May 24th, 2013 - Day 5
We all grew up with the
horrible stereotypes of homeless people. However, on this trip we were taught
during our weekly meetings and the second we got here to get rid of those
stereotypes. We were taught some different situations of poverty and
homelessness that I, at least, never thought about. I have heard many times
about getting rid of my thoughts and treating homeless people like anyone else.
This was understandable to me, but I was always and still am a little nervous
interacting with them.
Charlie’s
Place completely changed my mind. While speaking with a man who was homeless
for financial and medical problems, I really understood the importance of
getting rid of these stereotypes. This man did not fit the image of a
longhaired, dirty older man with rags for clothes. Also while watching my team
speak with the other clients of Charlie’s Place, I saw these homeless men in a
different light. They looked like completely new people. This showed me that we
need to acknowledge homeless people on the street to show them and the people
