Episode transcript is available here

Read the Original Facebook conversation from July 2015

Tracy and I met 9 years ago when she commented on the Facing Homelessness Facebook page. Her sharing was, you could say, a tour de force of emotional outpouring.

Today I want to revisit that exchange because something important happened, something I believe is available to all of us and provides a path for moving forward when discussing difficult societal issues.

Tracy’s comments on the Facebook page were, for sure, ones of disgust and even anger towards those living homeless in her neighborhood. They were not unlike the polarized back and forth emotional statements we often see in the world of social media. However, Tracy did something remarkable after sharing her comment. She remained open and willing to engage.

EXCERPT FROM THE EPISODE
Tracy: I can say, I know that I am judgy, was judgy, am judgy, I still feel that way sometimes. And then I’m soft with compassion, like the two or the many more than two emotions and feelings can exist in your body and mind at the same time, right? So, I think that there's a lot of good people here who want to help homeless people and then it just becomes overwhelming. And it is scary, so there's not going to be a lot of people who are going to be riding their bike and just stop and talk to people.

Rex: Any advice for people that are wondering about reaching out like you did?

Tracy: Just find, you know, people and organizations that are actually doing something… I like the more grass roots, like you actually get to speak to the homeless people. I mean, yes, it's good to donate money to XYZ organization at some gala or something, right? But I think it's much more enriching and helps to I think it's educational and insightful to go and work with the people and talk with the people who are experiencing homelessness.

The issue of homelessness is for sure complex and overwhelming, emotional really for everyone. Conversations can become heated in a heartbeat, especially when on social media or other platforms such as Nextdoor. However, if we are to solve this issue, we need more than just the politicians and the service providers to be involved, we need community solutions, meaning we all need to be involved. And IF we are all to be part of the solution, it’s clear we can’t do it by being closed minded and yelling at each other. 

Thank you Tracy for having shared your very real frustration over the issue of homelessness and at the very same time, having kept an open mind to come closer, to hear another side of the story.