20 thoughts on “Inspiring Image #90: Transient Chicago”
A haunting image…there are homeless men and women on street corners I drive past nearly every day. It is hard to see and hard to know what we are called to do to help.
This image has me torn between compassion and I don’t really know, maybe anger. I live in Phoenix and because of the weather here the homeless population is bordering on the level of Los Angeles. It is a big problem. I live in Downtown Phoenix and it is an affluent area mixed with Millennial’s and Retirees.
I struggle with PTSD and have been approached by the homeless many times asking for money. This frightens me and I often tell them that. I dont want to be asked for money while I am pumping my gas.
I have had to call the police on more than one occasion. Most are on drugs or mentally ill. I am all for helping but not at the expense of our safety. I often get upset when I see people giving money or food at the gas stations and grocery stores.
I want them to get help and would definitely donate my time money and energy but I dont want to be exposed to daily triggers or risk of contacting some communicable disease.
I have been cursed at, followed and I have had to shake my walking stick at a few because I refuse to allow them to dictate my comings and goings. It is a nuisance. There are areas where there is not much of a presence but in Downtown there are more services, so they hang around to eat at the churches. At night there are plenty of places to hide until daylight.
they sell drugs and are just not the kind of people you want in your neighborhoods.
Anyway, thanks for allowing me to give a different perspective.
Hi Lovely! I hear you. Thanks for offering a different perspective. I still believe we ought to have as much compassion as our hearts allow for people in these situations.
Thanks, after I said all that I thought Oops, that was not inspirational. I apologize for the rant on your positive post. I agree compassion is needed regardless.
😂😂😂 it’s quite okay. I really do understand what you were saying and you know my intent is not to romanticize meeting transient people with grace. What you’ve mentioned is true everywhere.
Americans often discuss the morality of using water boarding as a torture and we are right to do this, but we never discuss the morality of torturing the sick and disabled with hunger and homelessness. Yesterday I passed a woman who looked like she was in her mid-60’s sleeping in rags in front of Whole Foods in San Francisco.
Can you imagine the horror of suffering from a treatable chronic illness in a Nation of people who deprive you of everything that makes you human including acknowledging that you exist? How did the people of the United States seduce themselves into thinking we could retain credibility as a global leader in Human Rights when we treat our elderly and disabled like refuse. I believe in American Democracy, and I believe in the rule of law. If we are to keep our freedoms we need to do better than denying and perpetuating the preventable suffering we call homelessness. This callous disregard for human life gives power to Vladimir Putin’s whataboutist propaganda. Thank you for your reply. 🙂
This picture says so much, as good pictures do. Here in UK, there is no question the number of homeless and desperate souls on the city streets has visibly increased. This is supported by statistics – I read one indicating a169% increase since 2010.
Thank you for the ‘compliment’. I’m sorry to hear the population has increased so much there. Ours has steadily increased since the 1980s when they closed mental institutions.
K E Garland 
A haunting image…there are homeless men and women on street corners I drive past nearly every day. It is hard to see and hard to know what we are called to do to help.
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I hate to think that this is something we all do…it’s like they’ve become a very invisible population.
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This image has me torn between compassion and I don’t really know, maybe anger. I live in Phoenix and because of the weather here the homeless population is bordering on the level of Los Angeles. It is a big problem. I live in Downtown Phoenix and it is an affluent area mixed with Millennial’s and Retirees.
I struggle with PTSD and have been approached by the homeless many times asking for money. This frightens me and I often tell them that. I dont want to be asked for money while I am pumping my gas.
I have had to call the police on more than one occasion. Most are on drugs or mentally ill. I am all for helping but not at the expense of our safety. I often get upset when I see people giving money or food at the gas stations and grocery stores.
I want them to get help and would definitely donate my time money and energy but I dont want to be exposed to daily triggers or risk of contacting some communicable disease.
I have been cursed at, followed and I have had to shake my walking stick at a few because I refuse to allow them to dictate my comings and goings. It is a nuisance. There are areas where there is not much of a presence but in Downtown there are more services, so they hang around to eat at the churches. At night there are plenty of places to hide until daylight.
they sell drugs and are just not the kind of people you want in your neighborhoods.
Anyway, thanks for allowing me to give a different perspective.
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Hi Lovely! I hear you. Thanks for offering a different perspective. I still believe we ought to have as much compassion as our hearts allow for people in these situations.
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Thanks, after I said all that I thought Oops, that was not inspirational. I apologize for the rant on your positive post. I agree compassion is needed regardless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂😂 it’s quite okay. I really do understand what you were saying and you know my intent is not to romanticize meeting transient people with grace. What you’ve mentioned is true everywhere.
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This is really touching. Kathy, thank you. So many blessings to him and to us all. I love you and this. Debbie
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Thank you Debbie. Sending you light, love, and peace ❤
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Americans often discuss the morality of using water boarding as a torture and we are right to do this, but we never discuss the morality of torturing the sick and disabled with hunger and homelessness. Yesterday I passed a woman who looked like she was in her mid-60’s sleeping in rags in front of Whole Foods in San Francisco.
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Agreed Robert. The homeless are a very invisible population that we CHOOSE to ignore.
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Can you imagine the horror of suffering from a treatable chronic illness in a Nation of people who deprive you of everything that makes you human including acknowledging that you exist? How did the people of the United States seduce themselves into thinking we could retain credibility as a global leader in Human Rights when we treat our elderly and disabled like refuse. I believe in American Democracy, and I believe in the rule of law. If we are to keep our freedoms we need to do better than denying and perpetuating the preventable suffering we call homelessness. This callous disregard for human life gives power to Vladimir Putin’s whataboutist propaganda. Thank you for your reply. 🙂
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I hate to see people suffering and going without, so sad.
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Me too.
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This picture says so much, as good pictures do. Here in UK, there is no question the number of homeless and desperate souls on the city streets has visibly increased. This is supported by statistics – I read one indicating a169% increase since 2010.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the ‘compliment’. I’m sorry to hear the population has increased so much there. Ours has steadily increased since the 1980s when they closed mental institutions.
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Inequality affects us all: white and non-whites, young and old.
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Exactly Rosaliene! Not one of us is exempt and I think we should remember that many of us are but one step away from being transient ourselves.
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😥
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Wow! I can feel his despair. It’s such a powerful image that you captured, Katherin.
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Thank you Judy ❤
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