Atlanta and Homelessness... (Buckhead: taxes, living in, cost of)

[Freeminds]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

Where did I say anything about the media? Nowhere! But the reality is that since the Olympics, legend has been built around Atlanta being a Black Mecca--the place for black people to come here to succeed, get jobs and buy homes. This is spread by other blacks not the media. And while Atlanta has had a strong black middle class, things have changed, especially with the recession.

I have known dozens upon dozens of black people who have moved here because they were told by other blacks that they could do better here than in the other major cities they came from and what they end up getting is low-paying work (less than what they were making before they moved here) often making minimum wage or at most $10 an hour with their college education, and they struggle; and I have personally known many blacks who have come here looking for the black American dream and ended up homeless, and I have heard countless stories of this happening to other blacks that I don't know personally. You don't have to agree with me or like what I say but it's the truth and it has and does happen. Most of the black people I know who have gone through homeless or constant job losses and underemployment in Atlanta have since left and are making great salaries where ever they went to.

I used work with a girl who went to Spelman. She was telling me how one of her former school mates moved here with her mom and they were living in their car. One of my friends with her Master's was living out her car and was in and out of shelters with her child because she simply couldn't decent-paying work. This happens more than people realize. Don't shoot the messenger.

I am glad to see many of the people who were struggling are managing to do well elsewhere. Honestly, though based on what you are telling me these people moved for bad reasons and had no real plans.

You don't move somewhere without a job and you surely don't do it based on hearsay and no back up plan. This sounds like bad planning on their part, no Atlanta's fault.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by Freeminds

I am glad to see many of the people who were struggling are managing to do well elsewhere. Honestly, though based on what you are telling me these people moved for bad reasons and had no real plans.

You don't move somewhere without a job and you surely don't do it based on hearsay and no back up plan. This sounds like bad planning on their part, no Atlanta's fault.

I also didn't blame Atlanta. Homelessness is a problem everywhere and it is pretty bad here. The purpose of my post was not to blame Atlanta. I simply want to remind people that yes, Atlanta does have a homelessness problem, it's pretty bad, but not everyone who is a part of this growing problem are crackheads, loonies and bums--that normal, otherwise hard-working, skilled and educated people make up the increasing numbers because of the tough job market, so we should not be so quick to judge who is homeless and why.

Someone also mentioned that there seems to be a disproportionate of black homeless here. And yes, a lot of black people do in fact move here from other places looking for opportunities and not finding them and make up the homeless rolls.

[sjuraud]

This isn't exactly about homeless / bums, but I was at a gas station on Boulevard near Grant Park a few years ago and a guy pulled up in a BMW. He got out and was wearing a 3 piece suit and had the gall to ask me for a $1! Seriously, wtf?

There seems to be a pervasive attitude of "give me something" here in this city.

[LovingSummer2013]

Originally Posted by mike7586

I have been to all of those places - your point? It doesn't eliminate the fact we have a lot of homeless people Downtown and I've seen a few wondering around Midtown and Buckhead (twitching I might add)... and yes, that is a problem. Do you think it's a good thing??? Downtown Atlanta has a lot of potential if we could cut down on the bums, crackheads and panhandlers.

I no longer reside in Atlanta, but while I was there, I worked downtown and it was absolutely horrible. Around 7:30am, I'd always see plenty of homeless people sleeping on the ground or panhandling near the McDonald's restaurant.

I worked in the federal builidng and needless to say, I was very thankful for the security team. They did an excellent job ensuring that the homeless were no where near the building grounds.

[LovingSummer2013]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

I also didn't blame Atlanta. Homelessness is a problem everywhere and it is pretty bad here. The purpose of my post was not to blame Atlanta. I simply want to remind people that yes, Atlanta does have a homelessness problem, it's pretty bad, but not everyone who is a part of this growing problem are crackheads, loonies and bums--that normal, otherwise hard-working, skilled and educated people make up the increasing numbers because of the tough job market, so we should not be so quick to judge who is homeless and why.

Someone also mentioned that there seems to be a disproportionate of black homeless here. And yes, a lot of black people do in fact move here from other places looking for opportunities and not finding them and make up the homeless rolls.

Despite all of the cuts to social service programs, destitute U.S. citizens, can still apply for welfare, food stamps and housing vouchers.

The reality is however, that the bulk of homeless people in ATL are mentally ill and/or have drug related issues. This explains why even with various social services, they usually do not have the ability to maintain a roof over their heads.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by LovingSummer2013

Despite all of the cuts to social service programs, destitute U.S. citizens, can still apply for welfare and housing vouchers.

The reality is however, that the bulk of homeless people in ATL are mentally ill and/or have drug related issues. This explains why even with various social services, they usually do not have the ability to maintain a roof over their heads.

I don't actually believe that a lot of the panhandlers in Atlanta ARE homeless. I get the idea that many of them see it as a way to make money without the hassle of a job, but they often do have homes. I may be wrong, but it's just a feeling...

[LovingSummer2013]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

I think there is a need however, to differentiate between someone who is "homeless" and someone who is a "bum".

Truthfully, I don't see the difference, because after a while, the majority of people who live on the street become bummy in appearance (if they do not have access to clean water to bathe in and clean clothes to wear).

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by JoeTarheel

I don't actually believe that a lot of the panhandlers in Atlanta ARE homeless. I get the idea that many of them see it as a way to make money without the hassle of a job, but they often do have homes. I may be wrong, but it's just a feeling...

Good point. You can usually tell the difference between someone who's homeless and truly needs money, and someone who's just scamming. The dirty, limping guy in tattered clothes who's mumbling to himself with his hand out is probably homeless (or a pretty good scam artist). The guy who some sauntering up to you in a pair of $200 jeans saying "yo, yo, yo- can you spare some change, bro? My car ran out of gas and I need to get home", is probably not homeless.

[LovingSummer2013]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

Good point. You can usually tell the difference between someone who's homeless and truly needs money, and someone who's just scamming. The dirty, limping guy in tattered clothes who's mumbling to himself with his hand out is probably homeless (or a pretty good scam artist). The guy who some sauntering up to you in a pair of $200 jeans saying "yo, yo, yo- can you spare some change, bro? My car ran out of gas and I need to get home", is probably not homeless.

I have been approached by non homeless individuals asking for bus fare (usually teens). I don't really have issues with giving them a dollar or 50 cents. It's a small amount of money, and if they really needed it to help pay for fare, they were able to get home.

[LovingSummer2013]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Because the people who are making this threads have never been anywhere or they just want to complain about something IMO

I've lived in a number of cities, and ATL most certainly does have a sizable homeless population. It's very noticeable, because certain areas (like downtown) have high numbers of people walking around looking very bummy or sleeping on the ground.

In places like NYC, you see a lot of homeless, but you also see lots of activity and a thriving bustling city with lots of pedestrians walking around.

In my opinion, pockets of San Francisco, L.A. and San Diego seem to have more homeless people than downtown Atlanta.