Cold—The Only Challenge?

As an interview with the wonderful folks at Flux Magazine progressed, a thought occurred to me that cold weather isn’t the only challenge Mother Nature throws at homeless persons. Sweltering heat becomes a major concern as well. Here’s why:

As temperatures rise, most persons these days have air conditioned homes, automobiles or at least someplace to go to avoid being directly out in the sun. Even a fan helps. Homeless persons do not have these ‘luxuries.’ Although many businesses will allow someone to come in and sit down, it’s usually only for a short time when nothing is chosen from the menu–except maybe a free glass of cool water. I’m not pointing fingers; this isn’t wrong, those businesses are there to make money, not cater to someone who is just trying to avoid the heat.

The point I am making is homeless persons do not have electricity for fans, and at times, finding shade even becomes a problem. On top of that, most homeless individuals have a very limited supply of clothing on hand; sometimes the very same clothes worn throughout the year. More times than not, the clothes are worn without even being laundered that entire time. For instance, John, in Behind the Signs, always wore either a worn-out leather jacket or grubby insulated coveralls. It wasn’t because he wanted to appear snazzy in that old jacket, or because he was on his way to work, he just didn’t have anything else to wear. The tee-shirt underneath wasn’t fit to scrub a dirty sink.

These things that seem trivial to most people become very real things to a homeless person who is trying to avoid a heat stroke.

Yes, another excerpt from Behind the Signs:

 

Until Next Time,
Kirk Toncray
WEBSITE