[OrlandoRE_Miracle]

National Coalition for the Homeless

[Scientifical Madness]

Orlando and St Pete are two of the meanest/angriest cities in the US, no suprise there.

Just google Orlando and Angriest City in America - we got the title in 2006 and I think Tampa/St Pete was 2nd place. The same goes for road rage too.

On the other hand, I have given food/money to the homeless before - and I can understand a city not wanting them loitering in the downtown areas, begging for money/food, etc...

[GABMER]

Did we really need a "list" to know this. Just remember your drive to work this morning.

[Fnix]

Maybe its because the homeless here are blood sucking leeches. I lived in center city Philly for many years and tons of homeless and never once was I asked for money. I get asked for money anytime I encounter a homeless person here in Florida. One guy lives in a wal-mart parking lot and rides around begging people for money. One day he got a bit to close to my mom and younger brother and found himself on the ground.

[OrlandoRE_Miracle]

interesting: none of the cities in southeast florida made the list

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Fnix

I lived in center city Philly for many years and tons of homeless and never once was I asked for money. I get asked for money anytime I encounter a homeless person here in Florida.

The odd thing is that I have only occasionally been asked for money in FL (someone tried to wash my windshield in Boca Raton of all places though), yet I usually get asked in Center City. I think the aggressive panhandlers are acutally part of the charm of Phila.

[Scientifical Madness]

There are a few homeless folks in Asheville, especially downtown. I have given food before. He was so grateful, it made me feel good. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I think the south - FL especially - attracts homeless due to the warm weather.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

National Coalition for the Homeless

This is misleading, because for example the reason Bradenton is on the list is simply because they don't have enough shelters for all the homeless there. It seems really unfair because they just built a wonderful large one-stop-shop for the homeless who need help there. I mean there is only so much a city can do- if more homeless come than they can help what are they supposed to do? It takes money to build that stuff - it's a vicious circle. And I am all for helping the truly needy - what I can't abide are the able-bodied folks who don't even want to try to help themselves, but rather be beggars and thieves. Some places have more of those types than others.

[JimMe]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

This is misleading, because for example the reason Bradenton is on the list is simply because they don't have enough shelters for all the homeless there. It seems really unfair because they just built a wonderful large one-stop-shop for the homeless who need help there. I mean there is only so much a city can do- if more homeless come than they can help what are they supposed to do? It takes money to build that stuff - it's a vicious circle. And I am all for helping the truly needy - what I can't abide are the able-bodied folks who don't even want to try to help themselves, but rather be beggars and thieves. Some places have more of those types than others.

Field of Dreams: "If you build it, they will come."

[MiamiRob]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

interesting: none of the cities in southeast florida made the list

I can only speak for Miami but the city has 2 homeless shelters in the Miami Rescue Mission & the Camillus house. I have been to the Miami Rescue Mission with a collegue in my office and met with one of the administrators there and they do more than just just give out food & a place to sleep for the night. They have drug & alcohol rehabilitation programs, job training & placement, education, healthcare and transition housing as well. One of these two facilities just opened abrand new 3 story facility a bit further from downtown and all of this was paid for by a half cent sales tax that Dade county approved of many years ago. Miami does have a large homeless population but many on the streets just don't choose to obey there rules,i.e. no drugs or alcohol on the premises.

I was kind of shocked how when I first moved to Orlando and saw how the homeless were treated here including the controversy of serving meals by that Food not Bombs organization downtown. Does Orlando even have a homeless shelter?