It would be a lie to say that the Eugene-Springfield area does not have a homeless problem. There are a plethora of factors that go into why we do, yet people who are fortunate enough to have clean water and shelter find more and more reasons to despise others who are doing what they need to survive. 

Much to my disdain, I have had these despising thoughts. I know that this behavior has led to a larger proportion of our region’s population wanting to arrest these people and drive them out of the area. They don’t think about how they themselves are a part of the problem. 

I am under the belief that every person is deserving of health. Whether it’s mental, emotional or physical health, everyone deserves it. I used to believe some people were too far gone, even homeless people, but when I stopped and talked to these people I began to understand more of their struggles, their pains and above all how they are victims of a society that failed them. We have failed in a way that has left us shaming people trying to obtain their basic needs of survival.

Thankfully, we are not too far gone. We are able to look in the mirror and ask ourselves “what can we do to help?” With more than 3,000 people experiencing homeless in our city, we ourselves know at least one. We know them, we can help them. The question is: What is stopping you?

Robin Galan-Hill
Senior, North Eugene High School
Eugene