Saturday, February 23, 2008

Homelessness

I see them every day in the Métro.
There are more and more people here "dans la rue" - on the street, like they say here.

This can happen to everybody. They are us. You lose someone, you lose your job, you lose your home. Where to go from there?

What I think when I see this is: I have to share. Money and humanity.

14 comments:

sukipoet said...

Yes, it is so sad. You are faced with this sorrow daily. Here I do not see many homeless. Out in the frozen country. I believe that too, it could happen to anyone with a change in life that cannot be mended. I send blessings for all the Parisian homeless and homeless everywhere.

Wurzerl said...

Liebe Andrea, das ist eine sehr aufrüttelnde Skizze, die Hoffnungslosigkeit dieser Menschen hast Du gut in der Bewegung eingefangen. Ich würde diese Zeichnung jederzeit denen von A.P.Weber an die Seite stellen, der stets mit seinem Stift in den Wunden der Wohlstandsgesellschaft gerührt hat, die immer mehr ihre Schattenseiten auch nach außen transportiert!
Ich wünsche Dir weiter diesen offenen Blick und ein schönes Wochenende.
Lieber Gruß vom Wurzerl
P.S. Ich hätte auch noch Blausternchen und Iris Kate Hodkins in die Geschichte einbauen können und Gänseblümchen, die alle schon blühen, neben den gezeigten, aber ich wollte die armen Elfenkrokusse nicht noch mehr verzweifeln lassen!

Andrea and Kim said...

Andrea, I think many cities have a large homeless population. We see it a lot here in US cities. But it is the cities here where they can find shelter and food from kitchens set up for them. It is a very sad thing to be sure. Many of our homeless are dealing mainly from mental illness or post tramautic stress and that is different from people being down from job/home loss. I do not remember seeing a single homeless person when we were in England, though I may not have been looking in the right places. If we can't share with other humans what kind of human are we ourselves? You are a very generous woman!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Yes it can happen anytime and it did when Hurricain Katrina hit New Orleans & along the coast. A natural disaster and we are out in the streets too. Some are just a paycheck from the streets. Sad situations for sure.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

PS.. Miss Doddle isnt the only one with a kind & Giving heart so is her Secretary.

Donna said...

I've spent many years working with the homeless, and a gift anyone can give them, one of the best gifts, is acknowledgment of their existence... saying hi, smiling, even saying "sorry I have no cash with me to share" -- all are powerful connections...

Unknown said...

Dear Friends, thanks so much for your comments which show me that we are all very much aware of these problems.

Pat said...

You have caught the desperation and lack of hope so well it shows you care.

Anonymous said...

it breaks my heart that there are so many homeless all over the world. It is indeed an epidemic.

Reginas Cottage said...

Liebe Andrea
In deiner Skizze hast du sehr gut
die Hoffnungslosigkeit dieser Menschen eingefangen.Auch in unserer
kleinen Gemeinde wächst die Zahl der
Armen Menschen immer mehr.Ich hoffe
für diese Menschen,dass sich ein Weg
aus dieser Hoffnungslosigkeit finden
wird.
Einen schönen Sonntag wünscht Dir
Regina

Elizabeth said...

we have beggers here in our seaside town too, but not many homeless people. Many have benefit money and somewhere to live.

The cities are very different - big cardboard cities of homeless people.
It should not be so in our materially rich countries, but sadly it is. I saw several homeless people in Venice too - so very sad.
One does what one can in a very small way... it is so little. I wish the government would do more. Our church organisations are very good here.

You are a kind and generous woman... Miss Doodle has a good companion.

Lynn Cohen said...

Your drawing shows the feelings of the homeless so clealy.
I fear we will have a whole new wave as a result of our war in Iraq. There are still many Vietnam Vets on our streets, homeless and begging. This new war brings a new generation of desperate poor. War creates mental illness, PTSD, major depression...and people cannot function to make a living...and so the circle continues.
Important to bring this to our attention, lest we forget.

human being said...

How impressive; both your words and your drawing.

If only all people had your tender heart and beautiful logic!

I adore you because you don't just sympathize with them; you empathize... and it makes all the difference.
Hugs.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your thoughtful comments and I hear that the situation is almost the same where you live. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the "other" side of our societies.