Great name.

there's this blog entry from phil owen that i've always really liked that addresses the issue of isolation among the homeless. (http://canaanitescall.blogspot.com/2006/12/holy-eucharist-catholic-worker-style.html)

The poor are defined more truly by their relationship to the rest of society than by their economic status. And the relationship that defines the poor and the homeless is one of alienation, isolation, and marginalization.

...

There are a lot of people, in fact I think this is true of most people, who do not see beyond the surface... beyond what can be noticed about a person with a momentary glance. They see someone dumpster diving. They see someone in poor health holding a sign asking for money. They see someone yelling obscenities at no one in particular or muttering paranoid delusions to themselves.

And, since they do not create the opportunities for themselves to get to know the homeless, they might never discover that the fellow in the dumpster has a college education, or that the person panhandling on the corner loves Dizzy Gillespie, or that the shirtless person muttering obscenities isn’t wearing a shirt because he gave it to someone who needed it more than he.

i think it's good to worry about the poor being exploited, because it happens all the time -- but giving people a space to talk about their interests, aspirations, hobbies, is a really good first step in getting rid of that isolation.

who knows, maybe someone out there will see butterbean and want to talk about harry potter, or talk with richard about what he wants to study in college.

Great series! I'd like to know more about how people who are experiencing poverty feel that the issue of poverty can be addressed and resolved. Also, there was a homeless woman named Crystal in the Boston area who The Boston Globe wrote an article about including the things she felt she needed to get back on her feet. Well, some community members who had to offer what she needed did, indeed, offer to her the things she asked for and next thing she knew she was enrolling in Harvard University. The article also explained how Crystal ended up on the street (car accident resulting in brain injury) and I think that asking if people mind saying a bit about what brought them to the street might add some depth to our understanding of their experience as someone who hasn't always been homeless, just as knowing dreams and aspirations allows us to see their potential to get off the street. I think it's important to see poverty as a transition rather than an identity. I asked The Olympian to do something similar here in Oly but haven't seen anything so assume the idea didn't go over. I'm glad to see you take it on here on OlyBlog.

About Crystal, her story didn't end in a happy way since she experienced seizures which prevented her from realizing her dreams last I knew which was several years ago. But she had opportunity to try and that opportunity can make all the difference in the world.

I am not anti panhandler, rather anti agressive panhandler.

Also I refuse to give money that will go to drugs or alcohol.

I'm really curious though, how hard it really is to get work in Thurston County.  I have some stories about that, but I'll share it later. 

"How about we move away from this eerie-assed spectacle and get on with our eerie-assed day?" -Jayne "Firefly"

Fear is a natural response to the unknown. So this type of post, as long as those profiled consent, is very valuable in our community. It presents a challenge to the stereotype most folks rail about when it comes to this issue, especially on other forums that have pissed me off so much I no longer read the Olympian...Oops, did I say that? LOL!

When I give spare change or my lunch to someone, it's nice to recognize or even be familiar with them and this makes it easier.

Great job!