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 Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 3:30 pm
I don't think anyone in specific can be blamed. And even if we could, it wouldn't help much.
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:56 pm
Troiya I like the idea of government sponsored work programs.. liek what they had in the 30's- 50's (the WPA). They would not pay much but the gov could set up dorms and a strict set of rules for the homeless to follow. The incentives to find "real work" would be built in but in the meantime they are productive doing something and they are OFF the streets. Good for crime prevention, good for the community, and good for them. Some countries in Europe have working programs like this. They aren't getting something for nothing as in welfare. They are earning it. I am not opinionated ninja lol I have to agree and say this seem slike the most reasonable way to help the homeless. Not only would government sponsored work programs get them on their feet, but it would also help the government find those people who are incapable of providing for themselves because of a disability. Good post
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 9:21 pm
I still find it strange that there aren't any places where the homeless can stay, but I guess either the government don't see the homeless a big deal, or they can't do anything for they are in dept...
Anyway, I sorta blame the government and media for this, for many reasons
1) influence, people are influenced into all these stuff, and people tend to read more about what the pop stars (drugs, etc.) than watching real news
2) there aren't houses to take them in
3) money, things are expensive (or maybe its just the where I live) things are getting harder for people to get their own needs
I can go on, but these what I think are the main ones, I blame this, because it sorta covers everything, the lazy people are usually the ones who can get anything, they don't see anything but whats easy to see (media), those who struck bad luck fall into the money thing, bills, etc. Yes, I find the our government to blame, for many things, but they are not entirely to blame...
There are some who had it all going for them, but they made a wrong decision which cause they threw themselves over the edge, they didn't simply fall, but with their own actions they found comfort being homeless, relying on other people, which I find horrifying for they are sending a huge message that its all the own fault (homeless) so, people tend to lean on that idea...
There are also those who are in deep trouble, but not homeless, take my family for example, we were very close of being thrown out of our house, but that was because of taxes and the house rent.
So what I am saying that, its not the government fault, but they should start cooperating. And its not all "He chose his own fate"
Thats the only thing I was trying to say
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 7:57 am
Fake homelessness is a problem where I live. As a girl, I always saw this man standing on an intersection into a busy highway begging for money. He was eventually arrested, because he's a middle class citizen in the next county. The news did a section on him. It turns out that he made about $500 a day working the streets. I didn't know how to feel after I heard that. I had given him money whenever I could afford it.
Even so, I think that it is always right to give. You never really know who they are, so its better to give, just in case.
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 10:58 am
Homelessness stretches further than just the odd person on the street
corner holding up a sign.
Unfortuantely it goes much further than that, and effects a wide range
of people. I think that women with children have it particularly difficult.
I have personal exerience with this topic.
For a handful of years I was trapped in an abusive relationship. Abusers
often take over a vitcims entire life- includeing finances. Many times
I tried to find a way out through a safe home, or even just a homeless
shelter- but they were always full to the brim.
Thats scary.
I wonder if any of us could find an opening place in a shelter, right now
on Sunday, to seek refuse if suddenly our entire worlds collapesed and we
lost everything. Or maybe just to see if there are any openings- just for
the sake of reaserch.
Even beyond the guy on the street corner- homelessness is a serious issue.
Im afraid that the people who really know are the ones wearing the shoes without a place to call "home".
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 12:59 am
Homelessness is not really an issue where I live (Northeast Pennsylvania), but I do have first hand knowledge of the problem. My mother, until recently, was homeless. She has many family members that were more than willing to give her a place to live, but it never worked out. Mostly I think this was due to pride. She does not like depending on others for her survival. She also has mental problems.
Why she became homeless in the first place is quite simple. She feels that she is too physically disabled to work, but the government disagreed. Ineligible for aid, unable to work, and too proud to stay with family, she turned to the streets. For a good number of years, she lived on the streets of Long Beach, California. We have tried to help her, but her pride, coupled with the mental issues, have made this impossible. She moved in with my sister for a while, but various issues caused her to move back to Cali. Recently, she entered a program where some organization (don't recall if it is government sponsored) set her up with an apartment and a part time job. In return, she has to attend psychological counseling.
If you are interested in homelessness from a homeless person's point of view, check out her website: Gypsywoman. If I recall correctly, she started the site using library computers. She expanded upon it when she was living with my sister. She now has a computer of her own in her apartment. She supplements her income using a combination of an online store (which she is basically just a "salesperson" for, getting a commission for any stuff people buy), cyberbegging, and writing articles for an online news service. Her site has lots of links and posts about homelessness, and her own experiences being homeless.
I hope this helps.
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:40 am
Gone Arai If I were to decide where to put federal funding, I would scrap most welfare programs. Why? I believe the real problem behind it is lack of education. I would take all that money spent in the cycle of welfare, and stick it into helping people overcome challenges - by learning and getting new skills. It's the old "Give a man a fish..." policy. I think it works. I completely agree, it is with education, not just schools, but educational outreach that helps people know of, and take advatnage of, better choices when it comes to lifestyles. For many, it is the environment that they grew up in and the households they have lived in that lead them to be the welfare takers. I say this from personal experience. Many of my family members are on welfare because their parents and their cousins all have done so. I on the other hand am quite detatched from my family and have had experiences that they never had when it comes to education. This is because of the educational outreach programs presented in my neighborhood. They open you up to options and opportunities.
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:38 am
Ever considered there's not a specific person to blame?
Or even the fact that blaming someone wont actually help the situation, but in turn just make people feel guilty?
Why don't you actually speak to the homeless and find out why they're homeless and see if you can help them in any way. Instead of just sitting back behind a PC and looking for someone to point your greasy little fingers at! (Lol, I take back the greasy little)
The homeless and me have an understanding. I live out in the middle of no where and there's no homeless near me. When I have problems, I don't go whining to homeless people about it, and when they have problems, they don't come whining to me about it.
No guilt in this subject.
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Sand From The Future(GTD)
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Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 3:29 pm
-_-dragoncita-_- Gone Arai If I were to decide where to put federal funding, I would scrap most welfare programs. Why? I believe the real problem behind it is lack of education. I would take all that money spent in the cycle of welfare, and stick it into helping people overcome challenges - by learning and getting new skills. It's the old "Give a man a fish..." policy. I think it works. I completely agree, it is with education, not just schools, but educational outreach that helps people know of, and take advatnage of, better choices when it comes to lifestyles. For many, it is the environment that they grew up in and the households they have lived in that lead them to be the welfare takers. I say this from personal experience. Many of my family members are on welfare because their parents and their cousins all have done so. I on the other hand am quite detatched from my family and have had experiences that they never had when it comes to education. This is because of the educational outreach programs presented in my neighborhood. They open you up to options and opportunities. Yeah - I figure that it's the only way out. I mean, welfare is cyclic. It's like doing drugs - once you start, it's very hard to get out of it unless you're ready and willing - and it doesn't help to get a cash "incentive" to stay on welfare every month. So by cutting welfare programs that just hand you money, you can take free or reduced-price classes to teach you life skills, job skills, and all that jazz. That's the way to get out of welfare. If we do keep a program like welfare - you get three months, and then you're on your own financially.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 9:02 pm
Is it the system? Many claim that a majority of homeless individuals have mental disorders that prevent them from working. However, wouldn't that qualify them for disability benefits. Do we not have the money in these United States, the richest country in the world to take care of our own?
-Some people need disability and don't get it; some people don't need it and screw the others by taking it. If the disability people would figure out who really needed it, there wouldn't be quite so much of that problem.
Is it the people? I've spoken to many of my own peers and they claim they're just lazy and don't want to get a job. How do we then clean up these streets? And clear these corners of lazy individuals who don't want to do anything with their lives?
-Some of them are lazy and just want beer, crank, etc. Some of them, however, have been working hard their entire lives and had a bit of bad luck that tossed them out on their asses. If you're a single mother who has to decide between rent or food, which would you choose?
Is it a little bit of both? And how are we to know who really need help and who doesn't?
-Buy one a sandwich; if he takes it and tells you stories, he's a good one. If he spits at you and wants your money, he's a bad one and only wants drugs and crap. That's how I'd tell.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 3:08 pm
Calling homeless people "lazy" is laughable to me. Yes, some of them are addicts. But that doesn't mean they are not worthy of help!
Homeless people have "fallen through the cracks" of society. Many of them have jobs, but cannot afford to live in a house/apartment. They don't make enough money (minimum wage is too low), and/or the cost of housing is too high.
Almost all homeless are American citizens, and many are veterans. They need and deserve society's help.
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