Multiple articles, including a recent web post summary (see June 17, 20225 at 12:28 a.m.) describe the late Robin Williams’ interactions with people who are homeless. The comedian and actor—rich, famous, incredibly funny—frequently reached out on his own time to homeless people. He provided them with meals, clothing, and also job opportunities. His outreach was done privately and with humility—not for his own self-aggrandizement.
Most importantly, Williams recognized the basic humanity of homeless people. He treated them with respect as people—not as stereotypes, not as invisible or undesirable members of society. He also saw their potential for change and created opportunities for their growth and well-being.
Williams’ approach stands in stark contrast to typical societal responses. Too often we ignore homeless people altogether. Or if we do react, we see them as nuisances. Or we define and judge them solely by their appearance or by their health and social conditions.
From thirty-five plus years of work, I know many homeless people struggle at times with mental health, substance issues, trauma, bad luck, and abject poverty (and sometimes from their own mistakes, as we all do at times). I also know, as Williams recognized, there is both deep goodness and amazing potential within every homeless person.
They are humans with value, strengths, needs, and potential for growth–more similar than different from everyone else.
Most fundamentally, we all descended from the same ancestors.
We all share a basic humanity.
We all are children of God.
Shouldn’t we treat them as such?
Photo: Matt Collamer, Unsplash.com
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