Personal Narrative: My Perception Of Homelessness

I once viewed homelessness as an irritating-rugged-dirty man begging at an intersection for my spare change or a woman not capable of providing for herself, shivering under a bridge covered in cardboard. Moreover, I didn’t comprehend why some one would choose to be homeless until eighth grade when my brother’s homeless friend, John, moved in. Hesitant at first, I thought, how much tighter our budget would get also, how tight my space would be in the room my brother and I already shared. Because of John’s experience, my perception on homelessness has rehabilitated drastically. I now understand homelessness is not a choice but can occur to anyone down on their luck.
Before John moved in with us, he and his dad lived in an apartment a street down from me. He once invited Matt and I over, as I stepped into John’s room, I was overwhelmed and confused when there was no bed in sight, only an outdated TV and one shabby pillow. As I slept on the …show more content…
When Matt and I were invited to sleepovers John was not always openly welcomed. In fact, some parents viewed him as a grubby kid who shouldn’t be allowed to use their towels or sleep in their child’s bed fearing he might pollute them somehow. We bought him along anyway, prompting interrogating calls that my mother received, namely, parents asked, “Can we trust this kid in or house? Does he steal?” Observing others discriminate against John enraged and unsettled me, their prejudices clouded their judgement leading them to make irrational accusations about his character. I witnessed firsthand the negative and demeaning way people viewed homelessness, reminding me of how negative I once was. It did not make sense to me why John was treated differently due to the misfortunes. By treating John as a brother versus a burden Matt and I were able to assimilate John into the neighborhood family, furthermore, those who were hesitant about accepting John got to know his