What are your takes on homelessness and the poverty levels in America?

Question

How do you feel about homeless people and those living in poverty? Do you feel they were put in that place or put themselves in that place?
Personally, I think it is ridiculous because there is no excuse to live like that with the opportunities that are given to them.

Answer 1

This question does not have a simple answer. I worked in welfare and Child Protective Services for 8 years and I learned a lot. The problem with poverty is it is a cycle. Many of the people on our system today are there because that is all they know. Their parents were poor and they did not break the barrier to get out of it. I think our education system has so much to do with it. I have taught in at-risk areas and the communities really don't help or support schools that really need it the most. Most successful people do as much as they can to separate themselves and their families from the ugliness of the world. I guess it surprises me the most because I live in a city that is the Bible Belt of Texas. The church is the most important thing and yet none of the churches than can make a difference want to really get out and mentor some of these kids. I know that people can make the difference. I have several kids that are aiming toward college and being a positive part of society and out of jail because I remind them that God did not create them to be "ordinary".
I learned in my years in welfare not to be judgmental but do everything I could to promote better living. People can make the difference if they want to even though there will be some failures. It doesn't take money to do this it takes time! People in these situations are used to being spoke of negatively....they stopped caring or never even cared in the first place. The last thing we need to do as Americans is give up on trying to make a difference. When you talk to a child that has grown up around drugs, violence and abuse it is really hard to expect him to get up on his own and do the right things. It can be done and has been done but there could be more successes if we promoted helping people within our borders instead of focusing all of our attention to help those outside of them. I think we tend to do that because we have a comfortable distance.

Answer 2

I know that opportunities are given to the poor but the opportunities don't always address everything that's needed to accomplish the task. For instance, an agency could find work (they would check what's available) for someone but it might be 15 miles away and the prospective employee doesn't have transportation or the bus doesn't go there, or it might be just a weekend job and the bus system, during that person's employment, determines that too few people are riding the bus on weekends so stops the trips and that person is then left without work again and must start the process of employment all over, and maybe doesn't have the funds to do that. When you start a job, even one close to you you need to have $80 minimum in your pocket to be able to survive until payday, plus the cost of your living (rent, electric, etc.) till you gaid. And, you can't get hired and you can't get a temp or part time or temp-to-perm job without a mailing address and a telephone. How could you have a telephone if you don't have a job? See, being able to get off welfare takes a lot out of a person and sometimes that net isn't there for them. I think what I wrote is a good reason (not excuse) why there is still poverty in America.

Answer 3

Call me judgmental, but I'm going to take a guess that the asker, as well as a few of the answerers so far, are at or under the age of 18, and still living at home...

First off, if you look at the 2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines, as ascribed by the Department of Health and Human Services, you'd be SHOCKED. A "single" individual is considered above federal poverty levels if he or she makes over $10,210 annually - that breaks down to ~$196 a week. Could you imagine paying for an apartment, applicable utilities, public transportation (at that level, how could you afford a vehicle, let alone the insurance!), food, etc...? What if you're a student? That's a whole new tier of expenses in to of itself!

Or look at a family of four. They are considered above federal poverty levels if they have a combined income of $20,650 - that's just barely double that of a single individual!!! I'll let you contemplate that for a while.

...

The sad reality is, in the United States, the cost of living is growing exponentially, but the incomes are staying the same (or in some cases dropping). The divergence between the "classes" is greater now than it ever was in the history of this country. Every top economist has been telling us for years that the American "middle class" is falling through the cracks, but the Feds somehow manage to take that information, ply it to their will, and make it look like progress.

Answer 4

There is no one simple answer to how people became homeless. Some people, believe it or not, chose to move out of normal society. They are not the majority, but it is true. Among male homeless, there is a very high percentage of veterans. I offer no answer as to why this is so, but it is an interesting fact nonetheless.

Personally, I find it terrible that there are so many people homeless. I do not agree with the idea of releasing mentally ill people who are not a threat to society out to the streets when it is known that they will just live under bridges or in parks. I do not like that there are families down on their luck and living in cars and boxes, and families that are living in housing projects for 6 generations that should have moved out so that people in real need could live there.

It is a sour subject with no simple or easy solution. It is a shame though.

Answer 5

Unfortunately life is not fair ! Some of the homeless have nowhere to go, either because they lost their possessions , jobs,families or other tragedies that happened to them caused them to fall into a deep depression .

At times some of them can be helped at times some of them are so lost that there is nothing that could be done for them. The whole world is full of them ,the shelters can only do so much to help them out especially during the winter months.

I recall speaking to someone about this ,and I was told that if they refuse to accept help and rules that are implemented at the shelter they cannot have access.

Example they need to surrender drugs and weapons and wash up some of them do not comply .

The only thing that we can do to help them out is to go and buy them a meal or a warm drink and give them a sleeping bag for the winter.

Answer 6

I think a lot of poverty is the result of mental illness or drug addiction, and that counseling programs could make a positive impact on those who live on the streets. People living in poverty who do have jobs, suffer from living in a society that expects people to have better lifestyles. This results in improper spending and a sense of entitlement. I think americans could learn a lot from people in less industrialized countries (such as India) who earn less money but are able to satisfy their basic needs.

Answer 7

We push people to the breaking point in this country.
Tell a man or woman to do what you want or if not you will stop him from feeding his children. He will eventually become not an individual you would hire.
Want to guess how many vets from iraq will end up homeless?

Wait awhile and see you will understand your ? better.

Answer 8

Most of the people that are calling themselves "homeless" that I see are what was referred to as addicts, mentally ills, or just plain bums.

Certainly there are people that have really become homeless and in poverty, but this is usually just a temporary state, or most of it of their making.

Answer 9

you know what your mentality about this people are somewhat "correctus maximus" or correct well they are the one that have chosen there destiny there destiny is not matter of waiting or rolling the anks of life but it is them who make their fate and situation like shakespeare said :my dear brutus destiny does not lies on the stars but in your hands...:)