Believe it or not in some parts of the United States there are laws in place which essentially punish people for feeding hungry people. 

Additionally, some lawmakers have even suggested arresting people for feeding the homeless. Needless to say, such a lack of empathy and understanding can negatively impact how homeless people, who are hungry, interact with the general public. It’s not unusual to feel agitated or angry when you’re hungry. The term “hangry” is one in which most anyone can identify with. So, it’s worth considering how being hangry can be a significant reason for increased stress levels in homeless people. This condition can lead to any number of elevated emotional states such as defensiveness, aggression, or even remoteness. What each of these emotional states ultimately amount to is someone in crisis.  According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, “The cognitive abilities we need to resolve a crisis are the same abilities that are diminished during that crisis!” To add insult to injury, when someone in crisis has no foreseeable way of escaping their predicament, it’s understandable that they may not behave in a more harmonious manner with anyone they come into contact with. As stated in an online article by Heart for the Homeless, “Most often, Homeless Individuals are preoccupied with where they’re going to sleep at night and whether they’ll eat at all [rather] than what kind of food they’re eating. Because of this, many people afflicted with homelessness struggle with malnutrition.” All of these issues beg the question, What are ways to provide more consistent access to nutrition for the homeless? 

One idea to consider is creating a sponsorship program which could provide a system of consistent support for homeless individuals. This method is essentially one Individual advocating for a homeless individual to ensure they have consistent access to essential needs such as food and shelter. Homeless individuals could be given the opportunity to access such a program if they are safely and sufficiently made aware of it. For the sake of maintaining their dignity, if they refuse to participate, their wishes must be respected by those informing them of the help that is available to them. At the very least they will have been made aware that they have viable options.

Another idea to consider is increasing support for organizations that are already working to improve the quality of life for the homeless. For instance, Street Roots, a nonprofit weekly street newspaper in Portland, OR, has become a trusted source among the homeless community in the Portland metro area. In fact, it even published a pocket sized information guide called the Street Roots Rose City Resource, which was distributed in public locations throughout the city. I found a copy on the city’s TriMet Max light rail train once while commuting to school. Street Roots has been highly active in the task of connecting with the homeless community by actually connecting with them. It offers ways in which they can earn a little cash by selling issues of its newspaper. It even includes content written by homeless writers and poets. It essentially gives them a voice and the general public the opportunity to hear those voices.

Perhaps it's the concept of providing opportunities rather than denying essential needs from the homeless that might be something worth acting on. Instead of punishing people for being hungry, we could become more intent upon providing the steady means by which they can ensure, for themselves, that they won’t go hungry.

Click here for more information on Street Roots activism and ways in which you can get involved or contribute to their cause.

Click here to find opportunities near you to help feed people in America.

Click hereto find opportunities to help feed people in times of crisis in all parts of the world. 

Posted by Jennifer Williams