Things Not To Say To Homeless People

You’re either labelled a “crackhead" or completely ignored by people pretending not to see you. If you’re homeless, you’ve got enough going on in your life - like trying to find a roof over your head and an address so you can, as passersby tell you, "get a job" - without having to hear these annoying and sometimes hurtful comments.

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[wetsocks]

I only pretend not to notice because

1. It makes me sad
2. I has no money
3. I don’t want them to think I’m judging them

[thegreathufflepuff]

I always feel bad when I walk by a homeless person. I want to say something but I'm painfully shy and it's hard for me. I hope they're able to one day find a home. Even if it's only for a little while.

[saggguy]

Also: Homelessness doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping on the street! I know they talked about living in shelters and stuff, but when I was a teenager I was homeless couch surfing at friends houses. I never slept outside or in a shelter once and I was still homeless. Homelessness can look like a lot of different things.

[jackhadroom]

Don't take it personally if I ignore you; I ignore people full stop, homeless or otherwise.

[Natalie-]

I always feel horrible making eye contact and saying hello. I just feel bad knowing I cant really help. I never knew it was a good thing to do.

[samichait]

can we just appreciate the girl with the yellow paint

[binman]

My dad makes a habit of having a conversation with homeless people if he can. Asks them their name, has a bit if banter. I'm trying to pick up that habit too.

[chelseataaffe]

I was homeless for five months. Donation centers were amazing; I could get nice clothes and even makeup department stores didn't sell. Looking at me you'd think I was the average 21 year old on her way to work.

[kaleenabutler]

It warmed my heart when they said,
“Imagine going to school and being homeless.”
Tbh I felt so warm and fuzzy and I felt recognized because I’m in high school and homeless. It’s pretty hard but honestly I’m still sooo grateful because I have a place that gives me two meals every week day and I’m getting an education for my future.
To anyone who is homeless,
You’re amazing and look out for your people. You never know who may comeback with a crap ton of respect and appreciation for you being there for them.

[poppyaprill]

*pretends not to see you* - some people don’t know what to say! A lot of homeless people are violent and addicts and it’s frightening. You don’t know who is genuine these days...

[ifyousayso]

I've been homeless before yet I still struggle to talk to people in the streets because I just get anxious. I always feel guilty for not saying anything but my heart races when I try to approach people

[gdaymates]

Maybe a video series on what people should say to all of these people would be good because sometimes people don't know how to help or are too scared for saying the wrong thing! These videos don't help at all they just induce more fear.

[enfysiridescent]

"You don't have to be on the street to be homeless."

This.

I was homeless back in first grade, and my family and I lived in the backyard of a broken down house. We only got to stay there because my mom's boyfriend (at the time) was helping to repair the house (they didn't get far with that; the walls were fucked, floors caved in, stains, everything)

We never had decent food, we were cold at night, and everything just sucked. I would definitely consider myself homeless during those times.

[lindseymcleod]

My school went on a camp in the city. We saw a man who was living on the streets. The first thing he said to us was "have a good night girls. Stay safe and make good choices". He was the nicest man I have ever met. Homeless people are not bad at all.

[ronja]

I once sat down next to a homeless man begging for money and just talked to him for like half an hour. He was such a nice and humble person and all he cared about was getting enough food for his two (super cute) dogs.
This taught me so much and I will probably never forget that conversation

[eleanorgrace]

I'd really like to be friendlier towards homeless people, but you can just never be too careful.

[sabanabdina]

Well, you know, I am pretending not to see EVERYONE.

[nicoleconnell]

I was a homeless person in high school for two years. A person gave me a pamphlet about god and told me to get help from my drug addiction even though I left because I was kicked out because my mom told me to leave after my mom told me to get out because I punched my step dad because he was beating my mum. Everybody has their own story.

[Cora-ckdu]

the only reason i pretend not to see them is because *i was attacked by a homeless drug addict at 11:00 pm in pitch black.*

[aliciacroft]

I lived in my car for a time. I have autism and had a complete breakdown after trying to survive in a normal job, getting sensory and socially overwhelmed every day. I couldnt handle being around anyone anymore.
Im a lovely person - I didnt want to seek help from typical agencies because I didnt want to be seen as a bad person or be shamed. The few times I tried were so awful. They are such dehumanising environments, there is so much social stigma