Take a closer look

I've included this YouTube video of Ted Williams, a homeless man from Cleveland, Ohio. Ted lost his job in the early nineties when he became addicted to drugs and alcohol and has been living on the streets every since.

He held a sign up on the street and claimed to have a "golden radio voice." A reporter with the Columbus Dispatch gave him a chance, and the next thing Ted knew he snagged a job as a sports announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

I chose to include this video because it solidifies a lesson our parents have taught us since day one: don't judge a book by its cover.

This is an important virtue to remember when asking people to help out the homeless because it's hard for most of society to see past the negative stigma associated with this group of people.

It's important to remember that the homeless are people too and deserve the same human rights that we all have - they've just gone through negative life experience that have led them to this lifestyle.

Like Ted, the lives of homeless people can be turned around if someone cares enough to take the time to listen.