"They dont end up on the street, like a lot of people would think, because they're too lazy. They've had some hard thing that's put them there... No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

There are many of these kind, compassionate folks wandering our cities, lending a quiet helping hand to those who need it most. Nashville has plenty of good Samaritans who reach out daily to our most disadvantaged populations, but there is little doubt that both a hardening of hearts and a frustration with government restriction and stifling of their efforts to assist has occurred in recent years.

Part of this can be blamed directly upon the population being served. There is no doubt that some of those experiencing homelessness are folks you'd not want anywhere near your person, property or possessions. 

Unfortunately, while the overall number of fecal smears masquerading as homeless is small, their deplorable behavior gets splashed across news headlines with regularity, unfairly biasing perceptions across a broad swath of our society while blacking the eyes of every good and decent homeless individual currently walking our streets.

Another part can be blamed upon members of our community who continue to perpetuate the stereotypes. Some do this unintentionally or by way of providing additional information; I've been guilty of this myself simply by posting stories about egregious behavior of members of the homeless community.  It's pretty difficult however, to cover homelessness without occasionally addressing the sinister aspects of human behavior.

The problem here is that we have nothing to balance the bad behavior with. Nothing to compare it to. No way to put the incorrigible behavior of a few into perspective against a broader picture of overall law-abiding, civilized behavior by those experiencing homelessness.

Those who work with the homeless on a daily basis have a little more accurate picture of the ratio here. But those of us working with them are rarely in a position to provide our own take on the ratios, nor are we typically requested to do so.

Part of the reason I started this blog was to fill this gap. 

 The issues surrounding homelessness are vast, complex and often very misunderstood. If there is no one to balance the bad with some of the good, or at least some of the challenges facing the homeless that are not known to those who stand in ignorant judgment of them, the stereotypes and biases will continue unabated and most probably continue to escalate. 

Only through knowledge of the barriers and obstacles - both self-induced and put in place by society - will the general public begin to understand that resolving homelessness will take much more effort than lip service to "get a job."

Homeless Vendors gather to pick
up Contributor newspapers for sale.

Helping homeless, with no questions asked

Helping homeless, with no questions asked

One-man ministry offers food, shelter and a little faith
SHERYL KORNMAN
Tucson Citizen

"A glimmer of hope is sometimes all it takes," the Rev. Clarence Collins says on a flier that lets folks know about his one-man, faith-based, nonprofit initiative to help the homeless.

Collins, who will be 78 in August, has been giving hope to the homeless here since 1958.

His Harvest Time Ministry is a registered 501(c)(3) that takes in about $700 a year in small donations, he said.

"People say, 'My golly, they can get out there and work. I won't help them,' " he said.

But he doesn't think about homeless people that way.

He rides around in a van looking for people he can help, talking about salvation and telling them where they can get a shelter bed for the night or a free meal.

On Thursday he spent $48 on gas to drive a homeless man to Florence to stay with his mother while he recuperates from back surgery.

Lee Cutright said St. Mary's Hospital tried to find him a place to go before discharging him but couldn't, so he called Collins.

Cutright, 45, a native Tucsonan, military vet and eighth-grade dropout, has been on the streets for years, he said. He met Collins about eight years ago.

He won't go to Department of Veterans Affairs workers for help because the last time he did, "They made me mad and I've never been back."

The VA has its own homeless rehabilitation and job program.

Collins said he's been helping the homeless quietly for years.

He hands out gospel tracts, patiently calls shelters around town to find a spot for people he meets on the streets and sometimes puts them up for a night for $21 at a cheap motel. Some he helps are women with children, he said.

He may give them a $10 bill for food or drive them to a doctor appointment.

He used to get help from local government.

"I used to know all the city fathers downtown," he said. "Now I don't know any of them."

Homelessness can happen to anyone, he says. He cites the case of an executive he knew who, several years ago, lost everything:

"I worked with a man who had been a chief executive officer. Of course, downsizing, that led to financial problems and that led to family problems."

"You would not have known him if you saw him on South Fourth (Avenue). He smelled like whatever. His clothing had deteriorated and he was mumbling to himself."

Collins said it's harder to find help for people these days in the declining economy as the cost of food and gas rises. Still, he keeps handing out bologna and cheese sandwiches.

"I don't care about the big facade," he said. "I just want to help. I don't ask them why they're on the street. I don't really care.

"God didn't put me out here as a judge or as an attorney, but he did put me here as a witness.

"I really have a burden for them," he said.

He added that "They don't end up on the street, like a lot of people would think, because they're too lazy. They've had some hard thing that's put them there. When I first started working with the homeless, I was kind of frightened of them. But when you get right down to it, they're searching for help.

"I try to weed out the people who play the game," he said.

He concentrates on those with no resources and hopes others will help.

As his flier says: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."