helping the homeless a waste of time? why help those who wont help themselves?

Answer 1

Your logic can be extended to other examples, which I believe demonstrate the repugnance of your point of view.

Giving public funded medical care to those with lung cancer is a waste of time, since they knew the risks of smoking.

Sending aid to help starving people in Africa is a waste of time, since they wont help themselves by instigating clean government and land reforms.

Giving education programmes in prison is a waste of time since criminals do nothing to help themselves.

Giving free legal advice to prisoners on death row is a waste of time since they are criminals and do nothing to help themselves.

America is a heartless enough place already.

Answer 2

It all depends. Some people are genuinely down on their luck and just looking for a break. Others suffer mental illness and can hardly be said to be there by their own fault.
I must agree with you a good number of the homeless are there because of their own addictions. They can say it's a myth all they want, but I know drunk and stoned when I see it. Also, those are the guys you see week, after week, month after month and clearly have no intention of going anywhere.
I sometimes pack an extra sandwich and give it to someone. It'll be someone who's clean cut (If they can't even bother grooming, why should I bother?)
Once in a while I will also give money to one of the more 'professional' homeless, but out of choice. It's always one of the guys with a good attitude who doesn't go around blaming others for his problems and is pleasant to everyone. Anyone who acts as though society 'owes' them a living never gets a dime from me.

Answer 3

SIGH,,, No real offense but you are waY NOT in the right category with this Q.

What do you,,,,,,,,,,, define,,,,,,,,,,, as time wased????????????

I assume,,,you may assume that ALL who are HOMELESS,,,choose to be? Would I be wrong in that??????????

You also suggest that HELP THYSELF is your doctrine....

Assume the position,,,even here, for a moment.

You had a job that was outsourced,. hence eliminating a need for you... WHAT MIGHT BE the consequences of that?????????

Gee, I have no money to buy food this next week. Gee I have no money to get a vehicle, or keep one on the road so I can look for other employment. Gee My family and I will have to go on some kind of social service. Gee. My mortgage or rent is overdue and I.m going to be evicted. Gee The help that is so politically advertised for the poor will be too late,,,in all the GRRRRR paper work I have to fill out, to prove, I am at bottom,,,will mean my family,,, or me alone, will be on the streets.

Ah Once there, I know of a steam grate on a sidewalk,,,where it stays warm, even in winter,,,so I go there. GEE,, everyone had the same idea,,,, NOW there is competition for survival, on a lower level,,,and it's begun snowing, and the shelters are full, the Govt. agencies closed at 5 PM, and my family,,,IF theye are with me,,,still look to ME,, to make it all better.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Rev. Steven

Answer 4

NO IT IS NOT, SOME OF THEM CAN'T HELP THEIR SITUATION, WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN THE USA A LOT MORE OF US WITH FOLLOW. DID YOU REALIZE HOW MANY JOBS WAS TAKEN TO OTHER COUNTRIES? DO YOU KNOW THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVELY-HOODS, HOMES AND MONEY DUE TO THIS? OUR PRESIDENT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HOMELESS IN THE US BECAUSE HE WOULD RATHER FIGHT A WAR IN A LAND THAT HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR 4,000 YEARS AND THAN TAKE THE TAX PAYERS MONEY TO HELP THEM BUILD BACK UP. HOW CAN HE HELP ANOTHER COUNTY WITHOUT FIRST HELPING THE UNITED STATES/? SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A HOMELESS PERSON DON'T JUDGE OR PUT THAT PERSON DOWN, BECAUSE YOU TOO COULD END UP THAT WAY. YOU STOP AND GIVE THEM A MEAL, A HOT CUP OF COFFEE OR SOME OLD CLOTHES YOU OUT GREW. MANY OF THE HOMELESS ARE WAR VETERANS, TEACHERS, DOCTORS, ETC. THAT ARE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK. AND PLUS YOU CAN NEVER KNOW THAT ONE OF THEM MAY BE JESUS CHRIST COMING BACK TO SEE IF MANKIND HAS LEARNED ANY LESSONS FROM THE PAST.

Answer 5

why are you trying to deceive yourself with a blanket opinion when you know that the homeless include

1. people without a home, who wish for a home, are willing to work

2. people who have had so much bad luck and grief and unsuccess and disappointment that they cant care about themselves, cant do more than they are doing, dont care if they live or die, starve or eat, get killed by punks or not - people who put out their hand, saying: i cant care about me, but if you care about me a little, fine, thank you, ill get some pleasure with the money you give

for the second category, you would have to give them lifefaith first, and that is not easy to come by, or to give

there are those who help the homeless, there are those who dont, and there are those in between who cant decide, and are trying to find a blanket opinion they can get comfort from

Answer 6

Speaking as someone who used to help the homeless with bread and soup and blankets, I have to say that you are using the wrong word. 'Won't' implies a deliberate decision to freeze and starve and be abused by smug people who don't have to worry if they'll still be alive tomorrow. 'Can't' is more to the point. Over 80% of homeless people have mental problems of such severe degree that they should really be in hospitals. But you wouldn't want to spend your money on helping anyone, would you? Presumably you'd pass by a road accident victim the same way. In my eyes, that makes you not only callous, but also stupid and a downright wimp. Get out there in the real world, pal!

Answer 7

I have a 21-year-old son who was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when he was just 10-years-old. He refuses to take medication, or even to see a Dr. He scrapes by each day in a hand-to-mouth exsistence that can hardly be called living. He does not and will not accept his family's help, which he terms interference.
My heart is not just broken for him, it is shattered and little glass shards poke holes in my soul everytime I breathe.
I help the homeless because in each one of their faces I see the image of someone they once were or might have been. I help because somewhere, someday it may be my son. Each time I give assistance to a homeless person I think "This human being once had or possibily still does have a mother whose soul is full of little tiny holes. . .or, if they're lucky, little tiny scars."
A huge percentage of homeless people (i've seen estimates of more than 50%) are mentally ill.
Frankly, I believe that until we as a society address the secret epidemic of mental illness, there will continue to be hundreds of thousands of homeless men, women and children. This issue spills over into our legal system where as many as 70% of current offenders have described themselves as suffuring from some type of emotional disorder. Many situations of domestic violence are fueled by mental illness, endangering spouses, law enforcement officers and ESPECIALLY, children
No one is willing to address this issue. The cobbled-together systems in states, counties and municipalities are so inadequate they do not begin to meet the huge needs.
Families like mine live on a knive's edge often wondering, "Would it not be better to stop the balancing act, and fall, gratefully, into the blessed void of infinity."
But then I'll see a face and with knowledge born of horrible experience I understand "There but by grace, go I."

Answer 8

Society should be doing more to help the homeless and the downtroddin, it would raise society to a higher level.
It's just the opposite of a waste of time.

Answer 9

your a dipshit and there is so many dipshit like you that wont help the homeless how would you like to need help and nbody would help you American people are real selfish and mean I have been homeless a lot and nbody will help me how would you like to be treated that way so many people have money but wont help the homelss get housing that is so mean I cant belive it so many people have no problem spending money on war and jails and prisons but wont spend a little of there precious money help the homelss get housing it probably cost a lot more money for prosions and jails and schools than it would to house the homelss American people are mean and selfish

Answer 10

For you to make a statement like that goes to show you have never been thru trials and tribulations. Some homeless people are without homes because of unfortunate circumstances in their life. Dont ever be quick to judge others if you dont know what they have been through in their lifetime.