Quote:
Originally Posted by cowbell76
I read most of the comments, but not all.
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It really is all about reframing the public’s view of homeless people, like they’re just like us but just having a difference experience… it’s part of their experience but doesn’t define them.
So “unhoused” or “people experiencing homelessness” are not used in an attempt to differentiate between types of people without permanent addresses. They’re used to label all the same people who have always been called homeless, and it’s just politically correct speech as so many have pointed out.
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I too have skipped some comments.
Like anything else, there are subgroups within a group and we can overgeneralize if we're not careful.
Historically, gypsies have led what might be called a "houseless" lifestyle, traveling from place to place. As I understand it the Europeans hold stronger views about them than Americans. Whether the attitudes toward them are fair or not is debatable, but according to this article, 83% of Italians hold negative views toward the Romani.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Romany_sentiment
Next there is a group of people who panhandle, collecting money for alcohol or the next fix. Sometimes they were mentally ill, fell into homelessness and later started drugs. Or maybe they were doing drugs, ended up on the street, and became mentally ill.
https://medium.com/brainy-matters/me...s-58e0e31f6e29
My wife and I visited San Jose CA a few summers ago---talk about tent city! And if you look at the sidewalk, you often see those connectors they attach to your torso when they do EKGs. We concluded that homeless people had a medical emergency, EMTs came out and checked their hearts, and then the homeless folks refused to go to the hospital.
There are lots of reasons, I guess. Some won't leave the community of homeless folks---those are friends. And shelters can be dangerous places. Or maybe there's a drug test required. It reminds me of how hard it is for some people to rejoin society after being in prison. Remember in Shawshank Redemption how Morgan Freeman's character felt he needed permission to pee? I'm sure many go back to jail because they have friends there, they understand the rules there, and so on.
Some food for thought:
https://metropolitics.org/Understand...mmodation.html
https://www.npr.org/2012/12/06/16666...-over-shelters
But ok, in these tough economic times there are new people among the homeless. The people described in the book "Nomadland" (and the film made from it) often are collecting social security, but it just isn't enough to survive. Therefore they get a vehicle (van, camper, sedan, whatever they can afford) and hit the road. When amazon has its Christmas rush, they're working at amazon. No benefits or anything, because they're seasonal. Amazon warehouses have dispensers with OTC pain meds all over the warehouse it seems---and they love this workforce because they don't complain, don't file claims, get the work done, etc. I'm still surprised amazon allowed their logo etc. in the movie because to some people it looks like exploitation.
And these campers head to Idaho for sugar beet harvest. A conveyer brings them and workers bag them.
As I recall the book describes the work as similar to catching frozen bowling balls with a sack. When that finishes, they go somewhere else. There's actually a circuit they follow to supplement their social security.
So here's a group that is too proud to ask for help. They say they aren't homeless---they're houseless. They can sleep in their vehicles and make do. Why chain yourself to a 30 year mortgage? If there's a death or an illness or an economic downturn, you could lose it all.
My wife and I wanted to buy a fifth wheel, a truck to pull it, and sightsee as part of our retirement. Spend a few weeks in New York state, then move on to Pennsylvania or whatever...for six months at a time. My plan involved not having a house while we do this. Why?
1) You have to pay taxes on a house even if you aren't living there.
2) In colder climates you have to heat it so pipes don't burst.
3) Insurance companies sometimes won't insure vacant houses because
4) Vandals or thieves or squatters could break in
5) So pay someone to mow the lawn to make it look like you're home
6) Why tie up your money in something you're not using?
Etc. But as I understand it, we'd still need to have a "domicile." I mean, which state would issue our driver's licenses? How would we get mail? How would voting work? Jury duty? The six months at a time refers to coming back for medical appointments, reconnecting with friends here, etc.
So would we be homeless, in this scenario?
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Solly says — Be nice!
