Interview With A Homeless Person

This analysis was a little difficult because I wanted to not only find something that interested me but made me uncomfortable too and I succeeded. Growing up, my best friend was Jamaican in an all Caucasian school and I’ve traveled a decent amount to learn other cultures. My undergraduate degree was at a Catholic college where they taught us about other religions. I was able to go to different churches as a child (I.E. Catholic, Jewish, Baptist etc.) so I’m comfortable with different religions. A lot of my colleagues and a few good friends are gay, so what can make some people uncomfortable doesn’t bother me. However, the why and how people are homeless always intrigued me. From ages 16 to 30, I always either went to school full-time and worked

I spoke with him at a red light and made him feel comfortable enough with meeting me in the minute it was still red. Fortunately, there was an empty parking lot a block away where I suggested we could talk. He was definitely hesitant for reasons I found out later, although, I must have looked out of place. Again, bald Caucasian, in a full suit, is driving a brand new Ford Explorer with tinted back windows. He walked under the overpass where two other homeless guys were sitting. The other two gentlemen looked like people I wouldn’t have approached. Not my safest moment, but as I saw him walking over from a distance I was happy it was just him. When he approached, I thanked him and said this was for a school project that puts us in unusual circumstances. I said that I often give money or volunteer, but I almost never ask people about their lives and what got them to this point. This is when Steve opened

Generally, those with low mental issues, non-violent to no criminal past and most importantly they are motivated to do better. I got caught up with a promotion so it never kicked off, but Steve would have been a good candidate to look at. Understanding his history, he couldn’t simply work at a Burger King or Wendy’s but I think he would be solid with any manual labor, painting or even an overnight job where there is low interaction with others. People like Steve are a challenge for me because I’m very good at putting myself in others shoes to either argue a point or to just understand their point of view. I find this difficult with homeless people because I know if I was in their shoes I would do everything possible to elevate my position. This is where I really need to pause and remember that everyone’s experiences, health, support groups (coworkers, friends, family etc.), and various other circumstances can really shape an individual. Steve lost his mother at 14 years old, his job, his wife and daughter, his father, 4 years for what he calls a “stupid mistake” and battles anxiety issues. There isn’t a word in that sentence that I could relate to and understanding that is important in any context. Moving these understandings over to the business world, teams can be challenging. From the article, What Makes a Leader, “teams are cauldrons of bubbling