The Homeless

Tx Each case should be evaluated by a specialist to refer a case plan for the person or family. Such as some may need mental help, some simply may need job training or placement, etc... They do all deserve a warm meal and bed while doing so.

Local school kids and their family were living out of their car. The only meals they got was at school!! So the school teacher has called a church. They place this family in a shelter that is shared with other homeless family and they provide couseling, job placement or training, some even have homes donated to them by the church/local residents.
 
Daredevel7 said:
It's true that most (if not all) homeless people that I encounter are drunks or drug addicts. However, don't you wonder if they represent only a small percentage of the homeless? I know that if I were homeless, I doubt I'd go around begging for money for 2 reasons: I'd find other ways (I DO have family and friends) and there are shelters 2) I know they would think I am a drug addict, so I most likely would get better success if I simply asked for food.

Wouldn't you think that those of the homeless who are desperate enough to interact with strangers (by begging for $$) are the drug addicts? Wouldn't that give the illusion that MOST homeless people are druggies?
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You're right, it IS illusion. Guess who wait in line at five in the morning, waiting for Labor Ready to open?
 
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From what I have seen, many homeless simply need more opportunities education wise, job training wise, etc. and so forth.

I agree that before they receive help - they should undergo an evaluation to determine their circumstances and the reason for their homelessness. If it is due to a lack of income perhaps a homeless help center can work with local employers to employ homeless people so that they have some income coming in and that they can save their money up for a deposit on a rental. Some income is better than no income. Sometimes their area simply doesn't offer enough opportunities especially in rural areas.

If it is due to substance abuse and/or a mental disorder then they need to be referred to the appropriate treatment facility to where they can be treated and hopefully moved to a functional level. Upon completion they do not need to be moved back to the same are which they were plucked from. They need to be moved to a place where they will have a job placement with opportunities to advance through promotions or education.

If it's an entire family, they need to be kept together if at all possible. The entire family needs to be helped not just the breadwinner of the family. Children will need counseling and therapy, the parents may need job training and/or education to open further job opportunities.

I've been told that this generation of children will be known as the 'Motel Generation' because of the broad widespread displacement of families across the United States due to the poor economy. Even today, many high school seniors are dropping out of school before graduation to look for work to help support their family. This is a step backward, not a step forward for the next generation.
 
I read a book called "The Glass Castle". It talked about a family who spent a lot of time being homeless. They're homeless because they're too proud to be on welfare. If you read this book, you'll understand a lot about homeless issues.
 
A book I would HIGHLY recommend is "same kind of different as me". It's a true story and from my former area in Texas.
 
TXgolfer said:
A book I would HIGHLY recommend is "same kind of different as me". It's a true story and from my former area in Texas.
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I think I have heard that book title somewhere but don't know where. It might have been a small reading selection during one of my college composition classes, but I don't ever recall reading the entire thing. :|
 
jillio said:
You really have some mistaken ideas about the homeless population in America.
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Not to say that one is wrong and other is right, Why would you say that they refuse offer to buy food and only want cash?

I've had people come up asking for money and I would offer to buy them food and they would turn that down and tell me they want cash.
 
Secretblend said:
Not to say that one is wrong and other is right, Why would you say that they refuse offer to buy food and only want cash?

I've had people come up asking for money and I would offer to buy them food and they would turn that down and tell me they want cash.
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It's possible someone just bought them a meal.... :dunno:
 
I remember.... One of the deaf homeless.. He preferred to do nothing and dislike to working for a job! :roll:
 
TXgolfer said:
What can we do as individuals to help the homeless? It is a issue I have been working on for the past month and will be one area of focus for my new non-profit venture. Looking for creative ideas that any of you might have.

I will post some of the things I have been working on later in the thread.
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In California one thing that could be done is cut out a few of the insane laws that create homeless people out of people who are marginal.

Three examples I know of:

A friend of mine lost his home in a divorce. Then he lost his job. Someone gave him a twelve foot camp trailer. He was able to talk some people who owned a small trailer park into letting him park next to the restrooms so he would not have to walk so far.

Along comes the man with the code book: "Buddy you can't live in a camp trailer that doesn't have a bathroom." The owner of the trailer park was fined and the camp trailer impounded.

He moved out to the rock piles where a bunch of homeless people lived. Living in a small group they had more protection than they would as individuals. They showed him how to cobble together a hut out of cast off cardboard boxes.

Along came the men with the warrants: "The businessmen in town have petitioned the city that you folks are a blight on the community so by order of this paper we are burning up all your boxes."


More recently a couple I know fell into bad times with money and could not meet their mortgage payments. They had a simple solution. Let the daughter, her husband, and their children, take over the house and the parents would live in the fifth wheel.

The gal with the code book came along. "You can't live in a fifth wheel. You have to end the situation now or else."

So now the parents are homeless.

A few homeless people were living under a huge tree that afforded them some protection. The last plant manager where I work, and some other "good people" got together to have the lower branches of the tree cut so it would not afford any protection -- So we can have a "better" community.

Multiply that a few thousand times.
 
Jillio, the first thing I thought of when I saw the original question was - see individuals who are homeless as humans, as a group of distinct people as the opposed to "the problem" and "those people". Like what you were just saying in your post.

There are so many factors on one hand, but many times just one thing, one trigger starts the point to homelessness - and it can be things like medical bills, etc.

Women in abusive relationships who have children can be forced to decide between staying with the batterer or leaving to find an appropriate shelter - security at a shelter with children can be more challenging. Weather and provisions for food also affect the outcome of a woman with her kids on the street, differently than if she was alone.

When I was a case manager working with adults with cognitive disabilities, I also worked with people with dual diagnosis and who experienced being homeless. I learned a lot.
 
Babyblue said:
How do you know the homeless people you encounter are drunks or druggies?
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Most of the time, I can smell the alcohol on them. I've also seen track marks on a few. There HAVE been a few who didn't have any evidence, which is why I said "most". When I say encounter, I am talking about the ones who come up to me and ask for money, not the ones I simply see on the streets. I used to live near North Ave in ATL and it ain't pretty.. Hard to get gas around there without a homeless man coming up to you begging for money.

Doesn't mean that they are the face of the homeless, just that they are the more obvious kind.
 
Perhaps it's safe to say a huge percentage of people's opinions of the Homeless are they are worthless drunks/addicts and bums, lazy, and don't want to work.

People tend to "category"...and and the Homeless are categorized this way. Otherwise, some people would tend to say..."Well, if he/she would get a job...."...forgetting about the state of our economy. Or saying, "if they would quit taking drugs"....So many people become Homeless due to drug addiction. Rehab centers are full of them. Relapsing is very common, since they go thru the program, then are released back onto the streets, no where else to go, as family members/friends will not let them back in.

It's a never-ending cycle. One of my own family members has been "clean" now for 13 months, (crack addiction) after relapsing over and over, even being Homeless and living behind a grocery store in the woods, eating out of the dumpsters....Now has a job in Housekeeping....
 
My friend's oldest brother had 7 sisters and brother and he refused to ask them to help him because he does not wanted to give up his drinking problems. So he lived on the street which it was his choice. His mother was heartbroken and no one in the family called her on his birthday dates. Finally one day social worker found one father after searched family for 2 weeks. He died because he lied to social worker that he does not have family. Family is always there for to support and help each other. Problem like him, he does not want to so it made me think about so many homeless people. They must have family too but they are not willing to get help or changed. It is hard for me to accept them and feel for them when they have family to help them out but refused it. Just alike one man who was discovered a beautiful voice by someone and he decided to get help finally after been living on the street for many years.
 
jazzy said:
My friend's oldest brother had 7 sisters and brother and he refused to ask them to help him because he does not wanted to give up his drinking problems. So he lived on the street which it was his choice. His mother was heartbroken and no one in the family called her on his birthday dates. Finally one day social worker found one father after searched family for 2 weeks. He died because he lied to social worker that he does not have family. Family is always there for to support and help each other. Problem like him, he does not want to so it made me think about so many homeless people. They must have family too but they are not willing to get help or changed. It is hard for me to accept them and feel for them when they have family to help them out but refused it. Just alike one man who was discovered a beautiful voice by someone and he decided to get help finally after been living on the street for many years.
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That's very sad!...We lose some...and win others...could be a possibility that the alcoholic (at times) did want to quit, but couldn't!...Also, many druggies/alcoholics don't want their family members seeing them that way.....they are ashamed of their addictions and are at a loss how to stop.

My family member would not accept any help either.....when asked "why"??...replied..."I was "out of it"...and all they can think of is how to get the next drink or the next "fix"......They feel "worthless"....and know their family members are "ashamed of them"...and feel they are just a burden...
 
Make sure that homeless shealter do provide the access like vp , i been battle with arch in austin texas and they did and now i am fight for them to get full access to have them reach anyone

My next step would be next building to them , I will fight for deaf homeless to have access to the bed for women because one arch only take men and i am worry about deaf does not have access because they can not hear when they are asleep
 
deafironchef said:
Make sure that homeless shealter do provide the access like vp , i been battle with arch in austin texas and they did and now i am fight for them to get full access to have them reach anyone

My next step would be next building to them , I will fight for deaf homeless to have access to the bed for women because one arch only take men and i am worry about deaf does not have access because they can not hear when they are asleep
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I bit having a trouble understand but I like your plan for deaf homeless :)
 
Secretblend said:
Not to say that one is wrong and other is right, Why would you say that they refuse offer to buy food and only want cash?

I've had people come up asking for money and I would offer to buy them food and they would turn that down and tell me they want cash.
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How do you know that the people coming up to you and asking you for money are even homeless?
 
jillio said:
How do you know that the people coming up to you and asking you for money are even homeless?
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Interesting point of view, however I never did say they were homeless or did that thought cross my mind. In answer to the question, I don't know if they were or not.
 
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