Article means well, but uses stereotypes

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, August 2, 2001

I read an interesting column on homelessness by a budding reporter. Katie Struiksma’s July 18 article in the My Life section, “A down and dirty day being homeless” got a few things wrong. First off, let me clear up some misconceptions on homelessness. All homeless people aren’t bums. A bum is a drug addict/alcoholic who is either unwilling to or just can’t hold down a job. I have been homeless myself, and I met lawyers, doctors, etc. who were homeless. They went through divorce, depression, bad investments, etc.

Myth number 2: Struiksma suggests that homeless people are likely to steal. This is simply not true. I’ll admit there are a number of people who are homeless and steal, not unlike any segment of society.

Myth number 3: homeless people don’t work. This is also untrue. Many homeless people work and can’t afford to pay rent. First, last and deposit could easily add up to $1,300.

I found it strange that the young lady didn’t make the effort to interview any homeless. One day on the streets cannot compare to living on the streets. The young lady should be commended for putting herself in others’ shoes. But to stereotype homeless people as thieves and bums is flat-out wrong. Yes, some homeless people are bums, but others are hard-working, caring and would give you the shirt off their backs. A lot of our parents were hobos and tramps in the 1930s, and without them and their hard-fought victories in World War II, we might very well be saluting a swastika or a rising sun. The bottom line is, they’re homeless, not hopeless.

Everett