Just saw my favorite neighborhood guy, Ron. He’s a former Navy vet who was kicked out on the street. His daughter is a lawyer in New York and his grandson is a point guard at Duke. His daughter made him cut his beard so people would stop being mean to him on the streets. (THREAD)

He doesn’t do drugs, but he has been clinically diagnosed with a couple different things (not my place to share). I used to see him every day and buy him a hot chocolate. I’ve been worried about him for the last 6 months.

Ten minutes talking to him made me feel more fulfilled and hopeful than I have in the last 6 months. He reminded me to be grateful for the little things, like being able to see his daughter while she had a layover here.

He’s not mean, has never made me feel unsafe. He just wanted someone to talk to. He recognized me right away.

This just goes to show you how inhumanely homeless people are treated here. His daughter was worried he would be jumped if he looked too badly. He FINALLY got a hotel room after months on the streets during the pandemic.

He holds the door open at the neighborhood Starbucks so people don’t have to touch the handle. He wears a mask. He has an infectious laugh. He is ALWAYS smiling.

I just want to make it VERY clear that not all homeless people are drug addicts. Some are dealing with inner demons and deserve JUST as much humanity as everyone else. If there were more focus on rehabilitation and mental health rather than police presence, Ron would be safer.

And when we gives these friends the support they need, the NEIGHBORHOOD becomes safer and inclusive of EVERYONE, not just the ones who make the most money.

With all this being said, I urge you to reach out to your local officials and supers to see how they are ADVOCATING for the homeless communities. In my district, @MattHaneySF does a great job. And finally, this brings me to my last point...

If your activism is not intersectional and fully inclusive of EVERYONE, including homeless people, then your activism is INEFFECTIVE.