I have a special place in my heart for the disenfranchised and the homeless. My own sister became homeless due to her mental illness. After having gotten her Phd and was a practicing psychologist, she started manifesting symptoms of schizophrenia. She self medicated with drugs (not alcohol) and became addicted to heroin and crack. She lost her husband, her practice, everything. She lived on the streets in Detroit, then she went missing for a couple of years. She resurfaced in Seattle, but the damage was done. She had contracted HIV/AIDS in the years living on the street, probably by a partner or IV drugs. She managed to get pulled together in Seattle. A friend in NY offered to help her out and hopefully get her back into the working world. But she was killed in the 9/11 attacks. Tragic.
So.... I know why this man triggered me. I have a whole different approach to the homeless after what happened to my sister. I have to gird myself for these emotional triggers.