It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. - Audre Lord
Whether people want to admit it or not: Homelessness, poverty, and the need for housing are severe problems in Auckland and Chicago. In response to what I've seen and experienced, I've been writing a post about 7 Differences and 7 Similarities between the 2 cities I've lived and worked in. After realising writing this will be a long journey, I've decided to post each "difference" and "similarity" as separate posts.
In the opening section, I illustrated 7 noticeable differences between the 2 cities. These 7 differences matter. They can be life or death for those experiencing homelessness.
I often visit this older fella who lives in his van out here in Waitākere. He's done this for several years. He's made his vehicle comfortable and has no issues about sleeping in there every night. He knows what to do to stay safe, warm, healthy and fed for all 4 seasons.
This elderly gentleman is fascinating to talk to, as he's always reading, is highly intelligent and very knowledgeable. In one of our conversations, we were speaking about the stark and brutal contrasts between Chicago and Tāmaki Makaurau, especially for those experiencing homelessness. We spoke about the dangers of sleeping in a car in blizzards, deathly cold temperatures and summer's suffocating heat. In his brilliance, he tells me the exact amount of air in his size vehicle and the exact amount of time it would take before the oxygen would run out. He wasn't being morbid, it was just his way of relating to how he couldn't live the same way in Chicago.
I've sadly known people who've frozen to death and seen how snow and freezing rain can cover a whole vehicle, leaving someone trapped inside. It's a frightening concept, but extremely real. Apart from being cautious in light of our recent storms, with the need to park wisely in case of flooding or falling trees or landslides, Aucklanders can live in their vehicles 365 days a year, whereas Chicagoans are playing with fate for at least 4 months per year.
If this man lived in Chicago, his journey would be completely different. Would his need to find somewhere warm result in going to a shelter? Would he end up riding the trains every night? Would he move into a hotel? Would he reunite with his family? Or would he end up renting his own apartment? We can't answer those questions, but what we do know, is this: If he was to change cities, his homeless experience would be vastly different, what services he received would be different, where he'd be placed would be different, how his paperwork would be done would be different, and what assistance he may or may not receive would be different.
These 2 cities can learn from each other. They both talk the talk, they speak of bringing the homeless count down to zero, but it often feels like it's empty words. The budgets focus on "more pressing matters", leaving homelessness simmering on the back burner. As other issues take priority, the poor continue to suffer. Both cities need to be willing to invest more time and money into creative solutions that result in making housing available and affordable for all.
Differences aren't necessarily wrong, as long as those experiencing homelessness are focused on and prioritized, as long as the proposals and solutions are healthy and good for those in need, as long as those on the street are listened to and given a voice, and as long as love and compassion are never ignored and forgotten in our efforts.
As I move into the next section, I'll be looking at 7 similarities between Chicago and Tāmaki Makaurau. Whereas the differences have focused more on policies and the environment, I've found the similarities have more to do with the human response to those in need. The sight of homelessness in our lives cannot be ignored, it causes reactions: it provokes, it angers, it causes hatred, it brings compassion, it divides, it unites, it judges, it loves and it brings generosity. The sight of homelessness can bring out the best or the worst in us. This is universal: whatever city or town we may live in, the sight of seeing someone experiencing homelessness shows us who we are and challenges us to question our love and compassion for our neighbours who are in most need.
My intent in writing these is to break barriers, create awareness, bring justice, and provide compassion for those who are some of society's most vulnerable members, for those experiencing homelessness.
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