SHOULD HOMELESS SLEEP IN LIBRARIES?

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I’m concerned about the plight of the homeless. No one should have to live on the streets, IMO. Not in a civilized society. In many cities, the homeless can often be seen in public libraries. Our local library removed all the couches, which helped a little. But many men and women still manage to fall asleep slumped over in chairs. Should the homeless be allowed to sleep in the library? And if not, why?

Three reasons:

1. Public safety. Statistically, many homeless are drug addicts. who could be running out of money for their next fix. When I walk past them– snoring in a chair beside a backpack– I feel somewhat apprehensive. Yes, there are many employees and patrons around, but as we know, that doesn’t always stop a random attack on innocent people.

Library employees are not social workers or police officers, and they are not expected to deal with this problem—nor should they be. Naturally, some folks might doze off while reading a book or magazine, but when it goes on for an hour or more, here’s what I would suggest: Call a plain clothes police officer who can gently awaken the individual and offer to connect them with someone who can help. Wait with that person until you’re sure they have found a roof over their head. If they refuse shelter, then they really must be banned from the library.

2. Public health. Because of where they live, and lack of running water to clean up, a homeless person could be carrying a communicable disease. Whether you touch them or not, they are breathing the same air as you. They’re also using the restroom, touching handles, faucets and door knobs.

3. Humanitarian concerns. If they are truly homeless, their needs should not be ignored. Suppose you saw a child asleep in the library. . Would you walk past them as if they didn’t exist? Of course not. You would ask a librarian to awaken the child , find his parent , or refer him to some social service agency if he was alone. Or, if someone fainted , an alert librarian would call an ambulance if the patron had no companion.. Surely, a homeless person deserves the same consideration.

No man is an island. A homeless person is part of our collective humanity. Should they be encouraged to sleep in the library? I don’t think so.

October 25, 2019October 25, 2019

HOMELESS MAN & DOG AT LIBRARY

The man was sitting in a chair, reading a Stuart Woods novel. A thought flickered through my mind: it’s odd he isn’t taking it home to read. He was thin, middle aged, and wore a sweater and jeans. A stubble of beard was no different than many who wear them. I went on to the stacks, taking my time to find something my husband would enjoy. Every once in awhile, I sat down and looked over my choices. Finally, I found 4 good ones, checked them out. It was raining; I hurried to my car and sat for a few moments to catch my breath. That’s when I saw a homeless man & his dog at the library.

Should a homeless person own a dog? — A dog can provide a homeless person companionship and protection.

I recognized the Stuart Woods fan, now wearing a jacket and stocking cap. At first, I thought he’d probably left his dog in the car, and was taking it for a little walk. But they were standing behind some bushes, under an alcove. He huddled in a corner of the building, shielding the dog with an umbrella. That’s when I saw his telltale black backpack, and realized he probably didn’t have a car at all. Or a home.

I sat there for a few minutes, feeling confused. . How could a homeless man care for a dog? And why would he want one in the first place? Where were they going? How long would they stand out in the rain? The questions piled up in my head.

It’s hard for me to see a homeless person without wanting to fix things. Since I couldn’t do that, I wanted to understand the situation. As soon as I got in the house, I turned on my computer and keyed in the question: Should a homeless person own a dog? I was sure the search would turn up empty. And yet, there were several links to the topic.

Statistically, 5% of all homeless people own a pet. At first, it seems wrong. Why keep an animal outside all day and night? . And what if you can’t afford to feed it? Where does it poop? If I were an animal, would I want my owner to be a homeless person?

Apparently, there are many positives. An animal gives his owner love and companionship. There are cases where a dog has given a homeless person enough hope to work their way back into normal society. Animals can easily adapt to living outside in the elements. It’s their nature. Dogs also provide protection on the streets and in tents and other places where the homeless congregate. And so, the next time you see a homeless person with a dog, you might say a prayer that they find their way home..

June 5, 2019June 5, 2019

HOMELESS LADY WASHES HAIR AT LIBRARY

Most everyone who lives in a metropolitan area has grown accustomed to seeing homeless people at the library. We also know that soup kitchens serve hundreds of people every day. It’s a fact of life that makes us uncomfortable, because we don’t know how to deal with it But when I saw a lady coming out of the handicapped stall at the library with wet hair, it really hit me in the gut. Should a homeless lady wash her hair at the library?

Should the library allow homeless to clean up in their restrooms — SHOULD LIBRARIES ALLOW THE HOMELESS TO USE THEIR RESTROOMS TO CLEAN UP?

It wasn’t clear if she had washed her hair in the hand sink before she went into the stall, or worse yet, dunked it in the toilet. She seemed disoriented. The bathroom smelled of her dirty bags . There were food crumbs scattered all over the floor. After an initial reaction of revulsion, I was overcome with feelings of sympathy. The woman wasn’t that old—maybe fifty. She was someone’s child, granddaughter, maybe mother or wife. She was a human being in desperate need of help. And I had no idea what to do. And so, I merely smiled and left.

I couldn’t erase the scenario from my mind. What should I have done? I turned to an internet chat room (Reddit) and asked for other’s opinions. Most agreed that there was nothing I could really do, except smile and leave. Other’s felt that the library should not tolerate this type of thing because the woman could have Aids, STDS , and other infectious disease that could endanger others. Some said I should have reported it to an employee of the library.

I surfed the internet to see what other libraries do. Many cities like Seattle have specific policies and procedures for dealing with the homeless. https://www.newstatesman.com/world/north-america/2018/12/how-seattle-s-public-library-stepping-deal-city-s-homelessness-crisis Some have social workers available to help those in need.

I ‘m not sure if librarians are in a position to deal with such problems. In our town, various non profits provide homeless shelters. But shouldn’t the government bear some responsibility ? Homeless people were probably once taxpayers, maybe served our country in the military. At the very least, we should have public bathrooms where the homeless have access to showers. I know that security would be a problem, but it seems like that could be dealt with. The poet John Donne would tell us that any man’s misery diminishes us, because all of us are involved in mankind.

‘No Man is an Island’

No man is an island entire of itself; every man

is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;

if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe

is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as

well as any manner of thy friends or of thine

own were; any man’s death diminishes me,

because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom

the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne, 1624