Every night I walk back to the flat from the tube and I feel just a little alone
Every night I walk past 10 homeless people in their sleeping bags, asleep on the concrete
Every night it makes me feel grateful for my life
Every night I think it is wrong that there is such poverty in such a rich city
Tonight I am thinking I should try and help
I am just not sure how to
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While I don’t live there, I love London and if I have enough money I will move there one day… My fear is that if I do it too soon I could end up homeless.
Anyway, I think everybody deep down wants to help somebody else in some way – It’s generally why people aspire to be doctors, lawyers etc… However, in doing that, they are also helping themselves. We give to things like Children in Need and street performers to help ourselves as well, mainly out of guilt/sympathy.
There is an obvious solution to help yourself out of your problem though – Get to know the homeless people, maybe offer them help out of their situations, in an ideal world you could invite them back to stay in your home meaning you wouldn’t be lonely and they wouldn’t be homeless, at least for a night.
Nevertheless, there are risks with every solution… In a city like London the person you offer shelter could be the same person that mugged you the other week and will steel from you at any chance.
Sometimes it’s good to want to make a difference, but sometimes you’ve got to look after yourself at the same time. Just remember your never alone in feeling alone and you could be miserable with the wrong person?
Thanks for your thoughts – feel I may be slightly more practical and check out some of the soup kitchens!
There is a canteen and hostel for homeless people in Westminster called The Passage. They are always looking for volunteers, plus people to be trustees which might be more up your street!
Thanks Jenny – will look into it