The Bowery Mission的动态

Last week I shared my top tip for when you encounter a neighbor who is experiencing homelessness: find out their name as a way to respectfully connect and engage in conversation. To dig a little further into this, I thought I would share another tip that The Bowery Mission shares with those who are looking to connect with someone who may benefit from our services: Respect personal boundaries—both you and the person you are talking to deserve respect and safety.? ? You can honor their dignity by not touching them or asking overly invasive questions or making assumptions. Experiencing homelessness means a loss of privacy, so it’s important not to make them feel trapped by surrounding them with a group or hovering over them—instead ask for permission before kneeling or sitting down next to someone. ? If the person asks you a question you don’t want to answer, or asks you for something you don’t want to give, don’t be afraid to be honest about your boundaries. ? But please let the person know about The Bowery Mission and encourage them to come to us with their needs. I have heard from so many of our guests that a “stranger” was the catalyst in turning their life around, so I hope this tip helps to equip you as you reach out as a neighbor (or even as a stranger) to those in need.