Is homelessness a visible problem where you are?

seadoug said:
Beyond the homeless issue, it seems every few weeks there are multiple people at intersections holding up signs asking for donations to a loved one's funeral. If it is real, I'm sad for them, but I don't give them money.
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Wonder how many beggars are missing out on a few $$$ due to so many people in general using credit cards now days …..I suppose
we may see beggars in the future with portable ATM machines

Haven't seen that as yet in Australia @seadoug ….give them time I’m sure it will happen
 

Bretrick said:
Every country has the resources to eliminate the homeless problem.
The issue is they do not find homeless people worthy of using up those resources.
How much money is spent on non essential items?
Case in point; Perth (Australia) Spent $280 million on two unnecessary pedestrian bridges.
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Yes, but you need to realize that not all homeless people want to have a home.
My husband works with the unhoused. There are places for them to go and they adamantly refuse to go. Even in bad weather, even for a hot shower. You cannot make people use available resources, sadly enough.
 

Kadee said:
Wonder how many beggars are missing out on a few $$$ due to so many people in general using credit cards now days …..I suppose
we may see beggars in the future with portable ATM machines
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No ATM necessary.
they put their venmo information or other identifier on their signs so that you can transfer money directly to them
 
When I lived in Denver, Colorado I spent volunteer time working with United Way. During earlier days, I had time to work with a few people who were homeless. Organizations were set up to help deal with these problems. Some of the people that were homeless worked with these organization and were able to find good options. Unfortunately, many of those that had alcohol or other drug addictions either did not try to get help from these organizations or tried but were unable to stay sober and lost out on any further help.

What I learned is that these problems are very complex. To resolve, each individual with a drug and/or alcohol problem had to be dealt with one on one (generally there is not enough people willing or able to work one on one). Each individual seemed to have their own unique background relating to how they got started and why they have not found help to resolve the life-threatening condition. There were a percentage of them that tried to get help, but many failed in the long run to stay sober. As you can imagine, these stories are varied, but most all are very sad stories for the individuals and families involved.
 
It is a host of issues ... drugs and alcohol being a big part. Many can be mental issues as well.
Some panhandlers are quite successful and are in fact NOT homeless in my area found several who dressed the part and they felt easy money no set work schedule etc. last one they caught in my city worked a job but this was her side gig... guess after she made news she lost her real job.

What makes me crazy is the props often a dog or the elderly and sadly kids, the younger the better.
I walk at lunch when certain elements are not present in the area can see the tactics and the frequent fliers working the grocery store / fast food parking lot.
this is the list. (also from compared notes with co-workers).
The crew:
#1 2 men who lived in car in dead end road often passed out from drugs so all business in the building i work had restroom locked for business or client use only. they often tried to get someone to let them in restrooms..... but often changed clothes down to buck naked in middle of street 50 yards from a daycare.
#2 2 women of i am not sure what nationality. Broken English only but they will spit on cars that do not donate to them. Chased off by the others working exit because the spitting and attitudes that seemed more aggressive and turned most donors off.

#3 A family worked the store near my work but dad was not smart enough not to wear new stylish clothes and shoes also had a beach chair so not even effort to panhandle. so donations only worked if mom was out with stroller and toddlers in rain or cold. Dad sat in car about 50 yards away. Sporadic when they needed cash i am guessing

#4 Another young man placed his grandpa in a walker at corner while he sat in viewing distance in a car. worked the exit 3 days a week.

Look closely and one will lose the sympathy.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
When the government appropriates more money to house the homeless, there will be more homeless.
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One of the biggest issues in Australia is with indigenous population , the federal government give them millions
of $$ a year but the problem is never solved ..it just gets worse with some of the issues being money just being squandered away on unrelated expenses.
And the majority of homeless living in the parklands that surround the city of Adelaide are indigenous people
(Australian Aboriginal )

@MACKTEXAS
 
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Jeni said:
It is a host of issues ... drugs and alcohol being a big part. Many can be mental issues as well.
Some panhandlers are quite successful and are in fact NOT homeless in my area found several who dressed the part and they felt easy money no set work schedule etc. last one they caught in my city worked a job but this was her side gig... guess after she made news she lost her real job.

What makes me crazy is the props often a dog or the elderly and sadly kids, the younger the better.
I walk at lunch when certain elements are not present in the area can see the tactics and the frequent fliers working the grocery store / fast food parking lot.
this is the list. (also from compared notes with co-workers).
The crew:
#1 2 men who lived in car in dead end road often passed out from drugs so all business in the building i work had restroom locked for business or client use only. they often tried to get someone to let them in restrooms..... but often changed clothes down to buck naked in middle of street 50 yards from a daycare.
#2 2 women of i am not sure what nationality. Broken English only but they will spit on cars that do not donate to them. Chased off by the others working exit because the spitting and attitudes that seemed more aggressive and turned most donors off.

#3 A family worked the store near my work but dad was not smart enough not to wear new stylish clothes and shoes also had a beach chair so not even effort to panhandle. so donations only worked if mom was out with stroller and toddlers in rain or cold. Dad sat in car about 50 yards away. Sporadic when they needed cash i am guessing

#4 Another young man placed his grandpa in a walker at corner while he sat in viewing distance in a car. worked the exit 3 days a week.

Look closely and one will lose the sympathy.
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I recently seen a beggar sitting at the bottom of an escalator with the usual cardboard sign .…he had about an
3 year old girl sitting on his lap, he had a beenie / cap on ~ no hair showing / shaved ~ but had filthy cloths on …so he’s no doubt conning people into believing he’s homeless with a young child to support
( we seen him several times )

I’m Australian …and there was an segment on a Current affairs 7 pm show recently about beggars in Rundle Mall
which is in the heart of the capital city of Adelaide ( South Australia):, some bragged they were making $300+ a day …..well that started the welfare system ( Centerlink ) doing some investigating using facial recognition cameras that are in Rundle mall ….because you are required to report any income fortnightly or risk loosing your benefits
And let’s face it they are not “ working“ as such ….so likely claiming Centerlink.

Just an add on if ..you have a drivers licence in Australia ..Centerlink ( welfare system ) have your details including your drivers licence photo …..Centerlink was once called Social security ….now it’s Medicare / welfare / tax office linked / child support / …it’s appropriately named cause it’s linked to our whole life …they know all about us

Im a meany ..I simply don’t give beggars …. anything …years ago I’d offer to buy food ..but they want $$$ not Food
@Jeni
 
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Kadee said:
Im a meany ..I simply don’t give beggars …. anything …years ago I’d offer to buy food ..but they want $$$ not Food
@Jeni
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I do NOT give them anything........I just see it every day as it is one street over from my job....i walk on lunch for a break from office and see them over and over. Staff in office joke about who is on the corner today?

I totally think using facial recognition if inside a mall may be successful in identifying them if they are receiving any public assistance. Too many here to narrow down although fakers have been caught when someone saw them shed the costumes and get into car etc and have identified them that way.
 
Jeni said:
I do NOT give them anything........I just see it every day as it is one street over from my job....i walk on lunch for a break from office and see them over and over. Staff in office joke about who is on the corner today?

I totally think using facial recognition if inside a mall may be successful in identifying them if they are receiving any public assistance. Too many here to narrow down although fakers have been caught when someone saw them shed the costumes and get into car etc and have identified them that way.
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Rundle mall is actually a an 1/2 km long open mall …no roof on actual street …it was a street but turned into a paved mall about 30 years ago ….it has signs it has facial recognition cameras that were installed to try to cut down on shoplifting.
The only time I go to RM is if I want to go to the Apple shop as it’s the only one in South Australia
Many of the buildings have been there since the 1800’ s

@Jeni



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Not that I've noticed recently. There used to be a small gathering of those I assume were homeless under the train trestle. When I've passed through there lately, I haven't see them. Gates were put up, but there still seems to be a way to get under there.
 
Timewise 60+ said:
When I lived in Denver, Colorado I spent volunteer time working with United Way. During earlier days, I had time to work with a few people who were homeless. Organizations were set up to help deal with these problems. Some of the people that were homeless worked with these organization and were able to find good options. Unfortunately, many of those that had alcohol or other drug addictions either did not try to get help from these organizations or tried but were unable to stay sober and lost out on any further help.

What I learned is that these problems are very complex. To resolve, each individual with a drug and/or alcohol problem had to be dealt with one on one (generally there is not enough people willing or able to work one on one). Each individual seemed to have their own unique background relating to how they got started and why they have not found help to resolve the life-threatening condition. There were a percentage of them that tried to get help, but many failed in the long run to stay sober. As you can imagine, these stories are varied, but most all are very sad stories for the individuals and families involved.
Click to expand...
I did volunteer work for an organization that helped the homeless. They primarily worked with mothers and children. Exactly what happened to all the fathers is not clear. They were successful in putting women to work, getting kids healthy and educated. This is in metro Atlanta.
 
When I was researching a family's genealogy recently I had run into a brick wall. I couldn't find what happened to an infant born to a prostitute. Further research revealed that there was/is a law called the "six month law'" that enables a single street mother to keep her baby in a foster care setting with her as the caregiver for six months with pay to the host family. After six months a decision must be made as to the child's welfare. In the case I was searching, the family decided to adopt the baby.

This is a good scenerio for the child but maybe not so much for the mother.
 
Yes, there are some truely homeless in my area. They will throw up a tent of some kind and live in a wooded area and then come to the soup kitchen for a meal. BUT they really never beg people for anything. I call these folks hobos. They chose to live like this. They move through the night mostly, rummaging through trash as they pass through. They try to avoid people, if they can.

But the ones standing on all the corners and at stop signs, I think they are nothing more than panhandlers. They probably have more money than I do! I will admit I am cynical about the “homeless” but when someone stops and offers them a job, and they turn it down…..well.🤨

Also, I am observant about what they have on. I have seen some wearing bright white tennis shoes or new boots, wearing pretty clean clothes, talking on a cell phone, smoking cigs and has a fat dog sitting beside them holding a card board sign asking for any help because they are homeless and need money to feed the 5 kids, or whatever. On another corner, there is a disabled Vet missing one leg sitting in a lawn chair with a big umbrella over him and a cooler sitting next to him. He holds a sigh that he is a disabled Vet and needs money. I ask…how did he get there? How did he drag all those items with him? I think someone is paying him to beg.

There are homeless shelters in my town and also a VA hospital with housing that these folks can go to if they wish.
 
I live in Naples, Florida where the majority of homes are beyond a working man’s salary. Florida passed a law that people on the street are not allowed and any town that has this problem must provide a shelter, which we do.
 
We have a lot of homeless people in our downtown, which is bad for tourism and we depend on that as a large part of our economy. Many times when leaving a restaurant with my leftovers in a box I’ve had homeless people asked me for the leftovers and of course, I always give it to them.

I have bought people food at fast food restaurants if they’re holding a sign saying they are hungry. They were always grateful and started to eat it immediately.

Unfortunately, large homeless encampment have started fires trying to keep warm and they’ve gotten out of control. We have shelters also, but you can’t bring your dog and there is lots of reports that a lot of violence happens in our shelters. Plus, people report their belongings get stolen in the shelters.

Once outside a grocery store, a young man that was homeless asked me if I would buy him a few hygiene articles as I was entering the store. I gave him $20 and told him he could shop for himself.

We have a real winter here and people have frozen to death. People have also lost some of their limbs from the cold. When homeless people take over a park, etc. eventually, the police do a raid and throw all their items away unless they can leave quickly. The entire situation is very sad. We have people here that are employed full-time and living in their cars. The cost of living is too high, especially rents
 
On occasion I see someone in the "sign business" at a busy intersection. We have over 425,000 folks in this county and the latest point-in-time count of the homeless showed ~550. That's about 1.3 homeless per 1,000 residents, which is also the state average for Florida. National average is 1.8
 
No it's not. Not even in the city. I don't go into the city very often, but when I do, I seldom see a homeless person.
 
They wouldn’t be homeless very long if they had to live outside when it’s -20f around here or 90+.
I don’t know the whole story but they have trails going across town from one place to another for shelter.
Shopping carts or carrying packs.
Maybe destitute is a better word.
I’m sure some choose that life where they exist on smokes or booze or drugs or maybe all of them.
Seen one guy who wears a topcoat a lot and has packs piled all over his bicycle, he stick things in a trash can and then other people pick the stuff up.
I’ve heard that he can’t afford to work or he would have to pay child support to too many women.
Some of them are just plain crazy and I duck aside if I see them behind me in the grocery store.
Dangerous- I don’t know but I don’t want to find out.
I’m sure most of them have a jailhouse education.
 

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