Why are there so many bums in NY?

Answer 1

For the opposite reason that there aren't any in Switzerland.

Official tolerance or the lack of it; coupled with alternatives for the mentally disturbed and others actually incapable of earning a living.

Some few of the "bums" are scammers who make a good living at it. Most are unstable and incompetent.

Answer 2

I go for a week every month and I never see any. I always stay at the Dakota. Do you think that makes a difference as I travel only by limo and always have security. Maybe they run the bums off?? Of course my defination of Bums does include a lot of the so called "middle" class as I am richer than God. So this explains a difference of what to class as a bum. Some of those you call "bums" are documented to make as much as 40 thousand and more a year in NYC. Then they winter in Florida. Don't you wish you could join them???

Answer 3

It REALLY isn't just NYC they come to; it's any city, really, where they can panhandle, collect bottles, cans to exchange for money, find public shelters and charitable open-kitchens that feed the destitute.

NY's homeless problem has had a very, very long history, since before the Civil War, when they were commonly called beggars, where there were warring factions all over the city trying to gain control over "turfs" to panhandle and steal, composed mostly of abandoned children to runaways and orphaned children.

In recent years, starting around the early 70s, you'd find many ex-Viet Nam vets and even former mental patients that were let released from Willowbrook (look up Geraldo Rivera), a mental institution where horrors were committed every single day for many years; rather than correct the situation, the patients were released on to the public.

The problem of homelessness has been exacerbated in NYC by the ever rising rent, which favor landlords, slumlords and the politicians that support the runaway legislations for the many unreasonable rent increases over the past 4/5 decades.

Also, the fierce competition in the different job markets, where many jobs are being sent overseas by the same companies that receive all sorts of tax incentives.

The one thing to remember is that no child ever dreams of growing up homeless. No child ever says, "Gee, I wanna grow up to be a homeless bum."

Whenever you see a homeless "bum," try to imagine what that person must have suffered to have fallen to such hopelessness where they must fight off the cold or freeze to death, search through garbage to find food, and risk the dangers of living on the streets, living with treatable diseases, illnesses, etc...

Within the ranks of the homeless are educated individuals, women abandoned and victims of spousal abuse, the mentally ill, veterans, and any one of them can be a relative... or YOU.

Answer 4

I want to be the first to answer this question. I got a laptop and I'm logged onto Yahoo Answers, and who you calling bums anyway? I think you're a bum. I'm on 42nd Street and I'm doing okay. I get enought to eat. I got a laptop. Yeah, so I'm addicted to Yahoo Answers so what. I'm just as good as you, and I ain't no bum. If you don't like New York, go to Chicago and start counting bums there.

Answer 5

The homeless are everywhere, even in the small towns. NYC is a big city, they have alot more social services for the indigent (which is a little nicer than calling them bums). Try helping instead of questioning.

Answer 6

new york is considered by many as a gateway city. as such many immigrants tend to stay there and get a job. most of those jobs are temporary. with out a job there is no money to pay for a place to live and they go to the streets. once in there they hard a hard time finding a way out. not all "bums" are immigrants. lots are people who for one reason or another have fallen into difficult times and have lost their homes. few due to relocation of job opportunities, most to drug addiction or similar causes.

Answer 7

1. In the late '60s - early '70s, a lot of mental health hospitals and facilities closed, and the patients were to be treated in neighborhood clinics. Unfortunately, the truly sick ones were not able to make appointments and go to clinic and keep up on their medication, so they got worse & worse and ended up on street.
2. During Reagan administration, prices got so high that a lot of people were not able to hold on to their house or car even though they worked full time.
3. #2 above applies also to Bush, Jr. administration.

Answer 8

I know a homeless person whom has a Masters Degree in graphic design and communication technology, speaks 7 different languages, is not an addict of any drugs or alcohol. GO FIGURE!!!

Answer 9

They havent called them bums in years.

Realize its a big City so % is probabl not that much more,and they happen to be visible.

Answer 10

The homeless gravitate to the big cities.I've never seen so many as they have in L.A. It's warm there so they won't freeze.