Why do we ignore the homeless?

read above.

 

I'm not saying give every homeless person a $5 bill, but giving a homeless person the change in your pocket generally isn't going to seriously affect the finances of anyone who isn't homeless, but can make a huge difference in the day of someone who is.

 

Jesus, I hope this is a joke. Where has your heart gone? Many people in political office abuse drugs and alcohol. So only the poor should be punished? Christ, I wish you sunflowers and sunsets.

QP

 

The problem runs deeper than just homelessness, I'm sure, and how we treat each other as human beings.

It's a question of respect, I wager. And they should be treated with the utmost respect, but how this is best done is a gray area. You want to hold them up to the same standards you hold yourself. The problem works both ways -- the homeless might not feel at ease asking people for help, because people treat each other with such disrespect.

I mean, if we could trust each other, this would be a very different world. And I'm all for it.

 

I trust everybody and I love everybody. I'm willing, and you can be easily, too. Put yourself in their shoes (do you want someone to ignore you when you're homeless asking for money?? Probably not.).
Don't talk about "if we...", but talk about "I do...", lead by example, not scolding.

 

Exactly. It gives one hope. And how do you place a price on hope? You cannot. But I'm still here - thirty years after being homeless. And I've published two books. No, I'm not rich. But I think that's what this thread is all about: A person is only good if he has money. A very sad American truth.

I know (for a fact) that hope is better than money. Take away hope - and a person begins to die. Hope is priceless. Period. You can keep your fat bank accounts. They ultimately won't save you. Trust me.

QP

 

America, the land of the free atriot:

 

I gave a homeless man 20 dollar bill last week on my way to the bookstore. Try giving more money next time (message to whoever said they gave 5$! : ) lol.)

 

It is not just a matter of money. To give respect to a person who is for some reason down on their luck is what matters.

Today all that are homeless are not druggies or all the other terrible things we want to think they are.

If you don't have two pennies to rub together and can not give money then give a person dignity by not making them invisible on your radar. As smile, a hello, a look in the eye that does not hold judgment or disgust.

Homelessness is a symptom of all that is wrong.

 

I agree * claps * The thing to know is that when someone asks for money from you, no matter if they are homeless, pretending to be homeless, going to use the money for drugs or for a subway sandwich or saving it, matters not. The fact that someone is reaching for help, the least you can do as a heartful human being who understands what it's like to feel like you are missing something and are not whole as you are, is to give something that you know you don't absolutely need, to someone who asks.

 

Way too many of the homeless are disabled veterans who were screwed by their government, that they served.

Too many people here seem to think living in a cardboard box and begging for table scraps is a career choice.

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all disabled veterans are homeless? I had no idea.

 

That's not what I said.

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html

Another significant portion of the homeless are mentally ill who cannot support themselves.

Like I said, this ain't no career choice.

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Exactly. A lot of the people living on the streets cannot get themselves out of that situation without some help from others.

There will always be those who could change things if they wanted, but you'll find that in every population. I'm more annoyed with those benefit cheats who I'm paying to just sit at home.

 

what about the benefit cheats who have undiagnosed mental illnesses and need others to help them because they can't help themselves?

 

Yes, they are clearly the people I am talking about

 

I hope so, we can't have any sweeping generalisations about particular demographics of people here!

 

Really? That's where you're going?

Okay, from now on I will painstakingly define every term I use. Didn't think I had to, but maybe I do...

 

I had to.

 

I think your view is clear. We talked about it enough.

But, anyhow I think my stance is known on this thread, so I'll leave it there.