Column: What if I were homeless? An immersion course in empathy in San Francisco's Tenderloin

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What if I were homeless? An immersion course in empathy in San Francisco's Tenderloin

Imagine that you are homeless, that you have no money, that you have spent the night wary and watchful, huddled on hard city sidewalk. Imagine that you are exhausted. Feel how your hunger gnaws. Join the line for a free lunch that stretches down the block.

Garrett Hamilton, foreground, and Lt. Kevin Skaife, both with the Yolo County district attorney's office, walk past a group of people sitting on the sidewalk in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. Hamilton and Skaife were participating in the first task of the day -- to walk without a guide through the streets of the Tenderloin and take in the sights in the early morning hours.

In the course, called “An Officer and a Mensch,” that center’s staff rabbi, Michael Lezak serves as the guide. He is slim and soft spoken and thoughtful. He wears a lime-green yarmulke. He solicits reactions and listens actively and offers ideas for further reflection., or righteous giving — telling the story of a mentor who always carried two purses, one full of things to give to others.

He tells the story of a man he found living in his car, who once had been a successful Beverly Hills psychiatrist. The man said his name was Joe. Seymour would only call him Doctor Joe — because that’s who he was, that’s who he needed to recover his way back to being. Another Glide staff member shows them the track scars on his arms and tells them about being so deeply addicted that he never contemplated treatment — until one day he heard the music of a Glide Sunday service and walked in and was the opposite of shunned.

Lt. Kevin Skaife, with the Yolo County district attorney's office, gathers trays while homeless people and the needy enjoy breakfast at Glide. He is participating in a program designed to build empathy for the homeless in those working in law enforcement and criminal justice.

 

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How about a How To Run A City course for Democrats?

I would wonder why my 'governor' GavinNewsom and his sketchy krewe of corrupt democrats cared more about IlegalAliens than me and my fellow homeless American citizens.

Its as if this is the first time for the writer seeing the homeless on their terms? Lots of people see it every day, the same faces. They need help. MONEY has been allocated to help them. WHAT IS BEING DONE? ericgarcetti LondonBreed GavinNewsom

What if politicians stopped spending our tax dollars on trying to save the world and concentrated on saving people at home, building centers where the homeless could go, providing job training to those capable of turning life around and psychiatric care to those who aren't.

I’ve walked through the tenderloin in the wee hours. Trying for sympathy or normalcy for the behavior of the individuals that cause the problems. You’re ok with that?

Get a job and get a home.

didn't adequately prepare me for the people in my neighborhood.

What if I was a power assassin, ' I'll watch John Wick 3' this weekend. Both this guy and I are contributing ZERO to homelessness problem. I'll be in an AC room though.

I'm homeless and potus doesnt care

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