Homeless in Sevilla

I grew up in Los Angeles, where there is a large population of homeless, but also a growing amount of resources for this group. I have had a lot of experience interacting with homeless in the States as my family and I annually participate in an organization which packs duffle bags of survival goods and hand-delivers them to the homeless. In addition, experience is inevitable because the homeless, especially in Santa Monica, are very interactive, many with mental illnesses and have no fear screaming at you, getting in your face, even touching you. Only a few months ago, a homeless man fatally stabbed a woman outside a Starbucks a few blocks from my home. I found that the homeless in Seville are also interactive but they are not as physically and verbally aggressive, and their begging-tactics differ. Many try to sell small items such as tissues or rosemary/herbs. I have also seen that there are less incidences of substance abuse with the homeless in Sevilla than in the States- I distinctly recall one instance in LA when a homeless person knocked on my door, begging, and my mom made him an elaborate lunch whilst he waited outside. Upon receiving it, he said “actually, I really just want a beer.” I feel this would not have been a reaction among the Sevillan homeless. One striking difference between the homeless here and in the US is their presence in restaurants and other establishments. In the states, homeless rarely enter restaurants and cafés to beg, and are immediately kicked out upon doing so. In Sevilla, I have found that the homeless enter and beg in hotels, restaurants, and cafes often without being kicked out. Just yesterday, I had an interesting experience in a nice coffee shop right by Puerta de Herez. I had a small glass pitcher of coffee with cup, and a homeless man went up to me with a plastic cup asking for some of my coffee. I said no, sorry, and went back to studying, but he stayed and proceeded to take my pitcher and pour my coffee in his cup. The entire cafe stared in shock as the owner yelled at him whilst he was in the act, with him protesting “why not? it’s not a big deal!” (in Spanish), and only leaving when the owner, who was female, began physically pushing him out of the cafe. This interaction really got me thinking about homeless here and how rates differ from the US and how their resources may differ.