Jose Alejandro Vargas Nocelo, 54, who has been staying at shelters within the Rio Grande space for six months, is pictured exterior of the Weigand Homeless Useful resource Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis on Monday, March 7, 2022. Mengshin Lin, Deseret Information
Think about strolling round downtown Salt Lake Metropolis. There’s a lady sitting on the nook. Wrapped in a blanket, she appears to be like raveled. Her signal reads, “Something helps, God bless.”
You’re uncomfortable, you keep away from eye contact, mumble that you simply don’t have money and rush previous.
I’ve executed this dance many occasions, I’m ashamed to confess. As somebody who grew up non secular, I used to be taught to have compassion for others, to look after them in occasions of want. I used to be advised that tithing and quick choices got in lieu of donations to individuals on the road. And so I continued to, and nonetheless do generally, look away once I encounter somebody asking for assist.
Folks experiencing homelessness are subjected to all types of trauma, particularly sexual trauma. Mistreatment and sexual abuse can start at a younger age and drive younger individuals from their properties onto the streets. Many could be pressured to interact in “survival intercourse” which is one thing of a misnomer, as a result of that is thought of coercion. And when looking for assist, particularly if one belongs to a minority group, homeless individuals could also be subjected to sexual harassment and retraumatization.
PTSD from sexual violence creates uniquely profound vulnerabilities. Folks experiencing homelessness and sexual violence deserve empathy and recognition. There’s an issue once we don’t look homeless individuals within the eye. Why are we so afraid of homeless individuals? Is it as a result of we don’t prefer to acknowledge trauma? Are we attempting to make it simpler to stroll away?
Anna Salvania
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