Heartlessness feeds the homeless problem

Heartlessness feeds the homeless problem
by Lewis W. Diuguid
Some teenage girls popped through the sunroof of a limousine and yelled something unprintable at me from Cleaver Boulevard near Main Street.

A yellow school bus followed with teenage boys screaming, “Have you killed anyone yet?”

Hurtful and compassionless comments have always occurred in the more than 10 years I’ve worn old clothes — including an old army coat — on my annual sojourns into homelessness.

In the Main Street median were two persons I wanted to talk to. Danielle’s backpack rested near her on the snow-covered ground.

Bundled in an oversized coat, she faced northbound traffic near the turn lane “flying a sign.” It said “Homeless. Hungry. Need Help.”

In the other median appealing to southbound Main Street traffic was Bill, a homeless veteran. He had a salt-and-pepper beard, large coat, a huge duffel bag and a hand-made sign saying, “Homeless vet. Need Help. God Bless.”

A woman in a passing car handed Bill a dollar. A man gave Danielle some change. Each recipient was grateful.

In the last year, I have noticed more homeless people in midtown, Westport, the Plaza and south Kansas City. It’s as if the new Sprint Arena, the Power and Light District and upscale downtown housing have caused people living on the street to migrate south.

Some agencies offering services to the homeless weren’t so sure. Others have noticed a definite trend.
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