Choice

"Part of the inherent injustice of homelessness is the stripping of individual choice"

Walking to work today I noticed one of the youth that comes to Teen Feed walking a bit ahead of me.  They have a pet that goes with them everywhere.  There are two people walking behind me (I'm pretty sure they were students).  One of them says about the pet, "Ughh, I hope that thing gets fed."

I had a conversation with a youth at dinner tonight.  They told me that a month ago they decided to stop using IV drugs.  And has stuck to their decision.


A lot of people think homeless people shouldn't have pets and a lot more think homeless people shouldn't have kids.  Why is that choice stripped from them?

A lot of people try to decide for others that they should stop using drugs.  Or decide for them that they should get a job or a house.  But it only works when they decide for themself.

These are just VERY SMALL examples of how individual choice is stripped from the homeless.  Maybe we should work on giving homeless people their power back.  Power to make their own choices.