Compassion for The Homeless

Messy said:
Neuropathy? I don't have health problems. I take care of 3 teens alone, have a nice bike, one bedroom, get extra money from my mom for the kids and have always helped out my ex financially. I give at times, but you hardly ever see homeless people where I live (it's forbidden to beg) and they get govt money and a free place to stay, except when they're not on drugs, which is very bad.

I helped a friendly shy older guy who's not on drugs. He needed money to not sleep in the cold. In Holland I have exes, never went for the money type, one hasnt worked in 30 years, is on pot, lazies around and has a big fat govt house, lives better than me and a govt income, but this poor man on the streets gets nothing and is super grateful when I give him 20 euro. Highly unfair. If he was on drugs he'd get free help, but now they're like: help yourself. Btw I just read that in 2030 they want homelessness gone in Europe. I think guys like that ex, you can give them a free place or room, but not a free fatzo house and the other one nothing.
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Thanks for the reply. Homelessness is a problem all over the globe. We are all trying different things to help. Thanks for being concerned. :)
 
My friend has made friends with some of the homeless people here in my city. She sits in the park in the summer and they have gotten to know her. She sometimes gives them money but just a couple dollars. Once in awhile she buys them a sandwich. The ones she knows gets SSI and have medicaid and some get SNAP. She tells them when an apartment here is coming up for rent but they don't want one. They do not want to spend their money on rent and utilities. They have phones, tattoos & cigarettes. Probably that is where their money goes.
 
What irritates me is rich selfish family members. My ex never had a cent cause we were so dumb to start a church in Holland where they don't pay the pastor. So after we divorced I once gave him all I had extra, 800 euro, so he wouldn't be kicked out of his house. For months I lived from 50 a week with 3 kids. I was as thin as a needle. Only ate bread and cheese myself.

So my ex didn't become homeless, all worked out and he got a cheaper house. And then his fatzo rich brothers who have their own companies. Don't think they ever gave their own brother a cent. Or his fatzo rich mother. Think she ever gave a cent? He once called me. He couldn't even buy 1 bread. And they stuffed themselves full. Irritating.
 
katlupe said:
My friend has made friends with some of the homeless people here in my city. She sits in the park in the summer and they have gotten to know her. She sometimes gives them money but just a couple dollars. Once in awhile she buys them a sandwich. The ones she knows gets SSI and have medicaid and some get SNAP. She tells them when an apartment here is coming up for rent but they don't want one. They do not want to spend their money on rent and utilities. They have phones, tattoos & cigarettes. Probably that is where their money goes.
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My son in California works for the city on grounds maintenance. His crew has been spit on, hit with objects, feces thrown at them, etc just for having to cone off an onramp for grounds upkeep.
He has a hard time keeping a full crew due to that alone. The wiring to some lights and plumbing to some
water supply has been stripped for selling what they can get out of it. It's a constant repair going on out there for the city.

He said it seems to always be the ones camping near or on main streets that do this. You go back off the main streets and then talk to
some of those and you hear the heart breaking stories and these are the ones that comply and ask "When can we return?" He also adds
he has met some who have come to Ca. because they get paid there and all the benefits, which are not enough to rent a place out there.
It's gotten so bad is there any way to end it? I have no idea.
 
I saw on one of the town forums that I belong to where some guy said he needed a place to park his car for a few nights where he wouldn’t be hassled about sleeping in his car.
He said he had just gotten a job in the area.
A half dozen people told him that he could park in front of their homes.
Those kind of helpful people feed people and make sure that people have clothes.
In a case like that where somebody has a reason for needing help-maybe but I’m not taking in just any meth head.
 
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GP44 said:
I saw on one of the town forums that I belong to where some guy said he needed a place to park his car for a few nights where he wouldn’t be hassled about sleeping in his car.
He said he had just gotten a job in the area.
A half dozen people told him that he could park in front of their homes.
Those kind of helpful people feed people and make sure that people have clothes.
In a case like that where somebody has a reason for needing help-maybe but I’m not taking in just any meth head.
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I see that a lot in the community FB pages here too and always someone jumping in fast to offer.
If someone is trying to get on their feet by getting to his job, these people are all over that.
 
CallMeKate said:
I view "compassion" as doing what I can for those in need whether hungry, homeless, ill, etc. Feeling empathy and seeing what I can provide to help. This does *not* however, including taking a stranger (homeless or not) into my home. I will find other ways to help.
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right? and just because someone doesn't want to take that risk doesn't mean they're being judgemental. nothing wrong with being careful.
 
MarciKS said:
right? and just because someone doesn't want to take that risk doesn't mean they're being judgemental. nothing wrong with being careful.
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My downstairs neighbour shared his apt with a guy. Always talked to them. I thought he paid half the rent. Turned out he just let him stay there but eventually it got dangerous, cause he used hard drugs and opened the gas thing. I didn't know. I have let him in. He'd ring my bell at night. I forgot my keys. Oh come in! But that neighbour wanted him out and couldn't say no. Eventually his brother helped him. He stayed there for a while and we got a letter in the mail to explain it and were asked to not let him in.
 
As one of our former presidents said at a press conference:

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.'"

In 3 special elections over the past several years, we Californians overwhelmingly voted YES on a temporary tax increase to fund a 3-tiered solution to homelessness that promised housing, drug & alcohol rehab, and employment assistance. The 1st proposed project asked for 2.2 billion dollars. The 2nd, $2.6 billion. The 3rd time it appeared on our ballots, California voters said YES to a $2.9 billion new and improved project that promised to end the homeless crisis.

Meanwhile, over those same years, the number of homeless people tripled. And that was just the ones they could count. You can bet $2.9-billion the real number is at least double the state's "estimate".

Also meanwhile, our state governor bought himself a $9-million mansion with two swimming pools, a tennis court, and a breathtaking view of the sunny Calif coast. His wife bought 2 major businesses (>cough< fronts >cough<) and created 3 new donor-funded charity organizations.

And when Calif was finally, actually, thoroughly audited a couple years ago, it was found that around $2 billion had gone missing, couldn't be accounted for...chocked up to poor record-keeping. No doubt a tax-paid team worked overtime *fixing* that slight discrepancy.

WE are not failing 250,000 homeless Californians.



That said, would I take in a homeless person?

I have taken in over a dozen during the past couple decades. Most recently, my own sister. Most of them stayed in a men-only shelter I built along the side of my house in Yuba City. (I moved to Sacramento in 2015)
 
I think all those wealthy entertainers with big homes, multiple vacation homes, yachts, and other properties should open them up to the homeless. How many bedrooms and bathrooms do they need at one time? The same with politicians. Bernie has two homes from what I understand. He should open one up to the homeless. That’s the least they can do.

In my home state if the person claimed he was renting a room from me, he could tie me up in court for at least 6 months before I could “evict” him. All the while not paying one dime in rental.
 
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Some US cities have converted old abandoned shopping malls into zero and minimal rent apartments for the homeless. I know of a 2 or 3-level mall where businesses were offered a financial incentive to open restaurants and shops on the lower level. There's also a medical clinic there. I think it's in Philadelphia.

I'd love to see all abandoned malls, office buildings, medical complexes, and federally-owned buildings converted into housing for the homeless. I'd rather our taxes go toward that than to useless, ineffective agencies who's top staff get paid upwards from $150,000 a year. But also, the projects need to go to independent construction companies, and not the government's "favorites" ...the ones who donate big bucks to their political party.
 
There are always homeless people in the park where I take my dog. They're always polite and I've never been approached for money or anything. If I was, I wouldn't be able to give them anything since I don't carry my wallet when I go into the park and I never have any cash, anyway if I did.

I don't blame them for spending time in that park. It's a nice, quiet place with trails though wooded areas. I don't know if they live there or where they sleep. Usually, they don't have sleeping bags or camping equipment. Maybe it's stashed somewhere.

I have empathy for them. Who knows what they've been through that led to their homelessness. Many of them probably came from sh*tty families and from parents who had no business having children since they obviously couldn't provide for them adequately and they were poorly raised.
 
RambleTamble said:
There are always homeless people in the park where I take my dog. They're always polite and I've never been approached for money or anything. If I was, I wouldn't be able to give them anything since I don't carry my wallet when I go into the park and I never have any cash, anyway if I did.

I don't blame them for spending time in that park. It's a nice, quiet place with trails though wooded areas. I don't know if they live there or where they sleep. Usually, they don't have sleeping bags or camping equipment. Maybe it's stashed somewhere.

I have empathy for them. Who knows what they've been through that led to their homelessness. Many of them probably came from sh*tty families and from parents who had no business having children since they obviously couldn't provide for them adequately and they were poorly raised.
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Or their parents died and they divorced. I knew a couple from a church. Visited them a few times. Friendly normal people, but they divorced and there are no houses, so mrs takes the house and he lives on the street. I got so mad when I heard it. How can you just kick him out and live like a queen yourself while he lives on the street?!?! It's not like he was abusive or a cheater. It was such a kind man. Immediately broke contact with her.
 
Brookswood said:
I think all those wealthy entertainers with big homes, multiple vacation homes, yachts, and other properties should open them up to the homeless. How many bedrooms and bathrooms do they need at one time? The same with politicians. Bernie has two homes from what I understand. He should open one up to the homeless. That’s the least they can do.

In my home state if the person claimed he was renting a room from me, he could tie me up in court for at least 6 months before I could “evict” him. All the while not paying one dime in rental.
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to be fair, they probably don't for same sort of reason you don't or other have said they don't

they can support programs, pay for buildings to be converted etc - but I can't blame them for not taking people into their own homes, when we don't do that either
 
January said:
to be fair, they probably don't for same sort of reason you don't or other have said they don't

they can support programs, pay for buildings to be converted etc - but I can't blame them for not taking people into their own homes, when we don't do that either
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It should be forbidden to have multiple homes for yourself. In my country it's constantly: there are not enough houses! But there are loads of holiday parks with fancy houses. Why should 2 people have and a big house and a holiday house when there are not enough houses for everyone?

Our king let Ukrainians stay in one of his castles.
 
Many years ago, my husband's brother-in-law was going through a bad time after his 2nd divorce and was looking for a place to bed down until he found a room. We took him in and every evening he would want to cook us a meal. His favourite was sausages and gravy with mashed potato. Because he liked a drink, he would do the cooking and have a tipple. When I went to the kitchen I was shocked to see so much flour on the floor. He was making Onion gravy, and I think he threw the flour from the doorway,
He would then pick the T, V, programme and then drop off to sleep. I said to my husband, I don't mind it for a few days, but I think he needs to go. He took it well and eventually found a room close to his work.
A couple of our boy's friends were couch-surfing but just for the night.
 
Messy said:
It should be forbidden to have multiple homes for yourself. In my country it's constantly: there are not enough houses! But there are loads of holiday parks with fancy houses. Why should 2 people have and a big house and a holiday house when there are not enough houses for everyone?

Our king let Ukrainians stay in one of his castles.
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I agree with the housing situation. There should be more available affordable housing.
 
MarciKS said:
I agree with the housing situation. There should be more available affordable housing.
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Easy to say. Very hard to accomplish.

Affordable housing is usually older housing. That’s does not mean junker houses, just older ones. New housing is almost always more expensive than existing housing. The only way to make new housing “affordable” is to pass part of the cost of ownership onto other people (called taxpayers) via a subsidy.

Also, people need to realize they don’t have a right to live in a high cost area if they can’t afford it. How many of us in high cost areas have seen our children move away, often far away to another state, because they can’t afford a home where they grew up. It happens.

One way to free up lower cost older housing is to build more modern new housing for the current owners to move into.

There are also alternative ways of construction using factory pre-made homes that are assembled on site. But, that means altering building codes and other laws that restrict this practice. Sears used to sell complete home kits in their catalog. Granny pods are a great modern example or premade housing that can be added to a lot. Why not build a neighborhood of Granny Pods? Other than zoning laws, there is no reason we can’t do that. The Europeans are doing great things with modern, very livable manufactured housing.

Finally, a lot of people with big houses can’t move because of taxes. Obamacare changed the law regarding gains in housing prices making the tax burden much heavier when the house is sold. It’s often smarter for mom and dad to keep their big houses they don’t need, and pass it on to the kids upon their death. That way the kids avoid the high taxes and get to keep more of the value of the house.
 
No.

California has been a Mecca for homeless and criminals from elsewhere. In the vast SFBA urban region, they are everywhere with many too unknowns, too desperate to be trusted. All counties and cities, as well as the state, have homeless programs that should be where such people go for help. If one needs bus fare to go to such government places I'll readily give such to them.

As I've posted elsewhere on this board, the horrible homeless societal situation is primarily the result of Wall Street corporations, especially greedy real estate corps and their financial banks etc, and businesses seeking lowest pay employees, via policies and laws controlled by their puppet politicians and their news media deflecting blame elsewhere, that have allowed excessive numbers of illegal immigrants, especially the unskilled and desperate, into our nation. Corporations that will be the last to help as it gets in their way to playing golf in Palm Beach or Palm Springs.
 
I
Brookswood said:
Easy to say. Very hard to accomplish.

Affordable housing is usually older housing. That’s does not mean junker houses, just older ones. New housing is almost always more expensive than existing housing. The only way to make new housing “affordable” is to pass part of the cost of ownership onto other people (called taxpayers) via a subsidy.

Also, people need to realize they don’t have a right to live in a high cost area if they can’t afford it. How many of us in high cost areas have seen our children move away, often far away to another state, because they can’t afford a home where they grew up. It happens.

One way to free up lower cost older housing is to build more modern new housing for the current owners to move into.

There are also alternative ways of construction using factory pre-made homes that are assembled on site. But, that means altering building codes and other laws that restrict this practice. Sears used to sell complete home kits in their catalog. Granny pods are a great modern example or premade housing that can be added to a lot. Why not build a neighborhood of Granny Pods? Other than zoning laws, there is no reason we can’t do that. The Europeans are doing great things with modern, very livable manufactured housing.

Finally, a lot of people with big houses can’t move because of taxes. Obamacare changed the law regarding gains in housing prices making the tax burden much heavier when the house is sold. It’s often smarter for mom and dad to keep their big houses they don’t need, and pass it on to the kids upon their death. That way the kids avoid the high taxes and get to keep more of the value of the house.
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I know it's a vicious cycle of greed coming from all directions and people don't stand much of a chance.
 
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