So THIS Happened This Morning ...

 

What do you think this is, lying on the bench outside of our apartment office at 6 a.m.?

My neighbor texted me, after being startled by it, walking her dog at 6 a.m.

She asked me to look out and see if it was a person sleeping, and who to call?

I told her I had the number to security, but I wasn't sure, I couldn't see clearly from my balcony.

So I walked close and took a picture to send the office via email, as they wouldn't be open for another 2 hours, but I still wasn't sure.

Seeing the shoes, in case it was a person, I didn't want to wake and startle them myself. 

You never know what trauma somebody's been through and how they'll react if you startle them, right?

Most homeless people are harmless, but I'm sure sleeping out in the open like that, they're already guarded and likely startle easily, right?

So I called security to check it out - thinking if was a homeless person sleeping, they'd just wake him and ask him to move on.

Oh, no, though  - that's not what happened.

In the meantime, someone else called the police!

So it was a person, a man, and 2 cop cars showed up, got him up on his feet and he started yelling "Man, get the F off me, give me a second  to get my shoes on, damn!"

I felt sorry for him, actually, now worried he'd get in trouble for yelling at a cop - never a good idea - but the cops just left when he did, thank goodness.

And I wondered if all that was necessary, and if it hadn't been the cops, would he have reacted that way?

I got my answer from a maintenance man.

The maintenance guy said "He was here once before. I just asked him to wake up and move on, please, and he was polite and left without fuss.  The police scared him is all. I know you didn't call them, but someone did."

That's the thing - like I said, we don't know what trauma somebody's been through to get where they are, besides the trauma of being homeless - they definitely don't need any more.

I know if somebody were to wake my husband up like THAT, in the park just falling asleep or napping or something, as a former Army Ranger, they'd likely be in for a fight, just due to the startle alone. 😂

I understand it's unsettling to see that first thing in the morning, and you just don't know if they're harmless or not.

However, not everyone is homeless because of drugs, a criminal/former prison, or mental illness, and sometimes they are working, it's just not enough to make ends meet in this economy, which is why homelessness is increasing. Sometimes it's even temporary and they don't have family or at least reliable family (which can sometimes even be the source of the trauma).

So let's start out by being cautiously optimistic and give them a chance, rather than come in ready to fight?

That'd put anybody on the defensive.

Regardless, I hope that man finds a safe place to sleep tonight in a place that's less unsettling for people not expecting it, walking their dogs in the early morning.