Homeless in America

This is the first of a series of articles I will be writing on the problem we face in America. My up close and personal observations will be based out of Daytona Beach, Florida. Every state has a problem, some more than others. Florida, because of the year round warm climate, we have more than our share. Even in the winter months, yet the nights get cold, a homeless person will not freeze. Wherever there are woods, you will find homeless. My article will be about a local homeless man, I have been observing for the past year. He rides on his bike by my house on a daily basis and his routine is very predictable. There is a quiet park close by and it is surrounded by woods in which I observed him there by accident. I must say I have been feeling very bad for this man for quite some time and felt a little better that this is where he calls home. It is a very quiet and serene park that not a lot of people frequent. It has a walking path that surrounds a man made pond that is stocked with fish. It has shaded spots here and there, due to the woods surrounding it. I happen to walk there one day and was surprised to see him there, often wondering where he lived. His bike was parked in an area that was partially covered and he was walking to the public small restroom building located in the park. I was there with a friend and when he passed us by, he said it is a beautiful day today. I never heard him speak, ever, to anyone. He is always alone. How sad to always be alone with no one to talk to. Society dictates to people that the homeless are unproductive and the throw aways of society. It denotes their worth to the point of dehumanizing them. When have you ever seen someone reaching out to that person, we are taught they are different and not to be trusted. This was someones child, brother, sister. There are many reasons for homelessness. You will find alot are vets, some criminals, some with mental problems, and now just regular people that fell into bad luck and fell into the cracks that bind us. They have cases that whole families are living out of their cars. We take for granted the simple things we have in life. Imagine having no soap and water and a bathroom to go to and no roof over your head to keep you safe and warm. The reason I felt a little better about this man is, there is  at the very least running water in this park. There are also metal benches on the property.Florida has very violent lightning storms in the summer as well as the  extreme hot temperatures. I have often wondered where and what this man did when I was safe and dry in my home.  He has the look of a typical homeless man. He is estimated to be around mid fifty’s. He always wears a cap and sunglasses and his bike is filled with plastic bags tied everywhere. He rides around with his whole life. On garbage days, you will see him riding up and down the local streets. If he ever picks up large items, I am not sure where he stores them, unless it is deeper in the woods. We waste so much and the things people throw away become the treasures of the have nots. Since the weather is finally cooling off, I will be starting a walking routine at this serene park and continue my observations.