I paid for an unhoused man’s Vagrancy ticket during a layover at BWI - April 2025

My connecting fight home was delayed at BWI by three hours, so I walked to the Observation Gallery

Updating reports and responding to emails after hours earning more than my salary

A man was sleeping on a bench a few feet from me with no shoes on

The police arrived, and told him to ‘be gone’

They received 'several' complaints that he’d been loitering for hours and just needed to leave

He acknowledged the officers orders as he sighed and he rolled down his sleeve

Once the police left, he started complaining and vented his frustrations to me!

When I realized that he and I were the only folks there

I considered his experiences, and thought about how I could best show care

He said that he'd slept out in the woods last night, and got a ticket this morning from the Maryland police

$50 for vagrancy and disturbing the public peace!

He continued that this indoor location was technically a public park and a good place to thaw out his feet

I interrupted him and asked if he’d like something to eat?

Shocked, he was quiet for a second and then replied, ‘well hell yeah!’

I said that I’d be back in a few, and bought a small pizza, water and a Coke

Waiting for his order, I got an email saying that I just received an award for a poem I wrote about inspiring hope!

$500 had just been deposited, and I saw an ATM

I decided to withdraw half of my prize earnings, and give it to him.

I gave him the pizza, drinks, and some cash, but said that I couldn’t stay and ‘kick it’

But told him that now he had some food and could pay for his ticket!