What's the real problem with homeless people?

Question

Is it that they are mentally sick? Or is it deeper than that? What if they are the only ones who know the real meaning of life, no filler to drown the reality. No tv, no music, no video games, none of the crap the drowns out the real meaning of civilization....and the rest of us have such foggy minds that we aren't able to see how smart they actually are.....


just a thought. What do you think.....................

i'm not talking about the drunks and the lazy hobos, i'm talking about the people who talk to themselves, the ones who we see as "sick" and "ill", mentally. the ones who were at one point just a drunk or a hobo, but when they get "sick" are they sick, or does being out on the street open their eyes to civilization in a way that you and i can't fathom?

Answer 1

Well, I'm homeless, and I'd LOVE to have a TV to watch, or video games to play, or a kitchen to cook in.
And, frankly, I am astounded at the number of holier-than-thou, "I think the homeless are just lazy bums" answers I am seeing here. I happen to have a college education, but the reason I can't get a place to live as a rental is that I have two evictions on my record, and poor credit. No landlord will rent to me. I am working two jobs, earning just enough to survive on, and I am suffering from AIDS, which put me in the hospital last year. I am trying to keep working, but some days the symptoms are too much to bear. I am trying to get SSI or SSDI, but those departments do more to block and hinder people like me rather than help us. I own a small piece of land, and am trying to rebuild my credit to where I can get a building loan. So, before you judge the homeless as "lazy" I think you need to "walk a mile in their moccassins," and be ashamed of your intolerant attitudes, those of you who said such things.
I think the asker is posing a valid question. I also feel, from my perspective of having lived both in a nice home and on the streets, that those "extras" in life like a TV, games, etc., might not always be necessary, and don't bring the same spiritual joy that watching a great sunset or sunrise over the desert or mountains does, but they do help to give you a number of different types of stimulus, and can help to occupy the mind. So do good books, too.
All in all, I'd rather have the TV and the games in a home of my own than living as I am currently. But, that'll happen soon enough.

Answer 2

You are correct. In the general population, the prevalence of major mental illness, such as Bipolar or schizophrenia is only about 4%. In the homeless population, it can be about 20-25%. Part of this problem can be blamed on the "Deinstitutionalization movement." The deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960s and 1970s emptied large state hospitals, based on the idea that care of the mentally ill would be transferred from state to community facilities. Officials also thought that they were helping these patients. Human rights advocates protested the fact that many individuals had been hospitalized indefinitely (and rightfully so) and pushed to have people discharged prematurely. Patients should have been discharged with strong community support, such as case management, supportive housing, psychiatrists, etc. But the community was ill-prepared. When community care fell short of the need, there was a surge in the mentally ill, homeless population. The shortage of low-cost housing for the mentally ill, often due to inner-city remodeling and cuts in social-service funding, has also contributed to homelessness among the mentally ill.
This is only the start of it. People with mental illness have a more difficulty time finding work, applying for disability benefits, and finding affordable housing. Thankfully, many cities have PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) programs that offer transitional and affordable housing, outreach and referrals, educational and employment assistance, health services, and supportive social services. But the programs are so overwhelmed because there are too many people that need help.

Answer 3

no, it's actually the first one because no one likes being homeless but often times they ran away when they were small. Sometimes they work part time but not enough to be able to afford a place to live. Sometimes they are just lazy, but mostly they have given up on life because when they try to go for a job interview at mcdonalds/burger king, they are beaten by the rich class or the middle class, their much better, much cleaner kids teens. Then when they don't have a job, they are not smart enough to get government help. Some are criminals that didn't know how to turn their life around. Some weren't guided well as children. Some were abandoned. Some were from orphanages that escaped as children/teens/adults. their are different reasons and I don't think they are smart. They just haven't done anything in their lives or taken the effort to "live". Plus, the homeless people here are lazy.People should take a look at third world countries. They are eating out of trash bins. They are also sick with disease and can't afford health care. They have huge stomach because of bacteria living in their intestines. I feel more sorry for those people than the people here.

Answer 4

would a fully functioning person elect to be exposed to living on the streets or homeless camp. i've witnessed many a hard working person become homeless because a factory or mill shut down. some refused to find other work because they were so sure the company would open again. yet, it didn't. by the time they faced reality all resources were used up and they and their family were on the street.
some have addictions to feed. others, just don't care. it depends on where you are on the ladder of homelessness. mental illness plays a large part of the homeless. no meds to keep the voices away. it is very sad to look into the faces of the homeless and know at one time they were someone precious baby.

Answer 5

At first I thought many people answering this question were cruel, but now I realize that many are so privileged that they have no idea what it is like to live on the "edge" in the US. I grew up in rural Wisconsin with people who worked every day of the week, all day long, no vacations. Yet if they had a house or barn fire, serious illness, a permanent disability, mental instability, or just bad crops or a number of sick animals, they were bankrupt and homeless. I guess you'll say they somehow deserve it?

Many of you obviously have no clue about how many families are homeless AND working. I'm sure you'll somehow manage to blame them too for being homeless regardless of the high housing costs and low pay in our country. In 2002, families were the largest growing segment of the homeless in America—that particular trend started in the mid-80’s. Other reasons for homelessness that the US Conference of Mayors documented in 2005: Mental illness and lack of needed services, Domestic violence, Unemployment, and Poverty.

As a result of the ever escalating health care costs, in recent years many American families have had to declare bankruptcy when one of their family members has a catastrophic illness: http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=1439

I hope you are treated with more respect than you are extending now, if you lose your health, your job, and your housing.

Answer 6

Kudos, you have posed an intelligent, thought provoking question. Frankly, I'm appalled, angered, and mystified by several of the responses! Surely, some of these individuals are lamely attempting to receive attention and/or incite other individuals responses.

Unfortunately, there are no simple answers to your questions. However, I gather that you already know that and you are attempting to raise the consciousness of society at large.

Personally, I wish I could answer these questions. Because, having any of the answers would be a great step toward implementing a solution.

As the famous quote goes, "A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens." What does that say about us?

Answer 7

It may be a mental illness, it may be lack of education. It may be that they lost their jobs or were forced out by their families. Homelessness can happen for just about any reason.

Some of them really just prefer to live the more simplistic lifestyle, while others just dont know any different.

Even if you "rescued" some from their situation, they may have a hard time reintegrating themselves into mainstream life.

Answer 8

some people just cant get jobs! its not that easy for everyone. i've looked for a job every where and i cant even find one place that is willing to give me a chance. i even went to all those government job services and they couldn't find nothing for me either. so it's not always laziness. besides so what if it is by choice that they are in that situation. its there lives so they have the right to decide weather or not they want to be government pawns. i believe they are the ones that most understand the real point of life.

Answer 9

Actually, some do have "issues" like schizophrenia. Trust me, they do miss things like TVs and such. When you don't know where your next meal is coming from, your mind will be "focused." Pray tell, what is the real meaning of civilization?

Answer 10

Some people get breaks in life, some don't.
If you house was destroyed by a tornadoe or other such calamity, you would be homeless. The tornadoe could miss your neighbor and they would not be homeless.

Other things are emotional distress, low IQ and being lazy.