How to help end homelessness in America?

Question

I feel that the fact that we have so much homelessness in this country is a disgrace. Being homeless doesn't mean that you are lazy, an alcoholic, or a drug addict. Many people lose their homes because of illness, not being able to pay their bills, and lack of health insurance. 40% of the homeless today are families with children. I have recently became aware of The Bringing America Home Act. The Bringing America Home Act was introduced in the 109th Congress. This bill is designed to end homelessness in the U.S and includes housing, health, economic, and civil rights components. The main reason I wrote this question is to bring awareness to people that there is an act in Congress that they can influence by signing a petition at: http://www.bringingamericahome.org/act.html or http://www.nationalhomeless.org/baha/petition.html

Answer 1

I have a solution also please view http://www.usbig.net/ replacing welfare system that is NOT working people who need benefits can't get them! These people on here are full of it' as in spin doctored propaganda! Immigrants legal or illegal & ruthless employers have cause a lot of the problems in the name of making profits! I am skilled certified with decades of work experience/small business and its seems impossible to get job placement here in Orlando Florida! Everyone wants to take my money but nobody want to put me to work with proper placement! Please let me point out Homelessness is only 1 aspect of poverty usbig.net covers everyone who is out of the money loop for any reason! Certainly everyone who is chronically incomeless IS NOT a druggie/boozer/mentally insane many are left out for a varity of other reasons! I know many who can't get hired because of being older age discrimination which is illegal like the cheap labor supply thing but who's stopping it?

Answer 2

Jessica F,

You sound like a nice person but you are a bit misguided. There are many reasons for homeless people. Some are mental patients that are not ill enough to be institutionalized but do poorly on their own. Some are addicts of one type or other and cannot be helped by anyone until they decide they want help. Some are run away juveniles that prefer to be on the street than in any foster home or institution. Some are people who are cronic poor choice makers such as people who keep quiting jobs without having another to go to. Some are predatory criminals. We must also consider that some are just plain lazy bums who have no intention of working for a living.

This said, it is not possible to come up with a one size fits all remedy especially on a federal govenment level. Every case is unique. I think help should be available but those that need it should have to do something to get it. I have much personal experience dealing with homeless people. I assure you there are some that are not help-able. There are some that will "work for food" but believe me, there are many that won't.

In the state where I live we even had mothers who set fire to the apartment that the state was providing because they did not like it and knew they would be put at the top of the waiting list for another because of their numerous offspring. Why would a woman who cannot house and feed one child have three more? Why would someone who has no money or even a place to live refuse to accept a job office cleaning because it was beneath them?

I have seen this first hand and much more. No act of congress will do anything but waste a lot of hard earned taxpayer money. We have companies hiring illegal Mexican workers for good wages in meatpacking plants but still homeless unemployed people.

There are many, many federal, state and local programs to deal with these people. You must accept the fact that no one can help a person who does not want to be helped. Just giving them money for nothing only enables the lifestyle.

If you still think you must do something, try to get legislation that will change the rules for the mentally ill. The current laws, though well intentioned to prevent people being held against their will, also work to perpetuate many of their conditions. If laws could give doctors more discression that would be a big help.

Answer 3

If people really cared about homelessness, and this applies to any other issue as well, they would take personal action. Taxing the public, which then increase inflation and the cost of goods, to then send money to the government so some bureaucrat can then have a cushy job with benefits and a pension, and have the taxpayers pay for an office space and equipment, then to have a portion of the money that was taxed to then go back to the people it was supposed to help is about the most ridiculous solution to any problem - as it is for the homeless.

How about starting in your local community a non-profit organization (tax deductible) to do something instead of expecting the big tax/big government avenue to do anything?

Answer 4

What if everyone who signs the petition takes a homeless person or two into their homes?

That should solve the problem and then they'll find out if they're good people to live with or not. There must be some reasons the homeless aren't being helped by their relatives or friends.

Answer 5

But there is a problem...a large percentage are alcoholics or drug addicts...I know one guy around my town who had been homeless, got a job, but he quit because he said he could make a lot more begging. There was also a guy who made so much money from begging that he had a huge house, brand name clothes, a great car, etc, but he couldn't make as much at a regular job. You never know what they are going to do with money if you give it to them...my mom has gone out and gotten them some food...there have been some who said that they didn't want her food, they wanted the money...there are a lot who aren't doing this by choice, but there are a lot who are also. Also, the money the does not get taxes taken out either...you do the math.

Answer 6

Well if the Government gave a damn they would put MOST of OUR TAX money into education (so students wont have to starve in school and get a free education) and into shelters, instead of waisting it in crap like weapons, how is buying weapons for killing someone, how is that going to feed people who are starving. The president gets paid wads of money, instead of going hunting he should use the money to HELP others who need it. He should sell stuff he doesn't need and give the money to those who need it or donate it.

Answer 7

I believe that the only way to end homeless in America is to open up more shelters and publise it in a way where these homeless people won't feel ashamed, or that they are being in burden to another family!! Alot of people are homeless though because there addiction to things so you have to watch what you provide to these people. Another thing that hit me is we need to clean up the streets so that people won't get addicted to things and become broke and homeless!

Answer 8

I have a plan:

Those that are mentally insane should be institutionalized and their children, if any entered into the foster care system.

For those that are able-bodied, enter them into a workfare program and low-income housing. Have them work for their benefits doing govt jobs.

Problem solved. Done...next!

.

Answer 9

I believe that just like poverty and ignorance, you can never "end" it. All we can do as a society is make sure people have the OPPORTUNITY to get out of it if they want to, and then help those who try to help themselves. Remember that some of them are there by choice!

Answer 10

Stop feeding everyone overseas and keep our money here in the US. There would be plenty for ours then.