People Who Have Fallen Through the Cracks

¶ … walked through the empty alleyway from the train station, my heart pounded. I could feel someone's eyes on me. I heard a rustling. Through the dim morning light I could see a man about twenty feet away. He was huddled by the big green dumpster with a bottle in his hand. As I approached, I unconsciously walked more quickly. He held out his dirt-covered hand and asked for money. I looked into his faded blue eyes and worn face. He smelled of gin, and not good gin.

I would typically not give money to a bum. There was something in his eyes that made me want to help him. As I tossed him a dollar coin on my way past, he reached to catch it. His bottle slipped out of his grasp and it broke on the rough ground of the alleyway. At this he began cursing and became upset. I heard things that I had never heard before. I rushed to get out of the alley when I heard a moaning. How had he ended up in the pile of glass from his own drink? I rushed back to help him sit up. He must have fallen over because of the alcohol. I sat him back against the wall and continued to work. The scene stuck in my head for a while.

It is easy to overlook individuals who need help the most. To look past the person on the corner begging for change is typical. The man had not looked hurt, disabled or mentally unstable, of course that was at first glance. How could an individual like himself end up living in an alley with nobody that cares about him? How had he fallen through the cracks and who is responsible for helping him? It is society's job to care for individuals who are not able or willing to care for themselves? Many people would argue that it is not someone else's job to take care of someone who will not do it for themselves. They do not want to put taxes into any new programs or give their own money. An adult should be able to take care of themselves without relying on other peoples' hard earned money.

By letting individuals slide into this state of incapacity we are only hurting ourselves. We will never know what talents he could have contributed to society. Every individual has something to contribute and should be considered important. We should not just sit and watch as people fade away or slip through the cracks. Better programs should be put into place, especially for the homeless and alcoholism. Perhaps if an individual is given a chance, he or she can succeed and become an integral piece of society. This is not unheard of. It seems that we are losing a lot by not utilizing resources we already have available. Individuals living on the streets deserve a place to sleep and another chance.