are the homeless people a burden to society?

Answer 1

Absolutely not. The current economic system is a huge burden to everyone except the elite/ruling class.

Answer 2

are the parasites of real estate sales, stockbroking, law and commodity trading a burden to society? there are many people in these 'industries' that don't really produce any useful/valuable goods or services but make a handsome sum of money and can afford accommodation.

maybe all homeless people should be paid by rich firms to do nothing and thus help them out. might ease the poo and cardboard box congestion outside the door each morning.

then again it makes much more financial 'sense' to pay a cleaner minumum wage and employ that loyal servant of the ruling class the police force to remove any trespassers.

call me cynical.

Answer 3

I wouldn't claim in a blanket statement that homelessness is the result of social engineering but it is our obligation to deal with it. They are not a burden to society but I will defend an employer's right to fire someone with a severe untreated psychotic disorder, a drug problem, a history of theft, outrageous statements and also their right to refuse a job to someone who is not fluent in the majority language, with incompatible lifestyles, and an inability to accommodate a disability. Discrimination is discrimination when it is based on sexual orientation, class, origin, political belief, religion, gender, nationality, etc. It is erroneous to claim that because someone wasn't given a job as a pizza delivery driver as he had MS and epilepsy that it's discriminaton or that firing someone with uncontrolled depression and a borderline personality disorder is wrong. It isn't. It is sometimes necessary. It is wrong to refuse a job to a gay or black person. It is not wrong to refuse a job as a surgeon to someone who is HIV-positive.

Our society refuses to deal with people and we use and discard the troubled too quickly. De-institutionalization was a failure and there is racism, violence, divorce, drug addiction and mental illness in our society. Closing up services, shelters and banning the homeless from a source of government income aren't concrete answers. Neither is shoving them in a jail or using safe street laws to dump in the suburbs.

Money must be put into resources and some people will have to be put into treatment and housing should be made available to them. Group homes and adult living faciliities are in desperate need along with drug rehab centers, workshops for the mentally ill, work incentive programs, welfare, sanitariums and outpatient programs for people through hospitals and psychiatric clinics.

Answer 4

No, I would say that society is a burden not only to the homeless people but to all those who are not included in their "economic patterns and rules".

Answer 5

I don't feel that way. Of all the things that drain our resources, homeless people are low on the list.

Answer 6

no- a society is only as strong as its weakest person... society creates homeless people

Answer 7

While it's true they're not contributing a lot, they're not using many resources either.