Are you scared?

I feel that before we can ever truly change the face of homelessness, people need to start looking at the individual, not just the overall picture.

This also applies to those who work with the homeless. Instead of focusing on agency statistics, let's prioritize individual success stories. Many agencies adhere to the same programs that have proven to be ineffective.

When working with the homeless population, you need to be adaptable and multifaceted. Above all, a deep understanding of what life is truly like for a homeless person is essential.

So many in society are afraid of homelessness because of the image society has created. People struggle to mentally grasp the complexity, the dynamics, the characteristics, the physical abuse, the addiction, the substance abuse, and so on, that are often associated with the term "homeless."

When people express fear of a homeless person, they are often afraid of all the negative connotations surrounding a homeless individual, and that's simply not fair.

To effectively work with the homeless, you need to be their friend, their counselor, their doctor—you need to be whoever that person needs in their life at that moment.

We need to encourage people to look beyond the stereotypical mask and discover the unique, beautiful, and valuable individuals who are trapped in the epidemic of homelessness.

I personally know homeless individuals who hold master's degrees in education, bachelor's degrees in administration and supervision, and associate's degrees in computer networking. I've met a master machinist, a professional plumber, and even a pastor among the homeless population.

Each of these individuals deserves to be treated uniquely and with personalized care. This, I believe, is why many agencies fail and inadvertently perpetuate the cycle of homelessness. The national statistics we see often originate from these agencies, and this is yet another aspect that frightens society.