Breaking the Stereotypes of Homelessness

Steven Wilson, 27, has worked as a maintenance worker at the Daily Planet, a health services center for the homeless and underprivileged in Richmond, for two and a half years. But just a few years ago in the early 00s, Wilson was one of its clients. 

Today, Wilson thanks Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), a nonprofit organization that provides permanent housing to Virginia’s homeless, for giving him the stability he needed to pull his life together. In a recent interview, Wilson notes the importance of understanding the crisis of homelessness and breaking the stereotypes about the homeless.

Q: How did you first become homelessness?

A: “I got in trouble. I got locked up for selling drugs – six years. When I got out, I thought I had a lot of money left over from that, but my family spent it all. I stayed with my mother for a little while, but she’d get mad and kick me out. Then I was staying with my [daughter’s mother], and she’d get mad and kick me out too. I had nowhere to go.”

Q: What did you do during this time to find money, food or shelter?

A: “I got a job [at the Daily Planet]. I was employed, so I had money for food. I stayed in my car at night. I found myself volunteering to work on weekends and signing up for extra shifts just to stay busy. It was okay as long as I was at work. I didn’t have to think about anything.”

Q: Did you have any health or drug problems?

A: “I couldn’t afford to have any drug problems. My health was fine. I just couldn’t [get involved with] drugs again. I could barely survive.”

Q: How did you learn about VSH?

A: “I was eavesdropping on these people at work one day. They were talking about a program where you get to rent an apartment for a part of your income. I asked my co-worker about it and she said I should apply so I did. Without this program, I don’t know what I would’ve did.”

Q: What is the biggest misconception you think society has about homelessness?

A: “People think [homeless people] put themselves in bad situations. Some of them do, but not everyone’s a bad person. Anything can make you homeless. In life, there’s pressure coming from all angles; it’s easy to make a wrong move. Anyone can. A lot of people are on the brink of homelessness. If you’re not living check to check, you’re rich.”

Heather Orrock, development director at VSH, agreed that often people stereotype the homeless, believing they are dangerous criminals or addicts, and make assumptions which are not always true. The public must not act like the homeless are eyesores in the city’s scenery nor should passersby dehumanize them by pretending like they are not even there. Greeting them warmly may be just what they need to get through another day.

“I … think that treating [the homeless on the street] with dignity, making eye contact, saying hello, shaking people’s hands and taking the time to listen to what people have to say are good options,” Orrock said.

A freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University, Mike Stueland, takes advantage of his dorm's prime location next to the heavily homeless populated Monroe Park. He combines one of his favorite hobbies with his outgoing, compassionate nature.

“I like playing chess with [the homeless that frequent] Monroe Park,” Stueland said. “Some people just walk by them or laugh at them when they say anything, but most of them are really nice. They just want someone to talk to.”