guy who started ‘The Big Issue’ in that joined up thinking and policy is required.
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no, it’s not right. But every little bit you can do to help is good, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about having a roof over your head and good food to eat. *hug*
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hello RTT, when are you going to write us another one of you gems of wisdom?!
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The main problem is knowing which ones you can bring into your home that won’t hurt you. My brother freaked me out one day picking up two men who were drunk and i gave them my pretzels, but he dropped them off too close to where i worked and then they returned often asking the children in my class for snacks. It’s hard to decide when and where one can help. I agree, it’s a rough choice.
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ryn: backdated my entries? nooooo not that i can recall – i wrote that entry last night!
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Oh, rtt….truer words were never said. I love that about you…that you’re….well, able to put into words just how I feel. *hug*
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::nods:: All so true. xxxxx
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