Be Patient, Respectful and Listen to the Homeless

Recently I was making a trip I've made several dozen times, a 90-minute drive from one city to another on the highway in Australia. I was focused on getting home quickly without going over the speed limit.

Then, not long into my drive, I saw a homeless person pushing a shopping cart on the side of the highway. I pulled over and waited for him to reach my parked van. It was unlikely that he could make such a long journey on foot, let alone pushing a cart. I offered him a ride.

He didn't speak any English and spoke continually in his native tongue hoping I would understand him, but of course I didn't. I showed him the luggage section in the rear of the van and suggested through hand signals that we might be able to fit his shopping cart full of belongings in. Eventually he understood and we lifted the cart into the van, and I walked him around to the side door of the van and helped him into a seat.

He explained things at length to me on the trip (of which I understood nothing). I tried to ask him some questions in basic English. Finally, we developed a system of hand signals to suggest turns and to communicate.

We stopped at a gas station so I could fill up and I asked him with hand signals to come with me into the store and pick something out to eat and drink. He understood that and we went in and had a big meal and some water. I also got him to pick out some food and a drink for the road.

By now we had gotten used to each other's attempts at hand signal sign language and he understood that I was a friend who was trying to figure out where he wanted to go.

Eventually we reached the city and he signaled to continue until we got to a park on the side of the road. Once we stopped and unloaded his cart he pointed to the public toilets and indicated that was good, then pointed all around the park and indicated that was good.He pointed out that the resources he needed were on hand, including a shopping center over the road. He signaled to suggest they were familiar with him over there. This is where he wanted to be. So we went over to a park bench and I gave him a smoke and just sat there for a bit.

Neither of us could understand a word the other spoke. But because we both knew the streets we figured out that we could trust each other; we shared a ride, we shared a meal and he directed me to where he wanted to go and was able to tell me he was going to be alright there and had everything he needed.

After that I stuck around for about a half hour with him on the bench smoking cigarettes and just enjoying the park. It was a beautiful spot; I can understand why he liked it. Then I signaled I had better continue on my travels and he offered a hug which of course I accepted.

I was pretty pleased I'd managed to get him to where he wanted to be and that I had started my drive home at a perfect time for us to cross paths.

Of course, I've simplified my description of the journey and process involved. It took a lot of patience on his part and mine to work out what he wanted. I could have ignored that and taken him to where I thought he should go to get help. He didn't need help. He just needed transportation.

I often tell the story of this encounter while training those who will work with the homeless because it required me to listen, be patient and respect that he knew what was right for him. In my mind, the most common ways homeless services fail people are they aren't patient, they don't listen and they think they know best. Have a similar story? Join in the conversation here or at the International Homeless Forum.

Photo credit: tibchris