What pops in your mind when you see homeless people?
By mskim2u2004
@mskim2u2004 (355)
United States
December 26, 2006 8:19pm CST
Many times when we see homeless people we think the worst. For instance, their on drugs or are alcoholics thats the reason why they are living on the streets. Tyra Banks show really opened my eyes to homeless people. Yes, there are some that are drug addicts but not all. There were to kids ages 13 and 15, living on what is called "Skid Row" becuase their father was the supporter and became addicted to drugs. When the mother tried to get a job, she was not able to and as a result they lost their home and ended up on the streets. Another woman, by the name of Ashley, boyfriend left her. She lost her job because she could not keep keep up with bills and pay for childcare. She started taking her kids to work and says the boss was cruel to her. He fired her. She had been living on the streets with her two children.She is now in a shelter. You can read more at http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/show_recaps/show_recap_tue68.html
What are some reasons why you often think people are homeless? Does this change your mind any? Be honest.
16 people like this
70 responses
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
27 Dec 06
When I see homeless people I pray that enough money would come my way someday so that I can help them!!!+
@Jestin (560)
• Philippines
27 Dec 06
The same thing pops up of my mind. I wish I am as rich as Paris Hilton so I can do something to help those people in the streets. However, sometimes, seeing big men on the streets, I feel a little mad because I think there's always a way to earn money but sometimes, these men are just too lazy to work. But nonetheless, I wish I can take the women and children and old people in and help them get back on their feet.
3 people like this
@mansha (6298)
• India
27 Dec 06
SO at least I am not the only one thinking on these lines. I really wish I could help these homeless people too. I wish to create small homes two bedroom flats for them and give them to them on rent as low as 1rs INR or 1 cent and create jobs fopr them help them somehow to earn some money even if its by making paper bags. If I am rich someday, i will certainly do something about it. Not even rich I just wish I had 3000 RS to spare and I would have started doing something for them.Especially for homeless kids.
@MESUSHANT (196)
• India
27 Dec 06
You are right. when i see the peoples homeless i had also in a same thought. But would really people help them after they getting enough money. I dont think so because if it is right then all the rich peoples going to helps them but they dont do so. Every person who had a financial ability had to take responsibility towards his society to get rid of these kind of problems.
@cwgrlsarefun (1581)
• United States
27 Dec 06
very good article. Today I watched the same Tyra Banks show, it was an eye opener. I did not realise how many children and mothers with children were out on the streets. When I see families out on the streets I have to wonder how they ended up there. I have been known to give to families that I see living on the streets. I never gave money would always give food, clothes, and necessary items. Now that I am starting over I pray everyday that I do not end up like that.
3 people like this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
27 Dec 06
You may have seen them and not realized it. There are "tricks" that they have to keep from looking distraught and vulnerable too. They keep clean, they spend long hours in malls and such. It's not always obvious, especially in families. Single people tend to be a lot more obvious and are generally there because of either mental illness and no desire to have a real change or from addiction. Families are generally there because they had a bad turn, have a loss of jobs or a loss of income, etc.
2 people like this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
27 Dec 06
Maybe it's just me, but I've never seen homeless kids or mothers roaming the streets, or begging for money. It has always been guys, and always been a man alone who didn't ever say anything about wives or kids. Now I don't know what I would do if a mother and young child, or a young pair of siblings, came up to me. But so far, I've only seen older men and I give them nothing but advice "go find a homeless shelter"
3 people like this
@taruha (559)
• United States
27 Dec 06
It is really unfortunate to see homeless people living either in shelters or on the streets.I always think that why the god almighty have become so kind to me and hence,I will do something good for the others so that again the positive contribution of these good deeds come back to my acount.Sometimes, i am forced to think why the god has been so kind to me and has given me all these.this thoughts make me to do something for the others.
@SK401001 (934)
• United States
27 Dec 06
Sometimes I wonder if you would give them a chance to help get them cleand up and let them live with you for a while if that would make a difference. But then I am a single mom, and even so how much I would like to give them a chance. I don't now who is out their by their own choice and action, and who should get a break.
3 people like this
@sushbadu (9)
• United States
27 Dec 06
My thoughts in the order when I see them....
Man, I wish I could help them.
I see them they are physically alright...then why don;t they work?
for some wwo are really helpless...god...why are they poor? Its all your fault in creating them like that.
I remember the saying....that this life is the result of what you did in your previous life...so they should have been really bad in their last life and they deserve it.
Finally, I think...Thank god....I am not one of them.
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
27 Dec 06
There an awful lot of homeless people out there who do not beg, who are clean and groomed and who go to their jobs and classes.
There are a lot more homeless people than most people realize.
@mforseth (169)
• United States
27 Dec 06
I do think that the majority of homeless people have made a lot of bad decissions which caused them to become homeless. I do think that there are some rare cercumstances where the person has had a string of bad luck and ended up on the street. When I see a homeless person I usually feel very bad for them and often wonder how that happened. I do know a lot have had opportunities and they declined. Most homeless either started out with a mental disorder or now have one due to the living environment.
3 people like this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
27 Dec 06
I know there ought to be a few good ones out there, but honestly I think most are meant to be homeless. I just watched a show (I think Oprah) where they followed a homeless guy, gave him 100,000 dollars, and he quickly lost it and was homeless again. He was even offered money counselling along with the money so he could learn how to save it and make more of it, and he turned it down.
In other experiences, if you try to offer the homeless food, they say no they just want money. If you say "i'll take you to the restaurant and buy you a meal" they don't go. So if they are really starving and hungry, why won't they take a free meal?
Finally, there are lots of homeless shelters and programs to help them that I would rather donate to than give money directly to the homeless. If I pay a shelter, and the homeless people go to the shelter, than I feel I helped them. If I pay a shelter, and the guy would rather sit and beg for cash, then he doesn't deserve the money because he is not taking advantage of the resources available to him.
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
27 Dec 06
btw, that guy on Oprah said at the end that he feels more comfortable being homeless, living under a bridge, and collecting cans. He basically said he feels he is meant to be homeless. So isn't it possible there are more people out there who are perfectly fine living on the street as long as they make enough money in a day to eat?
I've actually seen a few specials show that a homeless person can collect 20$ an hour from saps like us, and others collect 20$ a day from recycling cans and bottles we throw out. 20$ a day is enough for a meal, and still leaves money to be set aside and saved! So, not all of them are that bad off.
2 people like this
@shuckieduckie (121)
• United States
28 Dec 06
I do think some people put theirselves on the street but the majority don't. They have not choice and they end up in a bad place. I feel for them and wish I could help them but I can't. I did see that on another talk show someone gave a homeless man money to see if he would turn his life around. The man had no idea what to do with all the money. He wound up on the streets again at the end because he just gave a lot of the money away because he thought he was popular with everyone talking to him. It is sad that kids and animals our out there homeless as well. Here in Texas we have the Soupmobile and Operation care that help homeless people.
@Melizzy (1381)
• United States
27 Dec 06
I don't think the worst. I think of how grateful I am that I have a home and food. I wonder what happened in their lives to render them homeless?
I wonder if they have a family somewhere that is worried about them? Or have they been shunned by family and are all alone? Those are the things I think. And I wonder what I can do to help and then I try to do that. Whatever it may be.
@bimmer999 (1158)
• Philippines
27 Dec 06
i always pity homeless people..but some just doesnt deserve it.
i guess it depends on the bum..but at least they got a shelter to go to and eat some decent food even for a few times a year in a shelter.
3 people like this
@mukulmisra24 (1703)
• India
27 Dec 06
i want to help them but i m not a god thats why i dont help them
2 people like this
@apostrofy (661)
• Romania
27 Dec 06
i feel sorry for them and i wish i could help them all one day. i know it sounds foolish but it makes me cry when i see old people hungry and cold and miserable on the streets. not all of them are alchoolics or bad persons, some were really unlucky in life. i always think that these things could have happened to my own familly, and i thank god they didn't
@karimulla_ou (161)
• India
28 Dec 06
dont get into bad habits, most of the people come into these type of habits just for fun, or some of the friends will force him to take only one sip and then they will increase the sip count, all these things are fine if evert thing is for fun, but human beings are want to taste some more once in a week, and then they will try daily and get addicted to it, so ultimately his family has to suffer, so pelse dont have bad habbits
2 people like this
@pufitza_mison (627)
• Romania
27 Dec 06
some reason in my coutry-- are old man wich stay's on the street becouse theyr children's let them without houses, other becouse they have no source of money they stay on the corner's, there are many children too wich are obligate from their parents to asck for money.It is verry sad other they don't have any chance and they remain on the street.Yes this change your mind it mackes you thinck that the world is verry cruel...and people don't help each other.Nobody help you so if you can't help you then you die and nobody cares.
2 people like this
@BrySm607 (25)
• United States
28 Dec 06
Got a job as a sign holder. Here in Denver we have professional bums. They live in a motel where the guy makes them a lunch, writes their signs, drops them off at their assigned corner, picks them up after work and takes a cut from the earnings. No bull!
2 people like this
