I think it's a bit simplistic to view all homeless people as being the same. I always look at the number of homeless people around as a gauge as to how well we are doing as a society. IMHO, lots of homeless people = we are not doing very well, or we are doing 'less well' than we can be.
What would be potential causes/reasons for somebody being homeless? Which are causes and which are effects?
The idea that I seem to hear most is that homeless people are too lazy to work or would rather drink/take drugs than live a responsible life. I'm sure that there are some who would fall under those categories but again it's not as simple as all that.
There can be many reasons that somebody ends up on the street, but typically it seems like it's people who don't fit within our system, can't seem to function within the type of society that we all do. This can be affected by mental illness, being a victim of abuse, getting involved in drugs at a young age or just not getting the guidance from parents or mentors to get on the right path during your impressionable years. There are people who have lost it all due to a gambling addiction, suffered PTSD or similar ill effects from being involved in war or some other trauma, etc. etc.
Surely addictions can be a big part of it, but not the only part. I am totally at a loss when I hear about all the deaths happening these days resulting from overdoses and tainted street drugs. What brings a person to the point in their life where the only thing they care about is getting their next hit? How do you reverse that mindset after one falls into it? These are questions that I have no answers to, but it really makes me wonder what we're doing wrong to have so many people living like this. What can we do better to reduce it? Not sure...
I'm all for helping out the homeless, but I'm not sure that buying them coffee is the best way to do it. Giving them money, even if they don't use it to feed an addiction, is only a temporary measure to help them out that day. Maybe you might save a life, or extend one, but the root of the problem is still not being dealt with. The person will still be on the street the next day unless something changes around them and within them.
I can't help but feel bad for them, and will attempt to help them out as well, but really wonder whether we as a society will ever be able to help them get off the street. Some we will never be able to help, but for the ones that we can, we have to do something better.
I will say that in my travels to the US, homelessness seems to be a much bigger problem there than in Canada.
I think it's a bit simplistic to view all homeless people as being the same. I always look at the number of homeless people around as a gauge as to how well we are doing as a society. IMHO, lots of homeless people = we are not doing very well, or we are doing 'less well' than we can be.
What would be potential causes/reasons for somebody being homeless? Which are causes and which are effects?
The idea that I seem to hear most is that homeless people are too lazy to work or would rather drink/take drugs than live a responsible life. I'm sure that there are some who would fall under those categories but again it's not as simple as all that.
There can be many reasons that somebody ends up on the street, but typically it seems like it's people who don't fit within our system, can't seem to function within the type of society that we all do. This can be affected by mental illness, being a victim of abuse, getting involved in drugs at a young age or just not getting the guidance from parents or mentors to get on the right path during your impressionable years. There are people who have lost it all due to a gambling addiction, suffered PTSD or similar ill effects from being involved in war or some other trauma, etc. etc.
Surely addictions can be a big part of it, but not the only part. I am totally at a loss when I hear about all the deaths happening these days resulting from overdoses and tainted street drugs. What brings a person to the point in their life where the only thing they care about is getting their next hit? How do you reverse that mindset after one falls into it? These are questions that I have no answers to, but it really makes me wonder what we're doing wrong to have so many people living like this. What can we do better to reduce it? Not sure...
I'm all for helping out the homeless, but I'm not sure that buying them coffee is the best way to do it. Giving them money, even if they don't use it to feed an addiction, is only a temporary measure to help them out that day. Maybe you might save a life, or extend one, but the root of the problem is still not being dealt with. The person will still be on the street the next day unless something changes around them and within them.
I can't help but feel bad for them, and will attempt to help them out as well, but really wonder whether we as a society will ever be able to help them get off the street. Some we will never be able to help, but for the ones that we can, we have to do something better.
I will say that in my travels to the US, homelessness seems to be a much bigger problem there than in Canada.
100% correct.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I like to think that I have plenty of empathy for people in need,,, but I also have plenty of resentment for people that are just too lazy to work and have no problem with pressuring people, mostly women, into giving them money.
I've seen the same guy with his hand out at the same busy intersection for the last few years. He looks perfectly healthy, so I wonder why he doesn't just get a job. I like to help needy people but I won't give that guy one penny.
I know some people are too stupid or too antisocial to keep a job but I honestly think some of these career beggars are just too lazy to work.
The part that really bugs me, is there are people that really do find themselves in a tough spot, but we tend to discount what they say because we've heard the same stories from losers that think people should just give them money.
Last year we came out of Home Depot and a homeless man asked me for money for coffee. I've always been told not to give them money (because it likely just supports their addiction) but to buy them food and something to drink. I told him I'd buy him a coffee, ran over to Tim's and bought him a large coffee (cream and sugar) and a doughnut. Came back, he was gone... I can't drink coffee with cream and sugar so it went to waste.
Today outside the doctor's office a homeless man asks me for coffee money. I told him I'd buy him a coffee and asked if he'd like a doughnut. He said "sure, small coffee, cream and sugar, and a Boston Cream doughnut." Ran to Tim's, came back with the coffee and doughnut. You guessed it, gone............ He showed up outside about 10 minutes later with a pizza and a coke which he said a guy bought for him after I ran to get the coffee, so he didn't need the coffee and doughnut any more. Coffee went to waste once again.
What can I do different? I'm NOT giving these guys cash but I want to help them.
Here is a suggestion and this is what my wife and I do. We actually make videos about it to encourage others to do the same.
We make what we call "hope" bags. They consist of toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, band aids, personal wipes, bottle of water, peanut free granola type bar, $5 tims cars, a hand written note, hats, gloves, and most importantly socks. We put in in a reusable grocery bag in a zip lock bag inside.
We have been helping the homeless for 4 years and focus on Christmas time. 100% is given directly to the homeless that need it. So no CEO skims the top or payment goes towards administration. These are things that they need on a daily basis and when trying to find food and shelter these are usually last on the list.
I understand it must be difficult to distinguish a legitimate homeless person who needs a hand up vs a professional thief standing at a corner holding a sign and driving home after a day of panhandling. I have seen first hand but it ruins it for those truly having a tough time.
It is very important to first understand not all homeless people are addicts and no you are not feeding addiction all the time. I know first hand about addicts. If you ask 100 homeless people if they want to be there chances are you will hear 100 "no's. ALOT of them end up homeless due to job loss, family break up, removed or closed mental health hospitals and left on the streets. Then yes some turn to drugs to self medicate because they no longer have a dr and prescription to treat mental illness. And no its not as simple walking into emerg and saying you are bi polar and need meds. I have sat in many NA meetings and watched countless addicts try and stay clean while living in a shelter with active addicts.
I personally know of a gentleman in his 70s who sleeps in the snow, who doesn't pan handle. He doesn't drink, smoke, do drugs. I have seen him on my street collecting pop cans and walking to local recycling center to pay for his food. In the 4 + years we been helping him 90% of the time he turns down help we offer. He feels he would rather be self sufficient. He usually makes a tarp with some pallets and 20 blankets to keep warm. It is really hard to sit down on Christmas Eve having dinner knowing this man a hair younger than my dad is sleeping in the snow with no family. We usually locate him and bring him a meal on Christmas. He tries to keep same location but the city numerous times has removed his shelter and all his belongings. Last winter he had a complete shelter in the woods and was collecting pop cans all day, When he came back everything was gone. He ended up int he shelter that night. He told us they will even steal your toothbrush there so he is more safe under a tarp in the woods. He is NOT lazy. But I HIGHLY doubt anyone would hire a 70s man with 2 teeth and a bit of mental impairment for a job.
Please do NOT thank us for what we do. Be inspired to do the same. I usually keep 4 or so "Hope" bags in the truck. If I can, I will buy them a meal. These are human beings, they are someone's child. school friend, fellow former co workers. Someones parent even. I have even seen people I knew at some point in my life. It is sad. They are not the problem. They are the result of the problem. It is up to all of us to help them. You may not change their life but giving them a bit of hope for the future can save a life potentially. They are not all lazy. Just because someone looks 'healthy" does not mean they are. These people need a hand up not a hand out.
