Yesterday I had the opportunity to interview with The Road Home, a non-profit in the business of helping place people into homes. Sadly, as I was walking out, I noticed two relatively trivial events that saddened me.

You see, as I was walking back to my car I noticed that a beaten up car from California had received a ticket (presumably it had been parked there too long). I thought to myself “what a way to greet someone to our city – we know you are down on your luck, and we are just going to pour a little salt into that wound.”

The second event was a little more upsetting. I was standing outside for a short while when I noticed that a police car pulled up to the side of the shelter; intrigued I stood back and watched. The office calmly walked over to the man – he was in his mid to late 50’s, black, carrying a beat up green bag in one hand and an oxygen bottle in the other. From what I could gather the officer had no reason to shuffle off this man other than for the fact he was homeless. I could have easily have been standing outside just as long, but because I had a tie on the officer did not give me a second look.

Homelessness has always been around and, sadly, will probably always be around. What bothers me is that people continually focus on treating symptoms rather than finding a cure for the disease. I was struck by how many women and children there were at the shelter that day. I found people who looked just like me, but were down on their luck; I also found those who were trying to make the best out of a horrible situation.

Here is hoping the world will be a better place tomorrow for them.