What Does it Mean to Live Outside?

People living outside may be homeless, but they are not helpless, friendless, meaningless, purposeless, or dignity-less. They simply live outside. They are not any less human than the rest of us, and they deserve acknowledgment, care, and respect.

No one grows up hoping to become homeless. No one chooses to live without shelter, food, comfort, or security. And while some homeless people choose to stay that way once they are there, no one sets out with that destination in mind. We believe that connection, community, safety, and security are basic human rights.

To foster connection, we encourage items like stamped postcards to be included in bags because many people living outside often do have family, friends, and other connections to reach out to.

To recognize our shared humanity, we encourage you to acknowledge homeless people’s presence. A simple nod, hello, or smile can be incredibly powerful. A care bag is even more powerful.

Through our efforts to destigmatize homelessness, we hope that one day everyone will see homeless people simply as people living outside– part of our communities, worthy of empathy, able to contribute to society, and deserving of respect and care.