Homelessness

Life and people will kick you when you're down if you let it. I am someone who has been through bouts of homelessness but never for long I always manage to pull something together. It has been difficult since I have become disabled i live on a very strict budget.

"There are those who say, that the only people living on the streets, are those who want to be there." Which is a load of crap...I know/knew many ppl who were homeless including myself as a teen and not one of us WANTED to be there...Its a horrible existence on every possible level... "I'm sure that this is not true in all cases." I cant think of it being true in ANY case though I can see why to some on the "outside" (of the situation) may think that maybe some want to be there. "The person who has lost his/her job, and can't find another may soon end up on the street, but I doubt if it's what they want. On the other hand, a person who has been living on the street for twenty years has his own turf, and doesn't want anyone to take it from him. Isn't it human nature that we want to keep what we have, however little it may be?" Thats the difference right there..a person who is USE TO being on the streets is more sure of themselves in comparison to someone who's just ended up there after yrs of employment and comfortable living...the one USE TO IT may seem like they "want to be there" but they don't, its just a matter of adjusting to the life and the next part is why "If the homeless person doesn't want to give up the little he/she has, it just means that they don't trust society to give them something better" Being someone who HAS been homeless I know that back then there WASNT any help..the shelters were always full (still are sadly), the cops harrass you rather than try to help you, the ppl either ignore you or belittle you more often than not and the government doesnt give a crap! When you only have whats in your hands and on your back you'll fight tooth and nail to keep it 'cause be damned if someone is gonna take THAT away from you too....

I remember when I was a kid all I saw was the old tramp on the street and this was quite acceptable as many of them had chose this way of life. However, as the years have gone by I see more and more young people living on the streets and to me this is never acceptable. Most have come from abused families, the government don't give a toss about them and they are left to fend for themselves. Maybe if I lived in a developing country I would see this as a norm, but living in the UK, an affluent country I find this very disturbing. We have given up on the youth of this country who need our help and I am sickened by the fact that so many people now live on the streets. We have become such a selfish nation, we don't even bat an eyelid now at what we see. This is a sad state of affairs in my opinion and we are failing those who need the help they so rightly deserve!!

Homelessness is a very serious problem. But it is not just in large cities. I have a young man living with me at the moment because he was homeless. He went to school with my son and lived with his grandparents. Once the grandparents could no longer get money for having him in their home, they kicked him out, middle of winter. He was living in a drainage pipe. He couldn't get any help from anyone because he had no income at all. The system is set up to be very difficult for the homeless to get help. I know. I have been trying to help this kid for over two years now and have gotten nowhere.

Well, shelters are usually temporary and sometimes homeless people suffer from some type of mental illness. It can be depression or something worst. I think that charity starts at home and family members need to do more for their relatives and not just be self-centered.

I think that low income housing would be a great solution if the planning/building standards are raised...Using sustainable and recycled materials, solar power, etc. to build the homes could make them more affordable and updated (design-wise) in the long run...

I would say the problem with low class housing is that it is usually in a poor area, and they all look, well scuffy. If you had low class housing scattered among the middle class housing, and if it were near shopping centers and places of employment, schools and businesses, then the poor people can walk to work and to shop rather than have to take the bus. But if you have these low class ghettos, then of course, the stubborn homeless person does not want to live in it. Also why are not there more training to work classes for the welfare and poor person that make sure the person is trained like any other person training for a job. The person who is homeless wants to make enough money to support his family, not just to live hand to mouth.

Our homeless problem began with the closing of most of the mental institutions in the area... people who are not insane, but who are unable to care for themselves properly. In my mind it was the equivilent of sending all the third-graders out into the world to fend for themselves! There should be housing for them, a place where they can be safe, and where they can learn basic life skills. Staff shouldn't be a problem... we have an amazing volunteer base in the area, and most of these are social services professionals. Cleaning crews and other services could be available, as well, to keep the slum conditions from occuring. There are also many unoccupied buildings in our area. There is so much government money going for things... it would be so refreshing to see that same money go to work for people!

America is an elitist country. You fail because you're lazy, you didn't try in school, etc, etc. Of course, there are several opinions that can help. A few are mentioned previously. Help them with government sponsored programs (which will not fly because of the cost argument - large group pays for a smaller group). We can resort to what China has done: take the homeless, throw them in a sweatshop, and use them as slaves to further capitalism. The problem that we face today, even with the lower class, is the lack of opportunity. Create job opportunities, like the ones FDR did in the midst of the Great Depression, but make sure they actually serve a purpose.