每天上班的通勤路線得經過台北車站，因此對北車舉目所及都是遊民的景象，一直覺得困惑。畢竟是國家門戶的重點地標，往來遊客絡繹不絕，穿插著或坐或臥的無家者，實在令人懷疑全球有哪個國家，可以容許首都車站如此凌亂又不潔。台北市長來來去去，不論是北車還是龍山寺附近的遊民問題依舊，甚至逐年惡化，人越來越多。究竟背後有什麼難為之處，《你不伸手，他會在這裡躺多久？》或許能帶來一些解答。
這本由專業社工李佳庭所寫的職場札記，直白地說出在服務婦女、幼兒、老人、遊民等不同對象的社會工作者中，服務無家者是最瀰漫負能量的一群。因為種種原因讓他們只能流落街頭，不少人也真的是無藥可救地自甘墮落。但是社工們正是抱持著能救一個是一個的心情，不吝於幫助目之所及的個案，並在心中期許能真正改善受助者的人生，透過社會倡議來澄清大眾對遊民的誤解和污名，讓他們有機會說出自己的故事。
現在任職於非營利組織芒草心慈善協會的作者，曾在新北市外展中心擔任社工。她也直言一般民眾打電話去抱怨遊民問題，十之八九公部門都是無力解決的。只要無家者沒有被收容的意願，即便是警察到場也無權驅趕，畢竟人在公共場合遊走真的不犯法。更誇張的是，整個新北市的遊民僅由三名公務員來處理、服務，資源如此不足，也難怪遊民問題一直懸在那裡。無家者的人權和公共環境的管理，看似是棘手又不討好的施政課題。地方選舉將近，也不見各候選人對此有什麼具體的政見，看來北車混亂的景象，不論哪個人當選，都會持續下去。
Every day on my way to work, I pass by Main Station. I have always been confused by the sight of homeless people everywhere. After all, it is a key landmark and the entryway to our country. Travelers come and go constantly, mixed with homeless people sitting or lying around. It really makes people wonder if any other country in the world would allow the main station in its capital to be so messy and dirty. Taipei mayors come and go, but the homeless issue near Main Station and Longshan Temple remains the same. In fact, it gets worse every year, and the number of people keeps growing. What is the difficulty behind this? The book If You Don't Reach Out, How Long Will He Lie Here? might offer some answers.
This book is a work journal written by social worker Li Jia-ting. She frankly points out that among social workers serving women, children, the elderly, and the homeless, those serving homeless people face the most negative energy. For various reasons, these people end up on the street, and many have indeed given up on themselves completely. However, social workers hold onto the mindset of "saving as many as possible." They generously help anyone they can reach and hope to truly improve their lives. Through public advocacy, they aim to clear up misunderstandings and stigma, giving homeless people a chance to tell their stories.
The author, who now works for the non-profit organization "Homeless Taiwan," once worked at the New Taipei City Outreach Center. She admits that when the public calls to complain about homeless issues, the government is helpless most of the time. As long as homeless people have no desire to be housed, even the police have no right to drive them away. After all, hanging around in public places is not against the law. Even worse, the homeless services in the entire New Taipei City were handled by only three civil servants. With such a lack of resources, it is no wonder the problem remains unresolved. Balancing homeless rights and public space management seems to be a tough and thankless political task. With local elections coming up, no candidates have proposed concrete plans. It seems that no matter who wins the election, the messy sight at Main Station will likely continue.
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