Be conscious of your surroundings

“If you don’t feel safe, don’t walk down that street. Don’t walk near that tent camp. I am not saying homeless people are dangerous or that homeless encampments are dangerous. We live in a world now where going to a Walmart or a grocery store or a church or synagogue is dangerous. Sadly, we have to be conscious of our surroundings wherever we are.

So you have to be aware of your surroundings. And remember, you’re walking up to somebody’s home.

Take a moment and really try to understand that person. They might be going through some kind of trauma. I mean, in the newsroom, you might have a coworker that got a flat tire driving to work, you know, their girlfriend or boyfriend left them, they could be having financial problems, they might be sick or they’re kind of a jerk.

Now, imagine you’re outside with no bathrooms. It’s 104 degrees. You don’t know where your meal is going to come from. The tent doesn’t give you any security. So when you’re sleeping at night, sleep doesn’t really happen.

You’re a reporter and you’re walking up to a tent camp, which is somebody at home, and you’re walking up unannounced. When you go to a friend’s apartment, you usually call, right?

Or nobody calls anymore. You got a text, right? Text first, then call and then say, ‘hey, I’m stopping over,’ right? You’re walking up to somebody’s home with a big camera and saying, ‘hey, we want to interview you.’ Have some common sense and treat people with respect!

Sorry, I’m getting passionate, but a tent camp in somebody’s home. And we need to respect that is somebody’s home.”

Changing The Narrative on Homelessness