Homelessness in America

Cookie Parker · #21 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 12:26 PM

THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR « Informed Voters

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THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR — by Catherine Morgan

We have a growing crisis in America today, and it is our own countries blatant neglect of the homeless, the hungry, and the working poor. It was recently reported that there are 744,000 people that are homeless in the United States today. Even worse, over 40% of the homeless are families. Reuters reported that more Americans went homeless and hungry in 2006 than the year before and that children made up almost one quarter of those in emergency shelters.

Children and families are the new faces of the homeless and hungry in America, and it seems to me that most Americans, as well as the government would just like to turn a blind-eye to this growing crisis. Why is that? We are the richest and most powerful country in the world, surely we can help are own citizens? We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq alone, it seems shameful that we don’t even spend a fraction of that amount on helping the most needy in our own county.

Many people seem to take the attitude of….We shouldn’t give “hand-outs” to the poor, they just need to work harder….They wouldn’t be poor if they just worked harder. Contrary to popular belief, the poor don’t want to be poor. The truth is, that many of the poor in our country are part of the growing number of “working poor”, they work very hard, very long, and still don’t have enough money to feed their families. So, if how hard a person works really was a determining factor of whether a person would be rich or poor, many of the rich people in this country would suddenly find themselves poor, and the currently poor would be basking in the glory of their new-found wealth. Many American citizens work hard and get very far in life, and many others work hard and get nowhere in life…..that’s just the sad reality. Most of the working poor in our country actually work forty or more hours a week at two, three, or even four different jobs. I assure you, these people work very hard.

Between the closing of the mental health facilities, the reduction in wages earnings in America, the loss of affordable health insurance and the rise in housing costs, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan coupled with the bureaucratic waits in the VA, the homelessness plight is the direct cause of government actions.

Dom1 · #22 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:11 PM

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Originally Posted by Cookie Parker

Between the closing of the mental health facilities, the reduction in wages earnings in America, the loss of affordable health insurance and the rise in housing costs, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan coupled with the bureaucratic waits in the VA, the homelessness plight is the direct cause of government actions.

A direct cause? You mean drug use and dropping out of school have nothing to do with it?

ONEWHITEDUCK · #23 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:14 PM

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Recolligere · #24 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 01:52 AM

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Originally Posted by Sam

Hey Rec-this is how I view the homeless-I just do not know enough to drive by and yell at someone-pretty callous when you have no clue. Numerous studies have shown that some are there because they choose that life and a good percentage are mentally ill and many are veterans-some have addiction issues.

I think harassing in judgement is just wrong. You do not have to give a handout-but yelling at someone...really maybe it is a vet with PTSD or a schizophrenic or maybe it is a deadbeat....do you think yelling at them offers a solution?

I've thought about all of these scenarios and, frankly, none of them do much to change my opinion. Veterans have programs: take advantage! Mentally retarded? Publix is always hiring! Is this the life you chose? Okay. But why, then, do you beg for money? Got an addiction? Get off it, and maybe you'll have a place in society.

Either hand you weigh, there's always a reason -- nay, an excuse -- for why these people are homeless. It's not my problem they're in that perdicament, so I shouldn't have to contribute to their poor choices.

Cookie Parker · #25 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 04:42 AM

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Originally Posted by Recolligere

I've thought about all of these scenarios and, frankly, none of them do much to change my opinion. Veterans have programs: take advantage! Mentally retarded? Publix is always hiring! Is this the life you chose? Okay. But why, then, do you beg for money? Got an addiction? Get off it, and maybe you'll have a place in society.

Either hand you weigh, there's always a reason -- nay, an excuse -- for why these people are homeless. It's not my problem they're in that perdicament, so I shouldn't have to contribute to their poor choices.

Again, I hope you keep your job....because I'd hate to think of your self-esteem should you find yourself looking at no income and having to move in with mom...

nathanbforrest45 · #26 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:45 AM

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Originally Posted by rob

I think many are homeless because of addictions or habits that they chose to do. I don't think it is wrong to help but I do think that they have to be willing to help themselves too.

I think it is wrong to just give them money since we all know that money will not go to buy food or shelter. I was riding my motorcycle in Jacksonville Florida one day when it started to rain. I stopped to put on my wet weather gear and while I was doing so a man came up to me with a story that he was hungry and needed money and just got out of the hospital etc etc. We have all heard this before. He told me he really needed help. I told him he was in luck and I was going to help him. Just jump on the back of my motorcycle and I will take you down to the Salvation Army and they will help you. They will help you find work, they will help feed you, they will help you get over your addiction. He looked at me like I had just asked him if he like to eat shit sandwichs. He made a rude comment and walked off looking for the next sucker. I was very willing to help him but really helping him but he wasn't looking for help, he was looking for a handout.

To continue giving them money merely allows them to continue living off others.

nathanbforrest45 · #27 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:48 AM

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Originally Posted by Sam

Most of the homeless where I live are veterans -our community has developed a program to try to assist the homeless helping them help themselves. for some it works others it does not-I think this is worthwhile. I rarely give out money to the homeless (except one local man who has had a severe head trauma and everyone takes care of him) but I do support this local organization with my time and money:

History

This absolutely annoys the living piss out of me. To dump this on veterans, like those of us who served this country somehow are less able to deal with the world. BULLSHIT, this is nothing more than another leftist ploy to speak ill of the military.

Why in the world would so many veterans end up on the street? BULLSHIT.

crowonapost · #28 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 12:05 PM

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Originally Posted by nathanbforrest45

I think it is wrong to just give them money since we all know that money will not go to buy food or shelter. I was riding my motorcycle in Jacksonville Florida one day when it started to rain. I stopped to put on my wet weather gear and while I was doing so a man came up to me with a story that he was hungry and needed money and just got out of the hospital etc etc. We have all heard this before. He told me he really needed help. I told him he was in luck and I was going to help him. Just jump on the back of my motorcycle and I will take you down to the Salvation Army and they will help you. They will help you find work, they will help feed you, they will help you get over your addiction. He looked at me like I had just asked him if he like to eat shit sandwichs. He made a rude comment and walked off looking for the next sucker. I was very willing to help him but really helping him but he wasn't looking for help, he was looking for a handout.

To continue giving them money merely allows them to continue living off others.

Nathan I agree that there are many just like this. I have ran into them hundreds of times in Chicago. One thing I've found interesting around here is that when I'm on my bike & I go get gas or something people have been interested in engaging me in conversation about the bike, about their own stories & when i just hang & talk with them. It gets pretty interesting.

They at some point will ask for some money...I rarely give anyone any but often times I have found that they appreciate the simple act of acknowledgment & willingness to engage in a real conversation.

I remember once a man who said, you are the first person tonight who simply saw me as a person & said ANYTHING to me, thanks. I didn't give him money but I had no problem acknowledging him. It cost me nothing & gave something in return, humanity.

crowonapost · #29 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 12:07 PM

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Originally Posted by nathanbforrest45

This absolutely annoys the living piss out of me. To dump this on veterans, like those of us who served this country somehow are less able to deal with the world. BULLSHIT, this is nothing more than another leftist ploy to speak ill of the military.

Why in the world would so many veterans end up on the street? BULLSHIT.

I find it humorous when some guy who looks 'maybe 30' has a sign that says homeless Vietnam vet.

nathanbforrest45 · #30 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 12:19 PM

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Originally Posted by crowonapost

Nathan I agree that there are many just like this. I have ran into them hundreds of times in Chicago. One thing I've found interesting around here is that when I'm on my bike & I go get gas or something people have been interested in engaging me in conversation about the bike, about their own stories & when i just hang & talk with them. It gets pretty interesting.

They at some point will ask for some money...I rarely give anyone any but often times I have found that they appreciate the simple act of acknowledgment & willingness to engage in a real conversation.

I remember once a man who said, you are the first person tonight who simply saw me as a person & said ANYTHING to me, thanks. I didn't give him money but I had no problem acknowledging him. It cost me nothing & gave something in return, humanity.

Crow
I have a soft heart for some of these people. I was eating lunch one day downtown Jax when a street person came in. I honestly don't know if it was a male or female, they were wearing a dress but could have had a beard although they were so dirty it was hard to tell. They wanted to get lunch but only had enough money for an apple or some such. I had eaten about half of my sandwich and felt so driven I offered him the rest of my lunch. He ate it and then left but left his belongings behind. I picked them up and held on to them. About 20 minutes later he came back and I gave him the bag he had. He thanked me profusely for "watching out for him" I was with an attorney at the time who was shocked that I would do such a thing. After we left the suger in the food must have given him a buzz because the guy (?) was on the street corner fighting with the air. He was obviously a mental case and should have been in an institution for his own good (eventually those people end up dead on the street or murdered in jail when they are arrested for petty crimes)

There are those who deserve our help and we as good Christians are obligated to assist them as much as we can. However, I don't believe that God has told us to give our belongings away to someone who could provide for themselves but is just too sorry to do so.

As far as people being homeless the question is why are they on the street when there is housing available to them. Far too many housing units go to someone who could fend for themselves. How many public housing units are populated by unmarried women living with their well paid boyfriends? You don't think many??? You don't have a clue how this free housing, welfare system is worked by some. Kick them out on the street and put the sincerely needy in those houses.

There are literally hundreds of options in every city across this land. Those panhandling on the street are do so because they are either mentally deficient or too lazy to actually work. Put the mental cases in institutions that the left decided in the 1970's were unnecessary and let the lazy starve.