Homelessness is...?

I'm somewhat in the process of writing an article on homelessness in Los Angeles County. According to stats, LA County is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, with the highest population of homeless individuals. Over the past few years, the numbers are in decline and LA County's city mayors have been pushing to continue the trend. Still, while strolling down Wilshire Blvd. on any given day, I see no less than five homeless people in 30 minutes (and this is in Brentwood, a highly exclusive area).

It occurred to me this weekend though, I may be stereotyping people as being homeless. Just because I saw a man sitting in the shade of a tree outside a restaurant, dressed raggedly with bags beside him, gazing at something I must not have seen; this does not prove he is homeless. Because I didn't have the courage to ask him, I proceeded down the street, vowing to ask the next coherent, homeless looking individual whether or not my perception was valid.

Nearing Santa Monica, I approached a homeless looking gentleman who smiled at me as I got closer. As I began to pass, I stopped him to ask him directions to somewhere I somewhat knew the location of, buying time to work up the guts to ask him what I really meant to. Finally, I asked him if he was homeless. He responded wittily, "I don't have any property in my name."

After we departed, I started brainstorming my own thoughts on homelessness. Why was he labeled homeless and not I? Was he not at home in the streets where I would feel lost if left on my own? If "home is where the heart is," he was at home, walking down the street with a smile on his face, reflecting a merry heart. I on the other hand was battling with myself at heart, frustrated with the knowledge that all I work to gain will never make me as happy as he appeared to be in that moment.

What are your thoughts on homelessness? Is a home just security? If so, can any of us ever truly have a home? Can security be guaranteed? In security, do we just make up for our own insecurity, the lack of security we feel inside with ourselves and the others we're around?