When I was asked to write a short piece about healing the Haight, I struggled. I struggled becasue I am struggling in my own life and because I honestly have no idea what to say. But this community matters to me immensely and I’m grateful for the opportunity to voice my opinion. I’m not technically homeless currently but I have been many times and I always end up in this neighborhood when I’m homeless or struggling in some way, not to mention when I just want to hang out. I have more friends here than anywhere else, and many people I know come here to hang out and walk around. It’s this crossroads effect that I love so much about this neighborhood. You never know who will come walking down the street.
The once-vibrant Haight-Ashbury that I love so much is in utter despair. The police are blatantly harassing the homeless under the guise of trying to do their job. The neighborhood has been in chaos as a battle ensues between the cops, residents, business owners, and the homeless population. After 15 years of spending time here, I’ve never seen things worse. The desperation caused by the pandemic is obvious and ever-present on the street. There are rampant car break-ins and robberies, and the cops have increased their presence which has only added to the mayhem. Tensions are high. Something’s got to give, but the problem seems nearly impossible to solve. I believe that the solution lies somewhere in healing and strengthening the community. We need to recognize that everyone is human and struggling in this world even if it doesn’t necessarily appear that they are. It’s important for people to be compassionate toward each other and not judge them for different ways of living, whatever that may be. So many seem to just want to take care of themselves and no one else. Friends leave friends struggling because they can’t or don’t want to be there for them. Families do this to each other too. Love for our fellow human beings seems harder to find these days.
Compassion is the way out of this situation. There’s no way around it. I personally try to do whatever I can to help, to know what people out here need and bring it to them as much as possible. I feel good I’m helping people, and that people can utilize things I don’t need as much as they do. We need to band together as a community, one way or another. The only conceivable way for this to happen is for everyone to take care of and love one another and not let trivialities consume us and distract us from living the best lives we can.
