Is being homeless a state of mind?
- Gliser Fuentes Mena
- Sep 29, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 23
Yes. And it's one of the most uncomfortable and profound truths.
Homelessness doesn't begin on the street.
It begins in the psyche.
A homeless person is someone who:
doesn't feel they belong,
doesn't recognize themselves anywhere,
doesn't find a "home" within themselves.
The street is only the external manifestation of an internal rootlessness.
That's why many people can have a house, a family, a job...
and yet still live like vagrants on the inside:
jumping from relationship to relationship,
from identity to identity,
from mask to mask.
The vagrant walks because they can't stay put.
Not because they want to travel,
but because they don't know where to rest.
When I paint homeless people, I'm not painting poverty.
I'm painting the rupture between being and the world.
"Think as you live, live as you think"
Etymology
The word derives from the Latin adjective vagabundus, "inclined to wander," from the verb vagor, "to wander." It does not denote a member of a nomadic people, but rather an individual who, voluntarily or due to circumstances, leads a wandering lifestyle in a sedentary society. These people are often called vagrants, beggars, etc.
Vagrants are characterized, and this is the trait that most distinguishes them from the homeless, by the fact that they are constantly traveling and therefore do not have a fixed home.
In Hinduism, many vagrants are individuals who have supposedly renounced worldly life. They are considered sadhus and are often revered and respected by the population, wandering through cities or forests in search of moksha, or liberation.
There are many reasons why a person might become a vagrant:
- Mental disorder, illegal immigration, alcohol and drug addiction, laziness or idleness, beliefs or religion, lack of self-esteem, lack of willpower, few or no social relationships, unemployment, self-neglect.
India:
We know how to admire the wonders of India's monuments, its beaches, and its delicious food, but sometimes we need to acknowledge the living conditions of many Indians, for whom poverty is a daily reality. As a point of reference, I'll mention that one in three of the world's poor live in India, a statistic that speaks volumes. Many people have nothing to eat for days, while others barely survive on meager rations.
In Hinduism, many beggars are people who have renounced worldly life and are often respected by the population; they wander through cities or forests in search of spiritual liberation.
Hong Kong:
It's a very prosperous city, but in reality, many people live very different lives. Many of those walking the streets are unaware that on the rooftops above them, thousands of people live in deplorable and often dangerous conditions.
Argentina:
When the data is extended to the entire population and not just the urban areas covered by the surveys, poverty affects 11.3 million Argentinians, and extreme poverty impacts 2.4 million people.
With a large handkerchief, the "linyeras" (vagrants) would wrap their few basic belongings and carry them slung over a stick or cane. "Cirujas" are vagrants who collect or rummage through garbage in search of useful items. They are generally adult or elderly men. The term "ciruja" is an abbreviation of the word "cirujano" (surgeon), as popular humor compared this type of vagrant to surgeons, observing how meticulously they extracted things that would be useful to them.
Cuba:
In Cuba, the so-called "scavenger" is becoming increasingly common, someone who, as the name suggests, "dives" or searches for things among the trash.
There is a very famous, controversial, and legendary figure among Cubans in Havana: "EL CABALLERO DE PARIS".
Colombia:
It's common for people on the street to be referred to as "Gamin," destitute, or "disposable," a boy who lives on the street and commits petty theft.
USA:
In the U.S., there are many buildings called shelters where homeless people find refuge. They are offered food, shelter, and donations for a period of time so that those affected can find work and reintegrate into society.
There are also nursing homes where families, for various reasons (not having the resources or the time), place their elderly relatives to be cared for by these institutions. These individuals are more fortunate. They may not be happy, but they live and interact with other people who are in the same situation—excluded, but not abandoned.
Visit the elderly (this could be on a special occasion or a holiday). Young people could visit individuals in their homes or at a senior center or nursing home. Consider preparing a musical performance or a short talent show to entertain them. Bring a small gift or treat for each elderly person, or prepare songs or games to share with them. If you are visiting a facility, obtain approval in advance. Afterward, ask the young people to talk about the experience.
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