By Tommy Acosta —
Sedona, AZ — They seem to be everywhere: ragged, dirty, carrying their entire world in their knapsacks. They wander up and down 89A, perched at the entranceways or exits of the Basha’s or Safeway parking lots, holding makeshift signs up, begging for a handout.
Sometimes it may be only one person, sometimes a group of them.
Some have dogs, leashed with ropes. Sometimes they even have children with them.
They are homeless, unemployed, living day-to-day in one of the most beautiful places on earth—the beggars of Sedona.
For me, it’s a conundrum. My feelings are conflicted. On one hand, each time I have to drive out of either supermarket and ride past them, I am torn on whether to give them something or slink past them wrapped in the hands of guilt.
At first, I took to carrying a wad of one-dollar bills so I could hand one or two out when running the gauntlet, receiving a somewhat honest “God Bless You” for my reward.
But then someone told me that each time I give them money, I am encouraging them not to work and funding whatever addiction they happen to have.
So, I stopped giving them any money, except that woman with a toddler in her baby carriage who works the Safeway parking lot.
But now each time I drive out of the parking lots, I find myself pretending I am glancing at my cell phone or focused on traffic so that I don’t see them waving and smiling.
Still, I feel guilty for not giving them something. I still do at times. And I still feel the guilt.
Then I wonder, who are these people anyway?
They are mostly young and of both genders. They seem to be peaceful, except for a few menacing-looking ones I’ve seen on SR 89A.
Then, I wonder why they came to Sedona? Were they drawn here by the allure of this magical place? Did they once have dreams of a better life? Did drugs and alcohol take away everything they had? Was it mental illness? Was it the cruel and iron-clad hand of fate that took everything they had and threw them on the street?
Just what was it that reduced them to begging on the streets? I am sure each one has a sorrowful tale to tell.
Sometimes when they congregate on a collection corner, I note they seem to be happy, talking, seemingly enjoying each other’s company. Some have musical instruments, and they play, hoping for a few bucks.
Sometimes my eyes clear and I don’t see them as beggars or losers anymore.
I see them as God’s children, just as worthy as any one of us who work hard for our sustenance.
I see the light of their souls shining through their shabbiness. And in those moments, I do not feel sorry for them. And I do not feel guilty when I drive past a checkpoint and don’t give them any money.
Rather, I look them in the eye, smile, and wave back, with compassion in my heart. And I bless them in my mind. And wish them peace and happiness.
Regardless of who they are or where they came from or why they are here, they are Sedonans just like us, deserving of the love and respect of their fellow human beings.
8 Comments
Tommy I never give to them because what I went through in Cottonwood many years ago. To many times they use the money for drugs or alcohol!
I have tried to bend ears in town and get nowhere…I would love for Sedona and the VV to implement a coupon program so we know it goes to food to help them.
https://www.shadowsfoundation.org/better-bucks
A coupon program is an excellent idea. Unfortunately you have a mix of un sheltered people some of home are as Tommy calls them “beggars” who have chosen to live life without ties to anything and to live the Bo Ho or Bohemian lifestyle. They typically beg for money and if offered food will ask for Organic only stuff which is horseshit. Hungry people will eat anything when hungry even if it is against their religion or it’s not their preferred choice of food I’ve seen Muslims eat pork on the battlefield. They also tend to be anti vaxers and do whatever they feel they have to to get their needs met.
Then there are the alcoholics and drug addicted which logically occurs to people who have lost everything and have nothing. Many of our combat veterans fit into this category as well as folks who have lost everything once, twice and even thrice to natural disasters like hurricanesl, floods, earthquakes and fires. Some of these folks were drug addicted or alcoholics prior to their losses but generally did so because of genetics and or traumatic experiences.
There are also thousands of rape , incest and domestic violence victims on the streets who are generally young and end up on hard drugs and prostituted out.
I’ve seen numerous in sheltered folks to include veterans here in Sedona that were visibly suffering from chronic organ failure and disease. One woman’s ankles were so enlarged they look extremely painful to the touch due to cardiac fluid returning. She cannot afford treatment and nobody will help her get it.
Then there’s the ex LAPD Officer who harmlessly walked our streets and was harassed relentlessly just for sitting in public places.
I actually take the time to talk to these folks when I meet them in public places and try to steer them to the assistance they need and deserve in many cases as fellow Americans. I tell veterans how to get VA assistance and about the annual VA Stand Downs.
We cannot lump all these folks into one category because every single one of their back stories is different.
Most all of them use the Sedona Food Bank and are appreciative of it which is why they stay here seasonally.
Many of them work 1-3 full time jobs and have to live under the stars, in cars or tents etc. While they may have the good fortune of a paycheck they do not have a warm safe place to live that has running water, heat, cooling or electricity for that matter while being continuously rousted and harassed by law enforcement just for trying their best to survive as folks who have everything look down upon them as lesser beings and blights upon our community as they struggle to survive.
Once I watched a young unhoused black man urinating on a tree and a wealthy white woman in a sports car video taping him with her phone so she could have the police go after the young man for doing what all humans do including Sedonite’s of permanent residence while out on the trails and traveling in their fancy cars.
But coupons are definitely a grand idea, to include coupons for the grocery stores, barber shops and other necessary amenities. But they should only be granted to folks who work here, and or are bonafide veterans (easily checked through the VA), lost their homes to natural disaster or have medical conditions that would prohibit them from being able to work such as heart failure or other organ failure, fatal disease etc.
I don’t give money I have offered and have purchased groceries or meals for them and as stated I offer them advice on how they might better their situation.
The majority of these folks are kind and friendly and I have never ever had any of them ask me for anything unless it was via a handheld sign. I’ve yet to be asked for a single cent from any of them.
Being kind to our fellow man especially fellow citizens isn’t just the humane and just thing to do it used to be the American thing to do.
Either help them out or mind your own business is that simple and then maybe somebody will help you out and or mind their business when is comes to you..
The author fails to take into account those of us who have been homerless at one time actually enjoyed living on the streets, free from responsibility, jobs, bosses, being told what to do, just living life free as a bird
Not all beggars, as the author calls them, want a real job or even a roof over their heads. Who wants to live a nine-to-five job for most of their lives, only to suffer the illnesses that come with age and a meaningless existence slaving for the man.
I’ve seen them around town and even talked to them. There’s this one guy who plays a mean violin and I’ve hung out listening to him play. Well worth the two bucks tip I gave him.
Actually, it’s an underworld these homeless people live and congregate in. They don’t have cars or vans. They carry their homes on their backs. And check out their dogs. Not a care in the world as long as they are with their masters.Let ‘them’ who is without sin cast the first stone. Don’t judge the homeless. They are not judging you.
“ But then someone told me that each time I give them money, I am encouraging them not to work and funding whatever addiction they happen to have.” This isn’t always the case and is stereo typical judgment of those that have privilege. Some (a lot) do work but can’t afford the ridiculous cost of housing and living expenses. This is a direct result of corporate greed and the unwillingness to pay fair wages. Some are mentally ill and/or addicted to drugs but not helping them isn’t helping them. Shame on the richest country in the world for allowing this to, not only continue, but worsen. Regulations on Airbnbs would solve a lot of this as well as rent control; but greed seems to win.
Thank you Free Bird and Michele L. for your honest assessments and POV’s. Only problem with Free Birds as free bird describes them is that not working leaves them incredibly vulnerable medically and eventually they become diseased and or healthcare liabilities if they survive living on the land.
Free Birds also take up Food Bank resources intended for those who haven’t chosen to live on the streets or anywhere else.
Tommy, I remember the first time I saw a young girl standing on a street corner asking for money. I can’t tell you how mad , concerned and worried about her safety. I stopped, I opened my window I gave her what I had and told her to get off the street it was not safe to be here. I remember my mother telling us that she would never pass up somebody who was asking for food or money and my sister’s brother and I pretty much do the same thing. However what I find today is a lot different than when we grew up. Today all these people that are on the street have $1,000 phones and actually want to be there. The ones that sit out there with children I say you’re right, you can do for the kids that’s okay McDonald’s Burger King coupons great but for the ones that are standing out there with the $1,000 phones congregating you just have to drive by. I hope you and the family are well.
Ron,
good valid points but you are lumping everyone on the streets into one group of wealthy “$1,000 phone” owners and that simply is incorrect. While many folks on the streets have cell phones many cannot afford to have such a life line to the world. Those who can likely are working somewhere or did. But there are some who as described by Free Bird choose to live on the streets and likely have phones worth far more than $1,000 and have Mommy or Daddy Credit Cards in their possession.
There are also mentally disabled individuals who should be in hospitals or group homes being cared for but not abused as is too often the case.
There are veterans who never re-assimilated back into our society after their service. The military is a world unto itself and once you are brainwashed into it via boot camp and military culture and end up drinking or drugging. There are an estimated 35,574 homeless veterans in the US.
There are over 600,000 Americans who have become homeless due to natural disasters since 1980 and the number is steadily increasing.
Glad you have helped in the past but the problem has not and is not going away until this supposedly Wealthiest Greatest Nation on Earth steps up and find ways to put an end to citizen homelessness and hunger like MOST lesser countries do for their citizens.
A comprehensive national plan needs to be implemented which is similar to the VA’s Stand Down Day where un housed veterans can go an get haircuts, medical and dental care, healthy food, eye care and a place to sleep that is safe. Mental health needs to be evaluated, monitored and where absolutely necessary hospitalization needs to occur.
And last but not least housing needs to be fairly affordable but limits on how many homes Americans can own especially ones they rent out to others needs to be re-evaluated and way better regulated than it is so that wealthy people and BnB rental companies are not monopolizing on available housing and renting it for far more than local full time employees can afford as is too often the case here in Sedona and most other towns across the country.