Why don't people understand the homeless better?

Question

It makes me sick to see that no one cares why theses people are homeless.people just look down on them and carry on walking by.
I blame the goverment for not opening more night shelters and helping them find a better way to live.

Answer 1

People began ignoring them when it was proved that well off lads were begging on the streets, collecting lots of money then going back to their expensive cars and driving off. ..................

Answer 2

Yes, it saddens me too how poorly the homeless are treated. I think the biggest problem is the misconception of the homeless plight. Most see homeless as addicts who have made their own bed and now must lie in it. They are definitely seen as second class citizens and not for the human beings that they are. I too think the government can do more to help the homeless, but even worse, alot of our homeless are a product of government cuts in mental health care.

I am not sure where the government should start in fixing this problem, but I think the best thing to do is spend a little less money worrying about international issues and spend more money here at home on domestic issues. In the end, we will see that alot of these problems are inter-connected. For example, if you get more homeless off the streets, it would produce more jobs to help these people, and it would also decrease crime in the area. It has a domino effect. It aids the homeless, but also aids all of society in the long run.

Answer 3

First of all, it is not the government's responsibility to care for everyone who is homeless. The government does contribute money to shelters; however, most of the money must come from state and local charity organizations.

The huge problem we face is time limits set on shelter stays. I am in a small town and we only have a shelter for women and children; and if you are homeless you can only stay for one week. In larger cities the shelter limit is 2 weeks to 30 days depending on where you are. Usually, families need much longer than this to get back on track with their lives.

There are some huge issues that need to be addressed in how we deal with our homeless population as a whole. It is not a matter of people not caring, it is a matter of ineffective programs and not enough money to meet the need.

There are no easy answers to this question, especially since many people believe that the homeless got that way by their own actions or poor judgment. It may be true in a handful of cases, though, for the most part, people who are homeless have simply run out of options after having lost a job.

I am a licensed social worker, I have worked with many people who are homeless.

Answer 4

I did some research a few years ago that included this information:
1) Estimated 65% of all homeless people in the United States suffer from severe mental illness, including schizophrenia.
2) A very tiny fraction of the federal budget devoted to health and welfare goes to the treatment of mental illness. As a result, many mental health facilities are forced to release or even turn away severely ill people. Some of these people were abandoned to the system in childhood. When turned out by the foster care system or the health care system, they have nowhere to go but the streets.
> Just some facts pointing to the fact that homelessness is not a MORAL disease for most (as in people don't want to help themselves).

Answer 5

Good question. I live in a community where you don't see homeless people very much, but I do see homeless people when I drive into surrounding urban cities. When I see homeless people, I always think of three things - Vietnam (vets), American downsizings and I wonder what life events and decisions did that person make that eventually caused their homelessness. Just as in life, I know the answers are complicated.

I think, for many people, seeing a homeless person scares us, because it's easy to think "...well, it happened to that person - it could happen to me...". You also have the people who see a homeless person and believe it could NEVER in a million years happen to them. Then you have the people who view the homeless as lazy and just wanting to feed off of other people. A small minority of people (I HOPE they are anyway) just few themselves as better than the homeless and view a homeless person who is laying or sitting on the street as so much garbage.

I think if you compared the average homeless person to, say, a high-level CEO, earning multi-millions of dollars a year, the commonalities of the two people might surprise us.

I read somewhere that a high percentage of homeless people (in the US anyway), are Vietnam vets suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, which I can totally understand.

What is the solution for ending homelessness? It makes you wonder - especially when most of us just walk on by them.

Answer 6

Hi i have read that a large number of the homeless choose to live that way. Also quite a few have mental disorders . I think our government has enough problems. Maybe you or i could start an organization to help them get treatment, medical and mental help . Maybe start a non profit business that teaches them a trade and allows them to earn their way back into society. While providing a dorm type safe environment with shelter and food. Maybe give them financial counseling to let them understand how their money can work for them .I have been thinking about this very subject for some time.

Answer 7

I agree with you that there are a lot of homeless people out there that need shelter, food, and help with getting a better life but there are also a lot of people out there not willing to help themselves. I worked with homeless people and people on welfare for 28 1/2 years and there are both kinds. Some of these people are just taking advantage of the system and trying to get by on a free ride. Maybe, that is why, the others suffer.

Answer 8

I agree, there is a tendancy to think that if you are on the streets you must be there because of drugs or drink, which is not always the case ... but this is one of the reasons why people don't give money to people begging on the street, they simply don't want it to be spent on drugs or alcohol.

There was a series on "This Morning" last year about a guy who had to live on the streets due to circumstances beyond his control, and it followed his attempts and efforts to find food, shelter and eventually get himself off the streets.

The government should do more to help these people, but also charities should do more to help these people, I am all for helping people in other countries, but maybe we should start looking on our own doorstep too.

Answer 9

I always try and give homeless people food, not money because we all know what they are going to do with it. It does irratate me that some people will walk by and say "well they are homeless for a reason" becuase some people go homeless for different reasons! not all of them got there because of drugs or whatever. people shouldnt judge them... but instead help them. I do think the gov. should help these people out, maybe even a little bit, enough for them to take a shower or have shelter and clothes so they can get a job.

Answer 10

People are all not homeless, so they can not relate. A lot of people really believe that they are homeless by choice. It doesn't take a lot to get that way. People are not sensitive. It's a cold world, but I really hate it when I see old homeless veterans on the street. I think they have given theirs lives to protect a country that has put them out on the streets. Every veteran should have a home!

Answer 11

I like to stop and talk with homeless people. There are many different reasons people become homeless, but the vast majority on the street struggle with mental health problems. Most of these folks don't like to go to shelters and can't conform to the rules of shelters.

Bring money and sandwiches when you go to areas where you will see lots of homeless folk. And spend a few minutes talk to another human being. It seems to remind both parties of their humanity.