I'm sure this topic has been brought up in the past so here it is again. What do you think is(are) the solution(s) to the plight of the homeless? I have heard that some cities are banning people from helping them with money. Many of the homeless have mental health issues. There are also many who are not far away from becoming homeless should a small check be taken away. Personally, I don't know who is really homeless on the street and who isn't. I have given a few dollars at times to those who I thought were homeless who gave me a good reason for needing it. But I am by no means made of money and can't help all of the homeless out there. So what kinds of things can be done for the homeless? I'm talking about long range plans as well as short term. How about homeless all over the world? Is this a problem all over the world?
Homeless
- Thread starter Ruthanne
- Start date
Well, I think General William Booth wanted to send all London's homeless to either America or Australia and create some sort of work community for them to live and work in.
That was maybe 150 years ago.
I think if there were a solution someone would have come up with it by now.
That was maybe 150 years ago.
I think if there were a solution someone would have come up with it by now.
Well I didn't say "the" answer. Was trying to get opinions on different answers for different people. Yes, it would be good to help them to help themselves but not all of them are able to do that. Some are able to get to the point of helping themselves.
We live in a society where the problems of the homeless are not a priority so there still may be solutions and maybe no one is listening to them because they just don't really care. Everyone is just out for themselves it seems.
Good point, Ruthanne.
Helping one help themselves is 'a' goal not necessarily the feasible or practical reality. Because of the many economic problems exacerbating personal issues and/or problems I'd say make sure the homeless have the basics, shelter and food and build on that.
I agree with that and especially when the weather is cold outside. People have been found frozen to death.
This.
This week I am watching a wonderful horse show. The amount of money it must take to keep these kinds of horses and equipages boggles my mind. I cannot imagine that kind of money.
Some say that if the rich would share the wealth there would be no poverty, no homelessness, no hunger.
I don't know. I am enjoying the beautiful horses and the turnouts like I've never seen before outside of books. I wish just one of those people would buy me just one plain old grade horse and board it for me for a year so I could ride it occasionally. It wouldn't put even a small dent in their bank account. But they don't owe me anything. I would like to actually go to PA next May-June to just see the show, but that too might be way over my budget.
Just interesting to me that while I'm thinking all these things you post about homelessness. I'm so grateful not to be. I came thisclose twice in my life, and yet I have a roof over my head, and my two kitties, my guitar, and food in the fridge. Thank God.
One of the things with homelessness is why is someone homeless. Hard economic times, drug & alcohol abuse, bad decisions, out of work, etc. Homeless might just describe someone's very current status. You have to separate the hard core long term homeless with serious issues from some one simply going through bad times. You give someone the very basics ie shelter and food but they have to work on the associated issues themselves-with assistance and motivation as needed.
I have been homeless. I was lucky enough that someone took me in after awhile.
Sometimes a person is homeless because of all the above. I don't know what a hard core homeless is with serious issues-maybe someone who can't care for themselves because of psychosis perhaps? It's hard to know what to do with such persons. When I was homeless I was just going through bad times and got myself out of that and after awhile started working. Hunger and a place to sleep can be good motivators for some but not for others.
Thanks. There are those out there, though, who are truly trying to help the homeless. Those that run the soup kitchens and shelters. In my city there are many churches that have free dinners almost every night of the month and also a food bank to get food once a month. There is also a place to get free fresh produce but I'm not sure where that is. So, there are some good souls trying to make sure no one starves.
I know there is some emergency free housing for people who formerly had drug and alcohol addictions and one of them lives in the apartment place where I live. Not everyone is eligible for that, though.
"Hardcore" is inappropriate when describing homeless people. "Long-term" homelessness can happen when people are turned out from mental hospitals either because the hospitals close or the person can no longer afford to stay there. Unsupervised, off their meds and with no one to see that they take them or even can buy them, they are basically just out in the cold, literally, unable to provide for themselves.
It's hard to get a job if you have no address; how do you get an address if you don't have a job? It's a vicious circle.
Maybe one way to help is what you posted about earlier, giving handouts. But that doesn't always really help, and sometimes harms, if they don't go buy food but buy drink or drugs (although how they could buy drugs with the typical $5-10 handout is beyond me!). It can also be dangerous to the person giving the handouts.
Maybe the best thing is to give money to the Salvation Army and other groups who run soup kitchens and shelters. I read years ago about the Salvation Army in London taking blankets and KFC to people who were living under a bridge, I think. The Salvationists know their community and the people they serve and know best how to use the money given them (they definitely don't buy drink and drugs!). They have a long long history of street ministry and even have training colleges where they learn how to do their ministries.
It's hard to get a job if you have no address; how do you get an address if you don't have a job? It's a vicious circle.
Maybe one way to help is what you posted about earlier, giving handouts. But that doesn't always really help, and sometimes harms, if they don't go buy food but buy drink or drugs (although how they could buy drugs with the typical $5-10 handout is beyond me!). It can also be dangerous to the person giving the handouts.
Maybe the best thing is to give money to the Salvation Army and other groups who run soup kitchens and shelters. I read years ago about the Salvation Army in London taking blankets and KFC to people who were living under a bridge, I think. The Salvationists know their community and the people they serve and know best how to use the money given them (they definitely don't buy drink and drugs!). They have a long long history of street ministry and even have training colleges where they learn how to do their ministries.
I like the Salvation Army! They helped me out a few times, too. I am very thankful for having a roof over my head today for me and my babies.
fureverywhere
beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
- Location
- Northern NJ, USA
There has to be a complete national overhaul in the US regarding the homeless. But no one can collectively figure out how to begin to pay for it. There needs to be free and easily accessible mental services and outreach including medications. If you have to take two buses to get to the clinic and the voices in your head say you can't go out today...Or you need your meds now and the waiting list is three months for services. There's a bad situation ready to happen.
The system fails people with even moderate physical disabilities. Not enough clinics to go around and marginal care even then. Maybe you want to be self-supporting but many jobs are closed to you. There needs to be daycare and educational services in place. There are people who want to work but lack skills and education to better themselves. Figure in if they have children and can only work for minimum wage, they're stuck in a cycle of poverty.
Building more state funded housing and keeping those buildings safe. Oh and treatment programs for alcohol and drug abuse...methadone clinics and ongoing out patient services. Transportation needs to be available. So it's a many headed monster that needs to be fought to eradicate or even minimize homelessness. It's a big problem by where we live. They have shelters that can be more dangerous than sleeping on the street.
The system fails people with even moderate physical disabilities. Not enough clinics to go around and marginal care even then. Maybe you want to be self-supporting but many jobs are closed to you. There needs to be daycare and educational services in place. There are people who want to work but lack skills and education to better themselves. Figure in if they have children and can only work for minimum wage, they're stuck in a cycle of poverty.
Building more state funded housing and keeping those buildings safe. Oh and treatment programs for alcohol and drug abuse...methadone clinics and ongoing out patient services. Transportation needs to be available. So it's a many headed monster that needs to be fought to eradicate or even minimize homelessness. It's a big problem by where we live. They have shelters that can be more dangerous than sleeping on the street.
Fur, yes, all of the things you mentioned are needed. The politicians are always talking about helping the middle class, well that's good but what about the homeless? They need all the help they can get. I think Bernie Sanders has mentioned them. Like you said, they need good treatment programs for mental illness as well and follow up care all the time. Maybe if they would take some of the billions of dollars they give to other countries and help our own people on the streets it would get better. There are so many who are stuck in the cycle of poverty and just can't get out. Education is the answer for some but not all.
AprilT
Well-known Member
- Location
- A galaxy far far away
Butterfly
SF VIP
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
Many people are just a paycheck or two away from being homeless.
I've never been homeless, but I've been very, very, very cash strapped a couple of times. I'm thankful every day that I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge and enough money to take care of myself and my doggie. So many people are not as fortunate as I.
I've never been homeless, but I've been very, very, very cash strapped a couple of times. I'm thankful every day that I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge and enough money to take care of myself and my doggie. So many people are not as fortunate as I.
Thanks for those articles. They are really good. There has been a lot done for the homeless in certain cities depending on funding and grants. It's important for that funding to keep being made available.
I have posted the same thing and gotten reamed out for it. But I stand by it.
Methadone clinics aren't free, and if you don't have insurance you have to pay out of pocket. And they take TIME. Not to just go get your dose, but to meet with a counselor, to attend support groups, to do more than just gulp and go. Which is better than nothing, but it is an investment of time and money.
fureverywhere
beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
- Location
- Northern NJ, USA
Methadone clinics aren't free, and if you don't have insurance you have to pay out of pocket. And they take TIME. Not to just go get your dose, but to meet with a counselor, to attend support groups, to do more than just gulp and go.
That's a good point, they need to make methadone as well as psych meds far more accessible along with outpatient services. If you have no access to transportation and/or would have to choose bus fare or eating that day...Getting to a distant clinic might prove too difficult. Then the person slips back into drugs or is forced to go off their meds. There has to be a better way.
I could go down to a bus stop right now and come home with a fix rather easily. But trying to get my prescriptions right now is all but impossible. If that doesn't show how screwed up US healthcare is. Never mind how badly the "War on Drugs" failed. Yes, take all the money being channeled into that and use it to fix the health care system, now there's a great idea.
That's a good point, they need to make methadone as well as psych meds far more accessible along with outpatient services. If you have no access to transportation and/or would have to choose bus fare or eating that day...Getting to a distant clinic might prove too difficult. Then the person slips back into drugs or is forced to go off their meds. There has to be a better way.
I could go down to a bus stop right now and come home with a fix rather easily. But trying to get my prescriptions right now is all but impossible. If that doesn't show how screwed up US healthcare is. Never mind how badly the "War on Drugs" failed. Yes, take all the money being channeled into that and use it to fix the health care system, now there's a great idea.
Shalimar
SF VIP
- Location
- Vancouver Island Canada
I read an article which claimed that as much as fifty percent of homeless people suffer from significant brain injury.
I think many are vets.