The Homeless.

[seekingsolace]

Not true. In my town they have 1 million people to ask for a place to sleep for one night.
They choose not to.

And how many of those one million people would say yes? I feel there is an ingrained fear and prejudice against the homeless. It's hard enough to accept a stranger in your house, even harder when they have nothing. Both parties are unsettled; there's fear of theft, violence, forms of abuse (not going into them), unsettling environment for children, and not to mention the time and cost investment, among many more.

Many of the homeless don't want to burden others, or have personal problems, such as trust issues from damaged backgrounds and abuse.

Of the billions living below the poverty line and the enormity of the homeless, I think very few have the privilege of being accepted in by strangers. And those that do, have no long term solution, just a few nights in warmth and shelter - without the growl of stomach pains. Despite being without, we still want to take more from them. Sad.

 

[Crowns&Laurels]

Are the homeless criminals?

Hardly three centuries ago, it being illegal to not be employed was a common ordinance. A person could be treated as harshly as physically chastised to, in irony, being given outrageous fines.

But also back then, it was far easier to resist homelessness by having a job. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case- people think that obtaining a job is some sort of cure-all for those on the streets and it simply isn't true.
There are many homeless who work full time and, at best, live in their cars, or at worst, live in woods or abandoned places. If they even get a motel, they will have squandered all their money before the weeks out, and move around often in public to avoid 'vagrancy police' (people who think the world is just too bright for those lowly poor).

If a homeless person commits a crime, it would be out of their own survival. Forgive me if I don't have any qualms about a homeless person stealing change out the cars of people who pass them by without compassion.

 

[brinny]

Hardly three centuries ago, it being illegal to not be employed was a common ordinance. A person could be treated as harshly as physically chastised to, in irony, being given outrageous fines.

But also back then, it was far easier to resist homelessness by having a job. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case- people think that obtaining a job is some sort of cure-all for those on the streets and it simply isn't true.
There are many homeless who work full time and, at best, live in their cars, or at worst, live in woods or abandoned places. If they even get a motel, they will have squandered all their money before the weeks out, and move around often in public to avoid 'vagrancy police' (people who think the world is just too bright for those lowly poor).

If a homeless person commits a crime, it would be out of their own survival. Forgive me if I don't have any qualms about a homeless person stealing change out the cars of people who pass them by without compassion.

It is sad......there are so few options....and yes, many sleep in cars, even though they might be working, etc.

Life is so fragile...

 

[Tigger45]

And once you become homeless and no longer have an address you can no longer get government assistance or apply for jobs because they insist on having that information for their records.

 

[brinny]

What a dilemma......like a catch-22....

 

[Crowns&Laurels]

And once you become homeless and no longer have an address you can no longer get government assistance or apply for jobs because they insist on having that information for their records.

That's why a lot of them who find work often do so by working under the table or simply lie about an address. As far as I know, the only thing homeless people are eligible for with assistance are food stamps- they don't even receive assistance to get a hand up on affording a place even if they are working.

The whole system is screwed up in my opinion and needs to be rebuilt. There's so many people on welfare but a homeless person is without a paddle. I don't understand why they should have to struggle with a discouraging situation for years, some even decades, while others just get benefits without much in the way.

 

[Cearbhall]

Are the homeless criminals?

Just respond with what first comes to mind after you read the question.

A high percentage are addicted to alcohol and/or illegal drugs, the latter of which is obviously a crime. I would assume that the rate of theft is higher, though I haven't actually looked at the statistics. Beyond that, no, I wouldn't make that generalization. They're just homeless.

I'm not so quick to jump from saying that someone has committed a crime to identifying the person as a criminal. Technically, I commit a crime when I jaywalk. All of the people on the street going over the speed limit are committing a crime each day, as well.

 

[SkyWriting]

And how many of those one million people would say yes?

Most. I speak to "Jack and Jill" on occasion. They are pretty set in their ways.

 

[seekingsolace]

Most. I speak to "Jack and Jill" on occasion. They are pretty set in their ways.

Have you been homeless and asked them? That's a lot of doors to knock my friend.

 

[SkyWriting]

God bless your wife.

I'd go in as well, but only parents get to sit in for security reasons.

 

[SkyWriting]

Have you been homeless and asked them? That's a lot of doors to knock my friend.

Like I said, they always have choices and they make them.

 

[seekingsolace]

Like I said, they always have choices and they make them.

We'll agree to disagree

 

[SkyWriting]

Like I said, they always have choices and they make them.

We'll agree to disagree

You haven't mentioned that you been around the homeless or talked to them
or had family members that have been evicted, or personally evicted bad tenants
from subsidised housing projects. You seem to have no recent experience in the matter.

 

[seekingsolace]

You haven't mentioned that you been around the homeless or talked to them
or had family members that have been evicted, or personally evicted bad tenants
from subsidised housing projects. You seem to have no recent experience in the matter.

I don't need to justify or explain my experiences to validate an opinion or observation.

Evicting persons has little to do with the points I've made.

Honestly, I am not being rude - but it's none of your business. I don't think agreeing to disagree was a poor proposal.