Don’t judge the unhoused.

You don’t know their story.

Many who served bear scars,

Some invisible to you and me.

A mother and children, 

Asleep in her car.

Two jobs, no steady sitter,

Just pushed her too far. 

A man with a dog,

His primary friend.

Shares what little he eats,

With his four-legged kin.

An old woman in rags, 

As she pushes her cart.

After so many years,

Giving loved ones her heart.

A young man on his own,

Has no idea what’s next.

Put out by his parents,

‘Cuz he loves the same sex.

I first shared my story,

A few years ago. 

How I was unhoused, briefly–

But long enough to know.

To give them a listen,

A coat or hot meal.

Don’t give them a hard time.

How would you feel?

Don’t judge the unhoused.

You don’t know what they’ve been through.

And besides, who knows? 

One day that could be you.

And no one will know your story.