I often see an old guy going through trashcans in my city. He is at least 70 years old, and I have no doubt about him being homeless. When I see him during the winter i buy him a coffee to go. He smiles, he is polite and is very grateful. He has two dogs with him that follow him wherever he goes. One day I gave him some change and he asked me if I had some leftover food so he could feed his dogs. It was cold outside and he said they were sick and hungry. Honestly, it broke my heart. I gave him some leftover chicken with some bread and watched him through the window. He took just one bite out of the chicken and divided the rest amongst his dogs, he divided the bread on 3 parts. I have never seen him drink or smoke, he doesn't beg for money, cares dearly for his dogs, even when he is in such a tough spot in his life. The guy has a big heart and deserves much more than life gave him.
That makes me sad and warms my heart at the same time.
When I've lived where the climate is colder, the areas I lived in were less citified, it would have been unusual for someone to be on the street.
Working and living in Santa Cruz there were just so many different types of homeless, I
am a sucker if a pet or a child is involved.
I'm not going to think much differently if they are obviously afflicted with mental illness or addiction...only if they are rude or mean