Third space = luxury

There’s a lot of talk about the need for “third spaces”, places that are not work and are not home, where people can gather and get to know each other, without the restrictions of the workplace and the risks of bringing a stranger home. Coffee shops and libraries are often used as third spaces, because the barriers to entry are low and they are convenient. But what do you do when a homeless person comes in, smelling like they’ve never bathed and looking unkempt?

I had a brother who was next door to homeless many years ago. He lived in a trailer on someone else's land; he was not paying rent. He was squatting. When he passed away, one of my other brothers cleaned out his trailer, and I assume, moved it off their land. I don't know what became of it. It never occurred to me to offer him a place to stay, and he never asked me. I had a husband and passel of children, so there wasn't a lot of room and there would not have been any privacy if he stayed with us.

I met a homeless man on a trail here in Fort Wayne some ten years ago, and talked with him a while. He was not on speaking terms with his family, and had been asked to leave the shelter because he got angry and combative. I prayed for him, but there was nothing else I could do for him. I don't know why he became homeless, but I could see why he stayed homeless, if that was his behavior.

Having third spaces is a luxury. Someone has to pay for and maintain any space in any town. Outside towns most land is still owned and therefore maintained by someone; there's very little frontier and what there is, is unlivable without support from somewhere.

I don't have a good answer for this, except, be kind. Be patient. Help those you can help.