Do the homless choose to be homeless?

Question

I work with homless people and I believe that ;"But by the grace of God there go I."
God is capatalised because it is His title.Like,Wonderful,Councellor... A show of respect.

Answer 1

SOME do but I've had a lot of bad things happen in my life and we've almost landed on the streets (yes, work very very hard too) so I KNOW first hand that bad bad things can happen (illness, not working because of serious illness and no help, other serious issues out of your control). DO NOT JUDGE THOSE ON THE STREET - OR BE JUDGED YOURSELF BECAUSE UNLESS YOU'VE WALKED IN THEIR SHOES, YOU DON'T KNOW......Bless you for working with the homeless.. The statement above is for the nasty answers you are going to get here -- there are some cold people on here. Keep up the good work though.

Answer 2

A while back, when I was on my way to work, I discovered that a homeless man was living by a loading dock. I felt very bad that I couldn't help him, and he appeared to be very rough. I prayed, and was given the inspiration that perhaps I should help in what small way I could. I began making an extra lunch of the same kind that I ate every day. I bought extras to include in them. I would walk by, announce that Jesus loved him, and make sure he saw me leaving a lunch for him.
I know I did the right thing.
This man moved on somewhere else, and I pray that he is in a better place now, than where he was.
People can be victims of circumstances, or their own mental illness. There are all kinds, however, and it is hard to judge someone that is in that situation. I prefer to help instead.
I challenge everyone here who reads this to do something similar. You would be surprised how good it makes you feel doing good.

Answer 3

Most of them choose to live that way. Thats why I consider them mentally ill. Because a normal person does not choose
to live that way. And they are also lazy. I ll give you examples.
I saw this one guy who was pretending to be mentally ill asking for money. An hour or two later I saw the guy drinking
beer smoking cigs and laughing with other homeless people.
Then there was about 3 occasions where the homeless person was offered some money if they mowed the lawn and
food too. That homeless person refused it. Thats when I came to the conclusion that they are lazy and I stopped giving
them money.

Answer 4

I don't know. Let's see - would one choose a life on purpose where they have to sleep on the ground and huddled up somewhere cold and hard? Would they willingly choose to have to dig through trashcans to find leftover food that someone else threw away and would someone want to choose to be smelly, dirty and wear unkempt clothes and to be kicked out of places and ridiculed and judged by society? No, I don't believe that people choose to be homeless. It is a horrible way to live.

I do believe though that many homeless people are caught in a vicious cycle that they are unable to get out of and don't know how to better their lives. Many homeless are drug addicts and they are unable to better their lives until they can kick their habit. Others are mentally ill. Still others just fell on hard times and without someone to lift them up and give them a hand, it is extremely difficult for them to overcome their circumstances. People will say "get a job". How is a homeless person with no resources supposed to present a professional appearance during a job interview, much less list an address or phone number where they can be reached? I am glad that you work with homeless people. Good for you. I'm glad that there ARE agencies and services to provide a place to sleep, food, shower facilities and clothing banks as well as job placement services. I think that the vast majority of homeless people do not choose, nor want to be homeless, and the rest are so used to it that they no longer care. Either way, they, along with everyone, deserve to be treated with basic human dignity and respect.

Answer 5

As with anything else in life, the answer to your question is probably different for every homeless person. I'm sure there are some that choose to be homeless, although whether they are completely competent is another issue. Others simply have no place to go, and depend on the kindness of persons such as yourself to help them out in difficult circumstances.

Answer 6

I believe some people have misfortuante plows in this world it can happen to most of us given the right circumstances but some it is lazyiness and other it is a mental health issue this does not eliminate drugs and alcohol there is one thing i am almost certain of when i see people year after year in this same position it has nothing to do with money i thoroughly convinced it has to be emotional abandonment from the person themselves and if you abandon yourself that means you can't take care of your self .

Answer 7

I work closely with homeless individuals on a daily basis. The reasons for homelessness are varied. There is a small, core group, not the majority, that will resist all attempts at aid/assistance, and seem to possess the cognitive capacity to make that decision soundly.

Answer 8

Some do. Some people just cannot handle the day to day drudge of living within a society. Some are mentally ill and know no different - some are financially unable to provide themselves, are for smoe reasaon unqualified for government assistance and therefore live on the street

Answer 9

Tammy - I do not believe homeless people choose to be homeless...I think the two words homeless and hopeless go hand in hand.

There but for the grace of God go all of us.

The Skeptical Christian
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 10

Yes, some do. But , most find themselves homeless after making many bad choices. Some have been victimized that left them homeless. You can do a lot of good if you can figure out the difference.