Image: Getty Images via HuffPost
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece for HuffPost about the ways in which we treat people who are struggling with addiction while experiencing homelessness. A bit of what I said:
If someone uses drugs, does that mean they don’t deserve our compassion? Much like the narratives of what makes a good “victim,” people are so quick to delineate the “good homeless” from the ones who deserve to be there. But no one deserves to be there. We all deserve shelter, food and compassion, without any conditions attached.
In the U.S., there are approximately 20 million people with a substance use disorder. With an estimated half-million people experiencing homelessness, many of whom have addiction issues, that means more than 19.5 million people struggling with substance use have homes. Yet when the person using drugs or drinking is homeless, we look down on them more, heaping extra stigma on a gravely marginalized group for suffering from mental health issues.
The article sparked a lot of debate online. As a rule, I don’t reply to comments, but I see them. Although there are many people who cannot see outside of their own experience, who are stunted in the empathy department, by and large the sentiment struck a chord with most folks. I received so many messages and emails and only one of them was nasty. The rest were thoughtful and reaffirmed why I write about the stuff I write about.
You can read the article in its entirety HERE.
XOXO