On any given night, there are about 235,000 homeless individuals in Canada. Sadly, Redditor ExtracheesyBroccoli is one of them, and even though the man is actively trying to better his life, some folks are making it even worse for him.

In a recent post on the subreddit ‘Entitled People,’ the man shared his daily routine as well as a wholesome encounter with a little girl, cut short by her mother, who chose to sidestep a challenging conversation with her child and insult him instead.

Public libraries have become safe havens for those with serious needs

Image credits: MART PRODUCTION / pexels (not the actual photo)

But one entitled woman thought she has the power to decide who gets to be there and who needs to be thrown out

Image credits: Thirdman / pexels (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Gustavo Fring / pexels (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels (not the actual photo)

Image credits: ExtracheesyBroccoli

We got in touch with the author of this post, Robert, and he was kind enough to have a little chat with us.

“Unfortunately, I have had too many encounters like that to count,” he told Bored Panda.

“One that comes to mind happened in early October. Everyone needs to eat, but finding a place to make a quick meal is difficult. I pulled out some supplies from my bag, my camp stove, and a can of ravioli. I set up out of the way on the grass in a woodland park area. This woman saw me cooking, didn’t like it, and came over to start an argument; she kicked my food over. (That exact situation has happened a few times now.)”

Robert, who documents his everyday life on his YouTube channel, said that such experiences are, unfortunately, far too common. “Either people think they are doing a good deed or just don’t want to see you and will try to move you by force,” the man explained, adding that since he’s a non-confrontational and non-violent person, he sometimes has trouble with just raising his voice, so conflict resolution can be tricky.

“Homelessness isn’t what it used to be 20-30 years ago. Back then, the majority of homeless people were addicts or those with mental disorders. From my firsthand experiences, they are now in the minority,” he said. “The vast majority of homeless are normal people who were just hit by hard times. Covid sped up the shift, forcing people who were just managing to get by out onto the street. I have spoken to dozens upon dozens of people who, in every other respect, are just regular normal people, but because of the rising cost of living, they have had to make a decision: be homeless or starve.”

However, “libraries are great, the staff is fantastic, and everyone, no matter their social or economic status, is welcome,” Robert said. “In fact, the library staff make it a warm and welcoming place— it’s my lifeline, a resource I wouldn’t be able to get by without. For the most part, if you’re not doing anything wrong, they will leave you to your own devices.”

If the woman plans to continue visiting libraries with her daughter, eventually she will be forced to have a talk with her about the disadvantaged

Advocates say there is a nationwide trend of homeless people relying on American public libraries as a safe haven where they can get warm, use the restroom, and avoid harassment from law enforcement.

But just as it was the case this time as well, the staff are often trapped in difficult situations.

According to Ryan Dowd of Homeless Training, a conflict resolution program for frontline workers, while library staff must be committed to serving patrons regardless of the socioeconomic status that Robert mentioned, many of them don’t have training on how to act in these scenarios.

Compared to shelters, which are often loud, crowded and struggle to stay clean, “libraries are everything homelessness is not,” Dowd explained. “It’s a public space, for communal use. If the option is that or be outside all day in 15-degree weather, I know what I’d do.”

Dowd said people who have access to shelter beds still leave to read books and use computers, and libraries are the first point of contact in helping people with serious needs.

Library services and facilities are for everyone, the housed and unhoused, and the mother missed an opportunity to teach her daughter about that. Hopefully, she will use the next one.

Image credits: Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo)

It’s Christmas, the season of joy, but we must remember that the holidays, as well as everyday life, vary for everyone. While some may find comfort in festive traditions and gatherings, others, like those facing homelessness, encounter a different reality. For them, the spirit of Christmas may not manifest through decorated trees or elaborate meals, so in these moments, empathy and kindness become the true gifts.

“It’s hard staying positive,” Robert added. “Sometimes, I just see everything cast in a shadow of darkness.”

“But I am one of the lucky ones. I do not have any substance abuse issues, and I am a naturally positive person. I keep pushing on because I know I will find a way to dig my way out of the situation I am in.”

As the man’s story went viral, he joined the discussion in its comment section

Some people also tried to share helpful advice

While others recounted their own similar experiences

Games

View all games

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!