The cat that is often in my house is one of the funniest people I know. My life is undoubtedly infinitely richer because she's in my life.
I would never ask her to fill out an application form for her scritches, for her food, for a warm place to sleep. She doesn't need to know english, she doesn't need to know when my applications are open for the year, she doesn't need to prove she's looking for other ways to get food other than me.
She has changed my life and I am happy to make hers easier.
This is a mutual aid relationship.
Mutual aid is people voluntarily working together to meet each others needs.
Unfortunately, the majority of the western world operates on a charity-based model where people have to compete for riches they may never get. People have to prove they are poor enough, sick enough, disabled enough. People have to have the time to apply and be convincingly enough. People need to prove they're trying to lift themselves out of poverty as if they put themselves there.
My friend, the cat, never has to prove that she's worthy of food, shelter, or love. I never have to prove to her that I'm worth hanging out with. I hope that more people can help for the sake of helping.