The Winter Season
I don’t know how everyone usually reacts when they encounter a homeless person on the street and they speak to them. Some feel pity, some ignore them, saying “I don’t have time right now,” and look past them. Nevertheless, as a society, we must take collective responsibility for helping, since not everyone lives in a heated apartment in Budapest.
Here are five ways you can quickly help people living on the streets:
1. Offer food to homeless people—if you have a leftover sandwich from your lunch, or buy an extra chocolate pastry or a banana at the store—you can help a lot with small gestures like these.
2. If you see someone trying to use public transportation, you can step in and help by giving them a metro ticket, which can be very useful.
3. In winter and spring, you can bring your sorted clothes to an organization or give them directly to someone. Dressing appropriately for the season is extremely important, and there is always a need.
4. When you notice someone is in poor condition, showing physical problems, cold, or illness, and urgently needs serious help, call a dispatcher or an ambulance—you could even save lives!
5. If you are thinking long-term—since the above are only temporary solutions—volunteer! Many civil organizations and associations are constantly understaffed. Start by helping at a food distribution event, for example. These events always need helping hands and do not require much preparation.
You can also help improve the situation for homeless people from home by informing others and debunking misconceptions. Many people still think of homeless individuals as if they are on the streets out of laziness. We’ve all probably heard phrases like, “They just need to get a job!” The reality could not be further from this—most homeless people do have jobs, and only a small fraction of those begging on the streets are actually seen by passersby. Even they should be approached with empathy rather than judgment. I don’t know how you feel about this, but I certainly wouldn’t choose this fate for myself. I’m probably not alone in thinking that no one deserves this life. That’s why it is extremely important that as many of us as possible help, and that we do not ignore the difficult lives of our fellow human beings.
Sources:
https://www.uszse.hu/files/hajlektalan-program
https://menhely.hu/hogyan-segithetek/onkentesseg/
Here are five ways you can quickly help people living on the streets:
1. Offer food to homeless people—if you have a leftover sandwich from your lunch, or buy an extra chocolate pastry or a banana at the store—you can help a lot with small gestures like these.
2. If you see someone trying to use public transportation, you can step in and help by giving them a metro ticket, which can be very useful.
3. In winter and spring, you can bring your sorted clothes to an organization or give them directly to someone. Dressing appropriately for the season is extremely important, and there is always a need.
4. When you notice someone is in poor condition, showing physical problems, cold, or illness, and urgently needs serious help, call a dispatcher or an ambulance—you could even save lives!
5. If you are thinking long-term—since the above are only temporary solutions—volunteer! Many civil organizations and associations are constantly understaffed. Start by helping at a food distribution event, for example. These events always need helping hands and do not require much preparation.
You can also help improve the situation for homeless people from home by informing others and debunking misconceptions. Many people still think of homeless individuals as if they are on the streets out of laziness. We’ve all probably heard phrases like, “They just need to get a job!” The reality could not be further from this—most homeless people do have jobs, and only a small fraction of those begging on the streets are actually seen by passersby. Even they should be approached with empathy rather than judgment. I don’t know how you feel about this, but I certainly wouldn’t choose this fate for myself. I’m probably not alone in thinking that no one deserves this life. That’s why it is extremely important that as many of us as possible help, and that we do not ignore the difficult lives of our fellow human beings.
Sources:
https://www.uszse.hu/files/hajlektalan-program
https://menhely.hu/hogyan-segithetek/onkentesseg/
