How We Treat the Homeless Is a Reliable Test of Our Inner Humanity

Some folks turn away in disgust, while others understand the daily struggles for food, shelter, and a shower

The NIMBY Brigade

Did you read the sign No job No food Please help

Your nostrils flare Eyes move sideways You won’t look Pretend nobody’s there

You may Throw a coin Yet lay the blame At their lame shoes

Whose feet should not stray Into your street Nor uproot the ambience Of suburbia

Not In My Back Yard You cry You pay for Clean streets Not unwashed people

Why not ask them How they came to be

Homeless.

Backstory

My hackles rose when the City of Cape Town recently passed the Unlawful Occupations By-law, which makes it a criminal offence to live on the street — or any public land.

It specifies the conditions under which the City can dismantle a structure to protect land from illegal occupation. City officials can dismantle the structure (that could be anything from a tent to a shack) and impound the occupier’s possessions, provided,

• the land is under the City’s control
• the structure is “not yet capable of constituting a home,” on any other land.

Those convicted under an offence of the by-law could face fines or imprisonment.

So now homeless people are criminals?

Cape Town also passed an amendment to the existing Streets, Public Places and Prevention of Noise Nuisances By-law. It makes provision for issuing compliance notices to people sleeping in public places. The by-law also states the City must offer them alternative shelter, and they are committing an offence if they refuse a reasonable offer for shelter.

They don’t investigate what a homeless person would consider reasonable. Like having all your stuff stolen while you’re asleep, or not being able to leave at 4 am to go hustle for money once the city wakens because the shelter only opens at 6 am.

Anyone with compassion for humanity would immediately read the underlying message:

We know you’re homeless, but please don’t do it where the tourists and rich residents can see you.

Many non-profits support the homeless, but prejudice prevails in certain sections of suburbia.

I couldn’t believe some comments below local articles I’ve read about these by-laws.

“How liberating it must be to not have to worry about anything… not even self-respect!”

“(Without these by-laws) those persons would be able to sleep, defecate, cook, beg and wash their clothes in the streets and more importantly when and where they want, even if free shelter and a meal is available which they would be at liberty to refuse without giving reasons.”

This final one was a classic NIMBY giveaway:

“No bonds, no taxes or rates, no electricity bills, no plumbers, gardeners or domestic staff to care for… no pets, no kids’ school fees or aged parents’ retirement. No mowing the lawn on Sunday or having to attend your kids’ sports day! Just imagine if we all lived like this. It’s called devolution! Civilization moving backwards into time… imagine not worrying about one single thing — Just imagine!”

Sure — imagine not having to worry where your next meal’s coming from, if you’re going to get wet in tonight’s rainstorm, when you’ll be able to shower again, or launder your clothes.

Imagine looking forward to mowing your lawn on Sundays.

Being homeless encompasses anyone without permanent, secure housing.

Homelessness affects the rich, the poor, educated, uneducated, healthy, and those suffering long-term physical or mental illness and addiction.

Hubby and I were nearly homeless five years ago — it’s a devastating emotional place to be. Fortunately, it didn’t come to that, though I’d prepared myself mentally for a life where my place in society would reduce to subhuman.

Around 20% of the global population is homeless — 1.6 billion people.

Every human being deserves dignity and respect — no matter their status.

And a message to people who judge others without knowing their story — go ask them what happened.

World Homeless Day was on October 10. I’d intended to finish this piece by then, but Life got in the way — like the refrigerator packing up and other time-consuming matters.

No matter, I still wanted to have my say. It was boiling beneath the surface, threatening to erupt.

You know I like to end with music. May I present the best a capella group in the world — Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring the late Dr Joseph Shabalala (RIP) and Paul Simon.

I dedicate this to all homeless people.

“Poverty is not a character failing or lack of motivation. Poverty is a shortage of money.” — Barbara Ehrenreich.

Thank you for being here.

I should mention that Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)’s venting story on October 18 pushed me to complete this piece in a record three days; it had languished in my drafts folder for too long. Thanks for the prod!

Here’s her story:

(Author’s Note: NIMBY is the acronym for Not In My Back Yard.)