Beyond Bingo: Tackling Homelessness and the Unspoken Fear of Empathy

A local city government meeting can often feel like playing a game of Bingo, with certain topics guaranteed to be discussed. These might include “thinly veiled contempt,” “Freeattle,” “mandatory rehab” and questions about why some people living outside receive free items. While some may demand that homelessness be made illegal, others frequently bring up the concern for “the children.”

One person even cried out in anguish, asking how to explain seeing people in tents to their kids. The answer to this question is simpler than many adults think. Children have a great capacity for empathy and if you tell them that someone is sleeping in a doorway because they have nowhere else to go, they’ll likely feel sad and want to help. Kids are curious and want to understand why someone could be without a home. Homelessness isn’t that strange of a concept when compared to other things adults explain to children.

The root of the concern that many adults have isn’t necessarily about children seeing poverty, but rather it’s about adults having to confront the fact that despite teaching kindness and generosity, they have failed to extend these values universally, especially towards those living in poverty. It’s not just about explaining why some people live in tents to children; it’s about admitting as adults that we may have contributed to blocking access to housing and resources for those who need it most. The bigger conversation should focus on acknowledging our roles in perpetuating cycles of poverty and homelessness, and finding solutions for a better future for all.