• “Oh, poor you. You have a burn on your arm because your house is on fire. Let’s find you a bandaid and some ointment.”
• “What? No, it’s not free, you’ll have to pay for it.”
• “What? You want someone to put out the fire and save your home? Don’t worry about that. Please don’t interrupt me. That’s not polite. Let’s go get you a bandaid now.”
• “What? No, you don’t qualify for an exemption. We don’t waive the costs of bandaids.”
• “What? You urgently need dental treatment? That is not important.”
• “What? You don’t want the bandaid? You can’t afford it? That’s not possible. Everyone has money for this bandaid. Something’s wrong with you. Let’s admit you to a closed ward for observation. You look a little unkempt, too. When did you last have a haircut? We may have a serious little personal hygiene problem going on here. Let’s go fix you. Let’s go diagnose your learning disability. Might you also be dyslexic, perhaps?” “Why are you running away now? I’m only trying to help you! You’re so ungrateful!”

house on fire = lack of cash

burn on arm = homelessness

Step 6 is optional and has several variations but is not unheard of. Sometimes, people are not even eligible for purchasing a bandaid, even if they have the money.

Need advice? Education? Guidance?

Ask one of the following:

• Rutger Bregman
• Olivier de Schutter
• Caroline Buffery
• John Tasioulas
• Michelle van Tongerloo
• Rory Stewart
• Philip Alston
• Me

I strongly urge you to talk with each of us because we all contribute our own specific experiences and professional expertise.

(A similar story appears to apply for women fleeing from domestic abuse in the Netherlands.)