Homeless People (hotel, shop, food)

[Palmetto Heel]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Part of the problem is the lack of MONEY to help these people

Money contributes to the problem of homelessness but not in the way that you think.

[JanuaryGirl]

Originally Posted by superk

I'm curious, because I can see something like this happening, what is the alternative (for men, anyway) to living on the street if one can't afford housing, particularly if they ARE working, but just don't have enough net income for housing?

There really aren't a lot of options. There are shelters, but they are usually first-come first-serve and it's usually more difficult for people with jobs to be able to get shelter space b/c they can't always wait in line for hours.

Most mental health facilities are outpatient now, the social services that were available to help these people with housing after the deinstitutionalization of the 50s-70s are no longer available so many do without. But what's having an even bigger impact are the levels of working poor in this country. There used to be more jobs available for people with little education, and with rising healthcare and costs of living there are a LOT of people without homes that don't fit the common stereotype. The ranks of homeless women are growing, mostly due to domestic violence and lack of support services for them to get back on their feet.

However, just to clarify, most homeless people are not mentally ill and most people with mental illness are not dangerous. People with mental illness make up a higher percentage of the homeless population than they do in the general population, but by far most homeless people do not have mental illness. The stigma that people with mental illness are more likely to be dangerous is unfortunate and inaccurate. I'm not saying, as someone sarcastically suggested, to invite these strangers into your home... I wouldn't do that with anyone homeless or not.

Just my $0.02.

[anifani821]

Who are the homeless?

A collection of studies show that men, people with less education, people with mental health and substance problems, and people who had been incarcerated tended to be homeless longer than people without those characteristics.(4) Nearly one fourth of the currently homeless had been psychiatrically hospitalized, and about one-third had been detoxified for alcohol or drugs.(4)

Homeless Mentally Ill| Factline (http://www.mmc.edu/www.meharry.org/Fl/Mental_Health/Homeless_Mentally_Ill.html#ff - broken link)

[anifani821]

People with untreated psychiatric illnesses comprise one-third, or between 150,000 and 200,000 people, of the estimated 744,000 homeless population. The quality of life for these individuals is abysmal. Many are victimized regularly. One study found that 28 percent of homeless people with previous psychiatric hospitalizations obtained some food from garbage cans and 8 percent used garbage cans as a primary food source.

Fact Sheet: Homelessness (http://www.psychlaws.org/generalResources/fact11.htm - broken link)

Another excerpt:

Freezing to death during bitter weather is all-too-common among the homeless in general, but especially among those with schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness. These deaths do not usually attract much attention, but on November 29, 1993, in Washington, DC, Yetta Adams was found frozen to death on a bench across the street from the headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ms. Adams suffered from schizophrenia and alcoholism and was living on the streets. When seeing a crowd outside his office, then-Secretary of HUD, Henry G. Cisneros, left his office to find out what had happened. He later wrote, "Yetta Adams’ death jarred me and all my colleagues at HUD, reminding us that our society is becoming an increasingly hostile environment for the homeless."

[anifani821]

Mentally disordered defendants had 40 times the rate of homelessness found in the general population, and 21 times the rate in the population of mentally ill persons in the city. The overall rate of criminal offenses was 35 times higher in the homeless mentally ill population than in the domiciled mentally ill population. The rate of violent crimes was 40 times higher and the rate of nonviolent crimes 27 times higher in the homeless population. Homeless defendants were significantly more likely to have been charged with victimizing strangers.

Base-rate estimates of criminal behavior by homeless mentally ill persons in New York City -- Martell et al. 46 (6): 596 -- Psychiatr Serv
(This study is not a new one, but it continues to be cited by recent researchers)

[emagine]

It is very sad the world we reside in. We are our own worst enemy. I would like to encourage everyone to donate a day of your time to a local shelter, soup kitchen etc.... What makes the homeless rekindle a smile is just knowing someone cares and is there to listen. You will feel very rewarded and your outlook on the Homeless for some may change.

I used to be amazed in Toronto (mind you bitter dang cold and snow piles higher than your waist) they would be sitting on a curb downtown asking for coins. I would actually smile at how many of them are your everyday person with a ton of manners for just a single buck. We are such a throw away generation that these ppl feast on our waste.

I ran across many gents who were cold and you could tell hungry. I have witnessed my DH giving them his coats when he could. I have also seen these same gents will actually say they are sorry for being in the visual of you and your 'lady'. The first time I heard that I thought to myself what he must have been feeling. We bought him dinner and brought it out to him.

I really wish there was no hunger, homeless and much more. Really too many ppl look the other way but truth be known in this sinking economy more and more people are one paycheck from this way of life.

*hugs*

[anifani821]

What can you do???

When you wish to donate goods and services, find out what homeless people and service providers could really use. Consider giving clothing that individuals could wear to a job interview, home furnishings that could help a family transition into permanent housing, age-appropriate learning materials for children entering their local school system. Call permanent housing organizations and other homeless service agencies for their respective wish lists, and encourage your family and community to help make those wishes come true.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: Take Action: What You Can Do (http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/action/actnow - broken link)

[vindaloo]

When I taught, there were a number of homeless kids. They weren't typical street people, but living out of a van, etc. If you are interested in helping out one of the homeless families (that would be my choice), simply contact a school and they should let you know or put you into contact with a source of information.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by bandibadji

When I taught, there were a number of homeless kids. They weren't typical street people, but living out of a van, etc. If you are interested in helping out one of the homeless families (that would be my choice), simply contact a school and they should let you know or put you into contact with a source of information.

Good idea. The working poor are left out of the equation in our society. They can't qualify for any help - neither food stamps nor medical/health assistance.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by bandibadji

When I taught, there were a number of homeless kids. They weren't typical street people, but living out of a van, etc. If you are interested in helping out one of the homeless families (that would be my choice), simply contact a school and they should let you know or put you into contact with a source of information.

Actually, there is an organization called "A Childs Place" here in Charlotte that ministers to homeless children. The woman that runs it used to be a resident of mine. She is a great person!