While homelessness is not as large an element in our play as it is with the book with the loss of Lear and Iliaster, we have it represented in our beloved Anesthesia and when Richard stops to help Door. Many of the other characters in the play may have come from this background as well, even if it is not specifically stated.
Homelessness is a hot button topic in London right now. The Mayor, Boris Johnson, had promised to get rid of "rough sleeping," homeless sleeping outside, by the end of 2012, butit has almost doubled. The Guardian has found that the government is sending the homeless outside London for accommodation.
In a 2007 study for the reasons for Homelessness in England, the largest cause (36%) was that parents, family, or friends no longer willing or able to accommodate the homeless person. The second largest cause (20%) was the loss of a private dwelling, followed closely by (19%) the break down of a relationship with a partner.
The Streets of London is an organization who helps the homeless and they have collected some important information on what it is like to be homeless, the dangers, the effects on the psyche, and some personal stories (take with a grain of salt b/c they do not cite sources for their stats).
Why do we turn away from people in need?
"If you pay them any attention, they'll walk all over you. They all have homes, really. Once he's slept it off, I'm sure he'll be fine... Richard, we're going to be late. Someone else will be along. Someone else will help her."
- Feeling of powerlessness
- Someone else should do it.
- Don’t trust that their need is genuine
- Need to keep all resources for your own survival
- Feel like you don’t have the thing that they are asking for.
- They should have the ware withal to get out of their situation.
- They are not like me. They are crazy or were born this way.
- They did something to make them like this. They are drug addicts or runaways.
- We do not see them because we are on our devices.
Why do we help?
"Sometimes you have to do something."
- Internal feeling of what is right and wrong.
- Guilt when do not help
- See yourself in them.
- Hear their story.
- Feeling that you can make a difference.
Here is an interesting RSA Animate video on Empathy: The Power of Outrospection.