Homeless Myths

I always roll my eyes whenever I am told New Paris (the game-world) is too harsh. That there could not ever be thousands or even hundreds of children living off selling newspapers on New York City. Their image of the homeless person is this 40 something ragged man, mean, bad mouthed, intoxicated or plain lazy.

If something New Paris is too soft. Even today with social services, aware church and dedicated cops, there are situations in which a child decides to runaway and play the streets. Bad move? Certainly, but you can only choose among the options you see. And the younger you are, these options are called people. If you haven’t met your cop on the street, you don’t know the police; if your teacher only cares about grades, you don’t trust the school; if a social worker is something your parents fear, you dread them; even as you try to run away from an abusive home.

Today being a homeless boy in America means living in shelters, motels, a kind neighbor’s room, trying hard nobody notices at school. And that’s lucky.