How can you tell someone is homeless?

What can you tell about someone by just looking at them?

Can you tell if they're married or single? Do they have children? What they do for a living? Can you tell if they even have a job?

There is no such thing as a typical homeless person. Everyone has a different story. Everyone has different reasons that led them into homelessness. If you saw me walking down the street, you'd never know that I was homeless.

When I walked into the shelter for the first time, this is what I was wearing...jeans, t-shirt, sweater, jacket. When I left the shelter to start a new life this is what I was wearing...jeans, t-shirt, sweater, jacket.

The same exact outfit.

So how would you know I was homeless? You wouldn't unless I told you. The same with him, and him, and her, and him. And if we told you, would you treat me any different? Would you treat them any different?

Would it change your opinion of us? Maybe....maybe not?

What do you think?

This piece is for an upcoming play on stories about Homelessness. Here's a post about how people can help solves homelessness one person at a time. Both are part of the on going Faces of Homelessness series.

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