Opening Our Eyes to the Homeless

Every day, we walk past people as we rush to meetings, errands, and appointments, often unaware of the silent struggles unfolding on the sidewalks we tread. But what if we paused? What if we trained our eyes—and hearts—to truly see?

Twice this week, I got turned around. I had trained myself not to see all those people panhandling at stoplights, but as I sat there, something caught hold of me about the specific individuals I was looking at, and a couple of minutes down the road, I did a U-turn and returned.

Homelessness, poverty, mental illness, and addiction are not always visible at first glance. They are not just statistics or shadows. They are people—mothers, fathers, veterans, sons and daughters—whose lives took a turn they never expected.

Yet, society often teaches us to look away. To avoid eye contact. To keep walking. But compassion begins with awareness. And awareness begins with seeing.

We have a choice, having the eyes to see is not about having perfect vision. It’s about intentional perception. It’s choosing to notice the man sleeping under the bridge, the woman asking for change outside the grocery store, the teenager with a backpack and nowhere to go. It’s recognizing humanity in every face, even when it’s uncomfortable.

When we choose to see, we open the door to empathy. We begin to ask questions: What happened? How can I help? What would I want if I were in their shoes?

Helping doesn’t always mean solving someone’s entire situation. Sometimes, it’s a warm meal, a kind word, a donated coat, or simply acknowledging someone’s presence. Dignity is restored when people feel seen and valued.

OIM does incredible work, but it starts with you as an individual. A community that sees is a community that can heal.

~Brian, Business Manager