We often talk about homelessness in numbers. We talk about bad counts, budget deficits and square footage. But today I would like to talk about the one thing that costs us nothing to fix, yet remains the heaviest burden for those living on our streets: “Stigma”.
Stigma is the invisible wall we build between us and them. It is the instinct to look at our phones, pretending that we are on a call, rather than making eye contact when passing someone on the sidewalk. It is the whispered assumption that a stranger’s “rock bottom” is a reflection of their character, rather than a reflection of our society’s safety nets.
When we label someone as just” homeless” we strip away their identity as a mother, a veteran, a former teacher, or a neighbor. We treat homelessness as a permanent personality trait, instead of a temporary traumatic circumstance.
The truth is, stigma kills. It prevents people from seeking help because of shame. It makes us feel justified in ignoring the problem because we have convinced ourselves “it is their fault”. But compassion is not a reliable resource. Breaking the stigma starts with a simple, radical act, known as “ACKNOWLEDGMENT”
It starts with eye contact, a “good morning”, and the realization that the difference between a housed life and an unhoused life is just one medical emergency or one missed paycheck away.
Please, together we can trade our judgment for curiosity, our fear for action.
A house is built of wood and stone, but a community is built of dignity.
Jan English (once homeless)
Kingston