Homeless people in New York are not like in other cities: how are they different

Homeless people in the Big Apple are very different from people living on the streets in post-Soviet countries and even in other US cities, the author of the channel is sure. Elizabeth Gray on Yandex Zen... She spoke about their distinctive features. Further - from the first person.

When we hear or say the word "homeless", then in the minds of many there are pictures of an unkempt person who lives somewhere in a garbage dump, who loves to drink and is far from understanding the moral norms adopted in society.

It seems familiar to us that a bad smell, dirty clothes, a sleepy face and inappropriate behavior in society should be an integral part of this urban bum.

However, in New York, the word “homeless” takes on completely different connotations.

Features of homeless people living in New York

Pride: "First of all, I am a person!"

Living in New York, my dad and I met individuals who, due to some life circumstances, ended up on the street. In this metropolis, such situations may be enough.

I'll tell you about a very typical incident that happened to my father in a New York eatery called Patio Pizza.

One day my dad came there for a snack. It was already close to closing, so there were not so many people in the cafe. His gaze rested on a distinctive-looking character with tattered clothes, surreptitiously picking up leftover food from tables.

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Although he did not look down, he did not have a sleepy face, his clothes were shabby but not dirty, dad felt sorry for him, and he wanted to help him. It was clear that a person simply survives as best he can.

He didn't know how much money could be given to a homeless person, so he decided to give him $ 50. As a result, approaching him, he handed him a bill, to which a completely unexpected reaction followed.

No, he didn't say "Thank you!" He didn't even take this money.

With a haughty air, he began to run into my father and explain that he did not need these 50 dollars: “You must not pretend to be God.” He said that one dollar would be enough for him for food, and let him keep the rest.

Of course, my dad was very surprised by this reaction, and he told this story to a friend of his who was born and raised in New York.

He explained that giving a similar amount of money to a homeless person is considered offensive. This means that you consider yourself to be much better than him, which is highly indecent.

Well-groomed bums

In New York, I personally met a lot of decent-looking people without a fixed abode.

One afternoon I was walking towards my house and noticed a fairly large queue. The people in it were neatly dressed and well-groomed, they stood in the direction of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. Walking along the line, at first I thought it was some kind of mass or church ritual.

What was my surprise when I saw a small window in the wall of the cathedral, from where plastic plates with porridge and cups with tea bags were issued.

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It should be noted that not all of them were homeless. Many people living in New York are in rather constrained life circumstances, which pushes them to queue up for free food.

In general, when faced with poor and disadvantaged New Yorkers, I noted that they, despite their plight, do not look degraded.