Written by: Bianca Ibarra
How many times have you seen a homeless person while driving around Austin, Texas?
Homelessness in Austin, Texas has been a serious issue for a long time and even more so now due to the pandemic. According to the Texas Tribune, “the city had 2,506 people experiencing homelessness last year. The number grew by one-third between 2016 and 2020. But experts warn that these counts provide only a snapshot of the problem and the real numbers could be higher.”
The Issue
The other day, I decided to treat myself to some Whataburger. I picked up the food and was on my way back home when I saw a homeless man at the stoplight on the intersection of Oltorf and I-35. He looked as if he was in his 30’s and his clothes were dirty. He held a cardboard sign that said “ANYTHING HELPS.” I called him over and gave him a dollar. He took the dollar and said, “Thank you so much, ma’am. God bless.”
I looked at him and then looked at the food I just bought from Whataburger. I couldn’t help but think about how that Whataburger meal was one of the many meals I would have had that week, and this man didn’t even know if he was going to be able to eat anything at all that day.
I called him over again and handed him my Whataburger meal. He took it and said, “Wow, really?” He looked at the food, and it seemed as if he was about to cry. He looked back up at me with the biggest smile on his face and said, “You don’t know how much this means to me. Thank you so much.” Then, the light turned green and I drove away.
I honestly couldn’t help but cry the rest of the way home at the thought of how much that one meal changed that man’s day. I also couldn’t help but think that if I am in the position to do something as small as that, I have the ability to do more.
This is just one story of one homeless man in Austin. Think about all of the homeless people living in tents underneath State Highway 71 by Manchaca Road or the homeless communities all over downtown. What if they were your friends or family members? What if one of them was you? We all think that it could never be us until it is.
Now, you may be wondering: what can I do to help?
Take Action
Have some free time during your weekend? Volunteer. Have gently used items you don’t use anymore? Donate them. There are so many places to volunteer and donate to help the homeless community in our city (to name a few):
For more ways to do your part in helping the homeless in Austin, follow our SEU Combats Homelessness Campaign. We will continue to provide the public with resources and encouragement to help our underserved communities. Let’s combat homelessness together.
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Tags:
Austin, Texas, Homeless, Resources, Volunteer, Donate