I was traveling from the US to Europe and I had a layover in Amsterdam. In the men’s room, I met an interesting character called Roger. Roger, in his mid forties, was neat and dressed like a backpack traveler. He started a conversation with me, talking about random stuff. At one point, out of the blue he mentions that he lives in the airport. I was not sure what he meant but he explained that he literally lives in the airport. I asked him if he showers, sleeps and gets his basic needs met in the airport and he said yes. In fact, he uses the handicap toilet to wash himself at nights then he goes to sleep in the airport pretending to be an early morning passenger. In the morning, he also uses to toilets to get himself ready and then leaves the airport for the day.
What an interesting encounter. I had no idea that some people, out of necessity do that. I have walked in the streets of popular European cities and I have met many homeless people. Panhandling and sleeping on the street is a second nature to them unfortunately. Roger at least, gets a warm place and washes himself instead of sleeping out in the freezing cold in the winter.
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I have met a good number of people out on the streets homeless. I hate it when sometimes I have to just walk on by as I have nothing left to give only a greeting. But it’s wonderful experience to be able to help when possible.
Many times I start an internal debate when I run into homeless people asking for money. Maybe they are lazy and scammers, maybe they are dishonest and lie about their situation to everyone so they get money w/o trying to find a job, etc.
All in all, it just sucks because I don’t have enough to give them and not only that, what difference would it make if I give them money or food?
The homeless situation is beyond me. Makes me wonder what kind of world we live in!