He may not have had a mother, his mother could have been destitute and couldn't help, or his mother may have been dead. There are all sorts of scenarios as to why his mother couldn't or didn't help. It's a sad situation all the way around. Surely some social agency could have steered him in the right direction sooner. You asked about his mother, but what about his friends? If I had a friend who was destitute, I would take them in and try to get them help. There're a lot of questions but not enough answers.
Compassion for The Homeless
- Thread starter Radrook
- Start date
Messy
Senior Member
Yes that's possible, but I have seen cases where these arrogant spoiled people with no job lived in a cheap social house and just kicked their kids on the street. I'm like: If they are normal and not a violent drugaddict or something, but the parent is antisocial, then kick the parent out and give the house to the kid.
In my current job I split my time between mental health facilities and homeless men's support facilities.
Compassion doesn't mean letting them into your house & home it's more about acknowledging them as human beings. Sometimes I see them outside my local shopping centre with a cardboard sign, I subtly read it on the way in. Sometimes in summer I buy an extra bottle of cold water and talk to them them on the way out. Often they appreciate the chat as much as the cold water (or snack), if I have cash I'll slip them 5 or 10, but not always.
Being non-judgemental isn't always easy but it is about being human, there but for the grace of doG go you or I...
Compassion doesn't mean letting them into your house & home it's more about acknowledging them as human beings. Sometimes I see them outside my local shopping centre with a cardboard sign, I subtly read it on the way in. Sometimes in summer I buy an extra bottle of cold water and talk to them them on the way out. Often they appreciate the chat as much as the cold water (or snack), if I have cash I'll slip them 5 or 10, but not always.
Being non-judgemental isn't always easy but it is about being human, there but for the grace of doG go you or I...
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 84
Not I. I do not beg. Or live in the public eye.
**There are worse things than death. --Count Dracula**
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Sunny Southern California ♥
Nice way for that fella to romanticize his "lifestyle." No mention of homeless folks peeing in public, defecating in the bushes (for someone else to clean up), leaving heaps of trash in their wake, panhandling, blocking sidewalks with their mountains of treasures, and otherwise being a public nuisance.
He depends on society to shore up his (unemployed) "freedom" with financial benefits, a warm (or cool) place indoors during difficult weather, and so forth.
I'm not unfeeling about the homeless, but the other side of this "live and let live" lifestyle can be maddening. On another thread someone said something like, "Your freedom to throw a punch ends at my nose."
Homeless encampments and aggressive panhandling have all but ruined the once very charming funky beach town of Venice, California.
OK
I'm curious about how far down on your luck you have been.
Brookswood
Senior Member
In my area we have a drug addiction problem that is disguised as a homeless problem. The
Local homeless shelters run by the county have no requirement that long term residents not use drugs or get treatment. It’s essentially illegal for cities to require treatment or sobriety in homeless shelters.
Did I mention a local government agency that is supposed to help homeless people is 43 million dollars in the red? And 13 million dollars can’t be accounted for at all. They literally don’t know where the money went. Apparently two organizations, one called Miscellaneous and the other one called Other got the money. Checks were written to people with no information about what goods or services were provided.
Local homeless shelters run by the county have no requirement that long term residents not use drugs or get treatment. It’s essentially illegal for cities to require treatment or sobriety in homeless shelters.
Did I mention a local government agency that is supposed to help homeless people is 43 million dollars in the red? And 13 million dollars can’t be accounted for at all. They literally don’t know where the money went. Apparently two organizations, one called Miscellaneous and the other one called Other got the money. Checks were written to people with no information about what goods or services were provided.
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Messy
Senior Member
That's not necessarily their fault. Why don't they build flats for them. The ones who chose to live like that, that number is so little. With covid all of a sudden they had places for the homeless here, like on a boat. These people were very grateful.
I knew a guy. Normal friendly guy from church. He helped me to get rid of a creep. He had helped a lot of women who were abused to get a new house, leave their dangerous men. His wife was very controlling. They divorced and she just stays in the warm fatzo flat and kicks him on the street. Am I to judge him? I judge her. Asshole. You have 2 bedrooms. Don't be a stingy ass. I broke contact with her.
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 84
Good idea, if that's what you want. And you can pay for them.
Jeni
Senior Member
- Location
- pacific northwest USA
The situation with some especially those with addiction issues. they have worn out their welcome with friends or family.
Perhaps it is a clue why some family will not even let them into their home. I had a bf of my sister want to randomly stop by. I knew he was looking for something to steal he had taken money out of a purse at a family gathering.
it is self-preservation to not have them in their home.
Perhaps it is a clue why some family will not even let them into their home. I had a bf of my sister want to randomly stop by. I knew he was looking for something to steal he had taken money out of a purse at a family gathering.
it is self-preservation to not have them in their home.
Messy
Senior Member
In Holland a lazy person who didnt feel like working for 30 years gets a fatzo house and government income. People from other countries get a place. They say that they can't build houses for people with a job because there's some badger that's protected. They can pay their rent themselves, but there's nothing to rent.
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Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
I think Calif ranks #1 for state with the highest homeless population. We have some pretty strict vagrancy laws, but top state officials choose to ignore them. They've discovered it's much more profitable (for themselves, not the state) to collect extra taxes for new housing and mental health/rehab programs.
A very recent state audit can't account for many billions of dollars intended for homeless programs that never materialized. Well, one house materialized; our state governor's $9M mansion. And there was that 120-unit apartment complex that cost taxpayers approximately $2.5 billion to build.
Oh, wait...we didn't actually build it; the $2+ billion went into renovating an existing 120-unit complex with maintenance issues. Taxpayers invested about $16.5M per apartment to bring the place up to snuff. Well, and I assume there was some landscaping as well.
They weren't able to stuff 200,000 homeless people into 120 2-bedroom apartments, though, so the state asked Californians for another $2.9 billion. And we actually said Yes, please rob us again.
Well, you know....nice weather makes us nice, I guess.
Anyhoo, currently, Calif's homeless problem has way more to do with drug addiction than people's personal rough patches. In Calif., addiction is at an all-time high (no pun intended), and despitethrowing away investing billions of dollars ANNUALLY, I don't doubt Calif also ranks #1 for most piss-poor mental health/drug-rehab services.
There's only one service, basically: at least 2 methadone clinics in every depressed area. And call it bad luck (if you're an idiot), but those areas are quickly expanding while the number of taxpayers is dwindling.
A very recent state audit can't account for many billions of dollars intended for homeless programs that never materialized. Well, one house materialized; our state governor's $9M mansion. And there was that 120-unit apartment complex that cost taxpayers approximately $2.5 billion to build.
Oh, wait...we didn't actually build it; the $2+ billion went into renovating an existing 120-unit complex with maintenance issues. Taxpayers invested about $16.5M per apartment to bring the place up to snuff. Well, and I assume there was some landscaping as well.
They weren't able to stuff 200,000 homeless people into 120 2-bedroom apartments, though, so the state asked Californians for another $2.9 billion. And we actually said Yes, please rob us again.
Well, you know....nice weather makes us nice, I guess.
Anyhoo, currently, Calif's homeless problem has way more to do with drug addiction than people's personal rough patches. In Calif., addiction is at an all-time high (no pun intended), and despite
There's only one service, basically: at least 2 methadone clinics in every depressed area. And call it bad luck (if you're an idiot), but those areas are quickly expanding while the number of taxpayers is dwindling.
Oldeagle66
Senior Member
Not anymore, I've tried to be helpful but it always back fired on me.
Messy
Senior Member
We had an arrogant rich woman in church, who lived in a castle with 20 rooms. She just expected to be served for free. Told my ex he could pray and counsel her hours a day, a week long, for free. He said: Nope. Go to Canada. She paid thousands to get it there. Nobody cares. Money enough. She didn't even work. Just took a rich guy and felt she was all that. Her friend, also rich, but less rich, had a friend who needed a place to stay. They were fighting over who had to take her and neither one did.
There was also a former homeless guy who had been addicted to alcohol. He got a nice house from the city. He had 300.000 debt. We lived on my income. We couldn't help him, but we could pray. Prayed and 3 0's were gone. All of a sudden his debt was 300. Also another guy with 19.000 debt. Gone.
We had a church weekend and that was with a room, a sort of hotel. Costed 100 euro. He couldn't pay it, so my ex said: We'll pay. No. He would not accept that. If he couldn't pay it himself he wouldn't go. He picked up the garbage bag outside and underneath it was a 100 euro bill, so he could go. He gave it to my ex. He said: Thanks and shook his hand, giving it back.
There was also a former homeless guy who had been addicted to alcohol. He got a nice house from the city. He had 300.000 debt. We lived on my income. We couldn't help him, but we could pray. Prayed and 3 0's were gone. All of a sudden his debt was 300. Also another guy with 19.000 debt. Gone.
We had a church weekend and that was with a room, a sort of hotel. Costed 100 euro. He couldn't pay it, so my ex said: We'll pay. No. He would not accept that. If he couldn't pay it himself he wouldn't go. He picked up the garbage bag outside and underneath it was a 100 euro bill, so he could go. He gave it to my ex. He said: Thanks and shook his hand, giving it back.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
When a severe cold snap happened in February 2021, Calif was inundated with homeless people migrating to a milder climate. It's estimated there was about 80,000 of them, probably more a guess than an estimate, and they've just kept coming ever since.
I personally visited 3 homeless camps in my area to drop off bags of essentials like socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, granola bars, etc, and a few cases of water. I was met by friendly people, mostly just down on their luck - lost a job, lost a spouse, got evicted, caught a felony charge - but those people were gradually replaced about 4 years ago by drug addicts and people who chose the unemployed life.
They're not friendly; they're demanding. Half of them asked for a ride to the welfare office and the other half complained that I didn't bring McDonald's meals and Monster drinks.
Screw that shyte.
Two of these camps had about tripled in size when I stopped bringing them stuff, and the other was cleared out by police because the strip-mall they camped across from was being renovated. I heard that one moved to the shore of the Sacramento River. I haven't fished that river since, for obvious reasons (bathtub/toilet, if you even needed a hint).
I'm not going to help people who aren't interested in helping themselves but will happily help themselves to my wallet and my stuff.
I think it's nice to see some truth coming out on this topic. I don't live in California but I hear so much from my
son how it's changed I feel like I live it through his stories now. I hear his frustration, anger, and even compassion.
Living with this all around you can't be mentally or physically healthy for those in the area either.
son how it's changed I feel like I live it through his stories now. I hear his frustration, anger, and even compassion.
Living with this all around you can't be mentally or physically healthy for those in the area either.
Messy
Senior Member
There was once a missionary from Africa. She was used to these really poor, super grateful homeless people in Africa. Lol she gave a hotdog to a homeless guy in Amsterdam and he said: I'm vegetarian LOL.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
It's mainly frustrating because state officials keep spending money on failed programs. Plus, they ignore reasonable solutions, such as truly effective rehab services that would include comprehensive mental health treatment and employment services that would include skills-training, resume writing, and direct employment assistance.
About 15 years ago, a Calif legislator proposed building at least 2 of those facilities, and it was proposed again 10 years ago when monitored transitional housing was added to the plan. Including transitional housing, the estimated cost was less than half what the state had lost over the previous 20yrs on completely ineffective tax-funded and federally subsidized programs.
He was still ignored. Wish I could remember his name, but I don't, and he lost his seat after he proposed his plan the 2nd time.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
Sounds about right.
My son is supposed to call this weekend I will ask him. He has memory like a steel trap on this stuff. Sometimes doesn't it feel likeIt's mainly frustrating because state officials keep spending money on failed programs. Plus, they ignore reasonable solutions, such as truly effective rehab services that would include comprehensive mental health treatment and employment services that would include skills-training, resume writing, and direct employment assistance.
About 15 years ago, a Calif legislator proposed building at least 2 of those facilities, and it was proposed again 10 years ago when monitored transitional housing was added to the plan. Including transitional housing, the estimated cost was less than half what the state had lost over the previous 20yrs on completely ineffective tax-funded and federally subsidized programs.
He was still ignored. Wish I could remember his name, but I don't, and he lost his seat after he proposed his plan the 2nd time.
those doing this just want to drown California in to non- existence? I moved out of there in 79 but my heart still breaks for the state.
Coconut
Member
Absolutey no! When I was younger I tried to help several people who were homeless. They went through my things and stole from me while I was at work. One day they were just gone.
Now I live in small 3 bedroom house. I would think about helping a homeless friend or relative, maybe.
I donate items and money to our local homeless shelters who feed and house people.
Where I live it is not safe to let strangers into your house.
Now I live in small 3 bedroom house. I would think about helping a homeless friend or relative, maybe.
I donate items and money to our local homeless shelters who feed and house people.
Where I live it is not safe to let strangers into your house.