Grappling with Homelessness
I love living in cities. The constant buzz, the energy, the excitement of what could be just a short walk away. I’ve been lucky enough to live many of my 34 years in two fantastic, similar yet different cities - 7 years in Washington, DC, now 8 years and counting in San Francisco. I’ve also been lucky enough to visit many other amazing cities throughout the U.S. and the world (New Orleans, Amsterdam, Copenhagen being a few of my favorites). There is just something about the hustle and bustle of a city that I find intoxicating. The exposure to so many diverse types of people, cultures, foods, drinks, modes of transit, sports games, live music, the feeling of infinite possibility - to me, it feels like the beating heart of life. And yet there’s something else that is prevalent in many cities: people experiencing homelessness. People living on the streets, begging for spare change, something you just don’t see as much in suburban or rural areas. From a young age,