Think About It
Homelessness is a problem. It’s a difficult problem. There are those who don’t want to be on the street and then there are those who choose a drug habit or some such thing over having a home… and wind up on the street.
Homelessness is a problem. It’s a difficult problem. There are those who don’t want to be on the street and then there are those who choose a drug habit or some such thing over having a home… and wind up on the street.
…then there are the mentally ill.
I work in Philadelphia, where homelessness is visible in all forms in pretty much all places. The most difficult part of it is being torn between helping and doing nothing. That seems harsh, but there are so many who will only drink, smoke, or shoot up whatever money you give them.
For awhile, if someone asked for money for food, I would offer them my own bag lunch, or I would offer to buy them a meal from a corner vendor or fast food place. Nine times out of ten, sad to say, they would decline; they really were interested only in the money. (Even though they would say they were hungry when they first asked.) Later, when Philadelphia offered a “food coin” that you could trade for money and then give to the homeless, it was soon discovered many of the coins were be sold for cash by the homeless so they could… well, you know the rest of the story.
*sigh* It can jade a person. We pretty much just give through organizations now that are required by law to reveal how much of each dollar goes to the homeless. It’s a pretty sterile way to help, but at least you’re not enabling drug habits or alcoholism.
I had a guy come up to my car as I was entering a Burger King drive-thru, and ask me to buy him a burger. I did, and I bought him a $10 Burger King card so he could get a few more burgers. I rarely give cash, but I’ll buy people food when asked.
I’ve worked at a soup kitchen. What I came to learn is that there are 3 groups of homeless. One is the “homeless by choice” group – these are the most visible, the aggressive panhandlers, the ones who take money and spend it on booze and drugs, etc. They *choose* to be homeless, to live outside the law and outside society’s rules. Many have mental issues. But while they are the most visible (and suck up an inordinate part of resources) they are not the only group. The second group is made up of travelers. Those who followed the Grateful Dead back in the day – they like the lifestyle, they even get jobs occasionally. They really don’t need help but they are happy to mooch off of other people’s work. The third group are those who have suffered a series of unfortunate events that left them without a roof over their heads (and usually without a job) but they WANT a job, they WANT to pay rent and live a normal life. With a bit of help they get back on their feet. Unfortunately, the two other groups suck up so much of the resources for the “homeless” that those who are most deserving often don’t get the help they need.
Finally, a lot of homeless are vets. IMHO the VA should offer a 1-year enrollment, no questions asked, to any service member discharged from the services (even dishonorable discharge). When someone goes into the military and undergoes what we train them to do, the experiences we put them thru, we OWE them a decent transition back to civilian life. There should be NO delay in getting VA services once discharged. During that first year the VA can do the paperwork to see if the vet qualifies for longer care. There is simply NO excuse for dumping vets out of the service and then expecting them to wait months, years sometimes, for the VA to process the paperwork to see if they qualify for VA care.
Fog… yes… there are those poor souls who are mentally ill. I listened to some stories on the TED Hour (NPR) yesterday which was most eye-opening. It certainly was an insight to mental illness.
Pete & JC… thank you for your detailed insights.
My office is near the bus station and transit center here in Salinas. I am constantly barraged with “can you help me out with a bus ticket?” Same people asking… apparently not going anywhere. I, too, have stopped giving money and change. I donate, also as well, to worthy organizations that give opportunities to those who desire to change their predicaments.
JC… I’m glad you mentioned homeless Vets. As Rudy is a Vet. I have only hinted at this, but it is now said.
I think George Carlin stated it best when he explained that the condition is not homelessness…
it’s houselessness.
When Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys frontman) ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1979, one of the planks of his platform was to allow squatting in buildings that were being left empty as tax writeoffs.
About being near the bus station – I’ve been hit up many times with the “my car is out of gas” (but always “over there”, never where they are panhandling) and I don’t give out cash. But one time a guy was at the station, with his car at a pump, asking for money to buy gas. I said no to the money, but then went inside and paid $10 to the cashier for his pump, then went back out and told him he had $10 on the pump and to start pumping. That’s how I know my money is really helping someone in need and not going to booze or drugs.
My girlfriend arrested a homeless man.
A bystander objected, and offered him $10.00.
My girlfriend said to the man she was arresting, “Now, Jason, tell the truth. What would you do with that money?”
“I’ll get drunk.”
Then to the good Samaritan, “He’ll only be in jail for two days. While he’s there, he’ll have six decent meals, a safe, warm bunk, and a shower. When he gets out, his clothes will be clean. Do you still want me to let him go?”
Jason went to jail.
Of course, that was many years ago, when she was a Savannah street cop.