Do you see the homeless? I didn’t. I lived in a suburb and only saw them when I went downtown to the Courthouse. It wasn’t personal.

This summer we sold the house we raised our children in and moved downtown to a highrise. I walk my dog in the park across the street that my apartment overlooks. It’s beautiful.

Part of living downtown includes seeing the homeless much more. There’s the lady that stayed across the street from the park during the day on a bench. A kind lady, she said hello, and liked to pet my little dog on the way back from the park.

I live in Houston, Texas. It rains a lot. The last time a huge storm was heading for Houston, I found myself worrying about what that woman would do. I finally asked her, but she had a plan where she’d go. She didn’t want any help.

With Christmas comes cold weather. Most are excited for the season, but I see these poor people shivering. They have move cloths, people are trying to help them, but at six in the morning when I take the dog out there they are huddled and trying to stay warm.

I started trying to help—I know I should have before. My help hasn’t been welcome always. Many times I felt scammed, but what to you do?

Houston has many people that want to help. Volunteer space Thanksgiving week to feed the homeless was full. They had more help than they could use.

I live in a diverse area now where professional athletes live, tourists come, new conventions occur weekly, and some homeless suffer. I’m happy to see more of reality, I needed to. I just don’t know how to help.

That lady has now disappeared.