Y P H L W E HE S W HER T O E? R U P BE ” DALVET TTE O T D EE PRO OSE
N “GO AYALEN M E L S L I E RU T MARI TION BY M L Y B A R RA
OU S E O D
T ILLUS
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he problem of homelessness is highly visible in Paris, with many homeless people sleeping at metro stations, next to the big tourist attractions and in closed storefronts. You cannot determine what they’re going through or what their life is like, except that it must be very difficult for them. Those who are refugees come here with no choice, often in life or death situations, and with little to no financial support. There is a lot of confusion of what exactly is best for homeless people to receive. AUP senior Brice Godart says, “It depends. If a homeless person is drunk, I give them food. Otherwise, I give them money.” Godart describes a family ritual wherein, “each family member leaves a little bit of food to the side of their plates, packs it up when we are finished eating and we put it outside of our house with plastic forks and plates for homeless people.” Giving them food guarantees a level of nourishment, as opposed to giving money. However, if they are gifted food, but they already have food and no place to stay in the dead of winter, then the extra food wouldn’t be as handy as a hostel or at least a warm coat they could’ve bought had they been given money. “I don’t like to give money because of where I’m from. In Mexico, parents send their kids out to beg and get money from strangers which can be very dangerous for the children. If I see a homeless person I frequently see, around my house or school, I always buy them a sandwich at a grocery store. But here I
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