by Anna Takai
Updated: May 19, 2022
Education doesn’t only affect one’s current situation, it can also affect one’s future. One of the main causes of homelessness is unemployment. According to the US Labor of Bureau Statistics, claiming that the unemployment rate of people who earn a doctoral degree is 2.5%, while the unemployment rate of people who earned less than a high school diploma is 11.7%.
Photo from wix
Anna Takai May, 8, 2022
We walk around the streets of New York City spotting homeless people every few minutes, but we try hard not to take a glimpse. They are holding plastic cups and cardboard signs pleading for support. However, we rarely see people offering support and comfort. We may even be taught at a young age to stay away from these “panhandlers.” This was the case for me, as I was born and raised in urban areas with parents who were rather anxious about the occurrence of certain situations. Now thinking about it, I question why I ever felt this way. In modern-day society, 17 out of every 10,000 people are considered homeless, and approximately 20% of homeless individuals are children, just like us. (endhomelessness.org) Even giving them a cookie from McDonald’s, just below $1, can serve a meal for some. Since I left New York, I was able to reset my attitude towards homeless people, who I used to see as intimidating.
4 years ago, when I was 11 years old, I was assigned a school project for an exhibition. None of the topics stood out to me, so through the process of elimination, I chose homelessness. As a result, I was given the opportunity to participate in Soup no Kai, an organization which walked around the Shinjuku neighborhood of Tokyo, donating food and goods to homeless people in desperate need of help. I donated supplies to keep the homeless people warm, but most importantly, through this organization, I was able to communicate with them to realize that they weren’t at all intimidating. I received a magazine from a homeless person called The Big Issue, which many homeless people sell as a source of income. In fact, all of the homeless people I met were very warmhearted and generous.
Through this experience, I was able to realize how homeless people may seem intimidating at first, but they are easily approachable and relatable. Now, when I occasionally pass by a homeless person on the streets of Tokyo, I donate some money or buy The Big Issue. This may sound insignificant, but small actions like this raise awareness about homelessness and could eventually help save lives.
Ever since my participation in Soup no Kai, I haven’t felt hesitant in approaching and helping homeless people. I will continue contributing to society, so the impoverished can be supported and treated as a part of the community. So next time I see a homeless person in the streets of New York City, instead of ignoring them, I am going to approach them without feeling the fear to back down.