The “signs” of homelessness

In this article about a local homeless man who left town, a homeless service provider said:

“Most true homeless are disabled — especially mentally. They don’t hold up a sign.”

I think she was saying that the majority of unsheltered homeless people are not standing on street corners holding “homeless — please help” signs. And that’s very true. But I’ve had people (mostly people who don’t actually know any homeless people) tell me that “those people” with the signs aren’t really homeless — they’re professionals. Well, not the ones I know.

I’ve seen the news reports and read the articles about “professional panhandlers” who make hundreds of dollars a day working busy intersections, and go back to their nice homes at night. I’m sure that’s probably happening somewhere, and maybe it’s even happened here before. But I’ve met a lot of the people who fly signs in Greensboro (“flying” is what it’s called by those who do it), and I’ve seen where most of them sleep. I can assure you that the ones I’ve met are homeless. Truly homeless.

In its definition of chronic homelessness, HUD lists the following disabling conditions: substance abuse, severe mental illness, HIV/AIDS, or physical disability. The sign-flyers I’ve met fit HUD’s definition of “disabled,” as well. Most “true homeless” people are disabled and don’t hold signs, but there are quite a few truly homeless, disabled, sign-flyers in Greensboro, too. Just to clarify.