Unease not from homeless

A friend, who had no financial interest of their own, helped shift my perspective in a way I didn’t expect.

(My friend) bought warm clothing and blankets and then invited me to make soup and chili for those in need as the cold weather set in. It wasn’t a grand gesture, just something my friend did in their spare time, something simple and human.

What struck me most wasn’t the act itself but how it felt to be there—standing in that space, offering warmth and food. I expected to feel a sense of purpose. Instead, I found myself uneasy, not because of the people we were helping but because of the way the space was policed.

The authorities watched and questioned, as if kindness needed to be explained. The discomfort didn’t come from those in need but from the way the world seemed to look at them and at us, as if we were all out of place.

I remind myself to be pragmatic. Some things don’t change overnight but small moments like this maybe plant a seed.

We’ll try again (another day).

Dustin Sargent