One day Mr. O’M and I were walking down Granville looking for good photography opportunities and my eye was caught by a group of young Asian men in military garb.
Then, a blur of something white whizzed across my peripheral vision. There was a visually arresting young homeless man with a rat weaving it’s way around his neck and shoulders. I asked if I could take his picture with the rat but then the rat moved over to another girl.
The girl was amenable to my taking her picture and then asked us for some money. We had already been asked this question by countless homeless folks that day but I wanted to give her something as she had posed for me.
Mr. O’M asked her if she was hungry and offered to get her a meal from the restaurant across the street. While he did that, I continued to talk to her.
I told her to please tell me if the question was uncomfortable or intrusive, but I wondered why she was living on the streets. Her answer was surprising and intriguing to me. She explained it was by choice.
She lived previously in Alberta but the winters were just too cold to bear outside so had come West. She liked to travel but working day to day or renting a home required more responsibility than she wanted. “I wasn’t abused or anything. I have parents who love me”, she reassured me.
Being a disabled person, I often think about how easy it would be to become homeless if we hadn’t had the help of our loving families.
When I am downtown and asked for money I often wonder about those who fall through the cracks…those with mental illness, or who come from broken homes or who struggle with substance issues or other torturous battles.
It had never once occurred to me that living on the streets might be a lifestyle choice.
Later that day I was pondering the winters here and the fact that although they are mild sometimes they do require needs like blankets and shelters. I suppose the shelters limited beds are available both to; those who are on the streets out of necessity and out of choice.
I was thankful to Jezz that day for sharing her story with me. She reaffirmed my theory that pets bring joy to people in every circumstance or walk or life. She also illuminated a new part of downtown that I had been in the dark about.
