Less talking, more action.

San Franciscans know life isn’t always golden for everyone in the City.  With over 8,000 people on the streets, San Francisco’s homeless population is one of the highest in the country, and could very well be one of the most visible.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.” In the Bay Area, the cost of housing is outpacing what people making minimum wage can afford. Many times, this leads to homelessness. Two other factors that may lead to homelessness are: interpersonal tensions (domestic violence, arguments with family and breakups), and health conditions (physical illness, disabilities, chronic substance abuse and severe mental health conditions).

Many times, people will choose to be homeless versus staying at a shelter. You may likely lose all your belongings, get separated from your pet and partner and wait in line for hours, only to a couple hours of sleep and get kicked out the next morning without your property and survival gear. Other reasons people opt out of shelters include, violence, racism, homophobia and transphobia.

If you’re not happy with the human strife you see every day, make it a priority. There are many ways we can help improve homelessness. Although it may take a bit of courage, a simple “hello” is what they are looking for.  Like any other human being, they just want to be heard and understood. Taking action by volunteering will also go a long way. Let’s make a change!