The homeless

[Freak Show]

This will no doubt bring about a heart-warming story of brutality and mass murder from our very own children's book author, Satanic Goatslayer, but I will post it anyway.
Since I've moved to the big city I've obviously noticed an increase in the amount of homeless people I see daily and it just makes me think. Its not like people are "born" into homelessness so what are some of the causes? I know many have severe mental disorders and maybe left/escaped an institution or something, but there's gotta be more to it. What events bring this many people to having no home? What was their life like at an early age? Were the opportunities simply not there and that's what caused it? How could someone be that oppressed or "slip through the cracks?" I just can't imagine how one could lose so much or not take advantage of some sort of opportunity and end up that way.
If I could/had the balls to just sit and talk with some of them, I'd like to hear their story. This is just part of the random thoughts that go through my head. What are your thoughts on the subject?

 

[Bigsatan13]

Feed the homeless to the starving!
I realy don't think about the problem because I'm too busy providing a home for my family. Homeless kids bother me however, as a parent you are responsible to provide for your children no matter what and if you can't you should get the help that's out there. Stop sending money overseas to other countries and provide food and shelter for our underprivelaged children, then when all of our's are taken care of worry about others!

 

[satanic goatslayer]

You really should sit down and have a conversation with a homeless person. Actually ask them about their lives and upbringing, if they don't mind the intrusion. They have stories to tell that rival, and in many cases surpass, the stories your average house-possessing brethren have.

One man I met slept in the outhouse at a campground. That's how I met him - I was about to clean the facility. He told me that he was from a rural town in Saskatchewan, disowned by his family for joining a hate group - possibly the Heritage Front, I can't quite remember.

He had moved out and was beaten by his former gangmates when he attempted to leave the circle. He had to flee thousands of miles just to avoid being murdered.

I wish I hadn't strapped that plastic bag over his head and shanked his kidneys out, because something tells me that I really missed out on an enlightening story. Puddlefucker should have just got a job anyways.

 

[huntmaster]

The fact that there are homeless folks bothers me.

As you said, we should spend more of our foriegn money on our own underpriviledged.

I also think that some of the money that goes to save the whales, spotted owls, and other animals, should go toward helping employee these people--the ones that want jobs and also the children out there. My heart really goes out to the children.

It is sad that many people would lay down their life for an animal, but would not raise a finger for a brother or sister in need.

 

[studcj]

There are tons of homeless here in AZ. They're always asking to wash my windows at the grocery store. There's one guy who I actually talked to and he told me he used to be an executive for Chrysler and all this other bullshit. he kept telling me how hungry he was..blah..blah..blah..so I gave him 15 bucks (all I had with me)

The next time he didn't remember me, and gave me some other cancer story, and told me how hungry he was. This time I offered to go across the parking lot to get him a burger since he was "starving", and the motherfucker kept on insisting for the money.

He made me look at homeless people in a whole new light. Which is bad because I have far less sympathy now. The only homeless people I feel bad for are the ones that have the signs that say "will work for food", or offer to clean windows or sell newspapers. The other ones are just flat out lazy. They sit on the corner and expect handouts, and they get it. Some of them make more than minimum wage for doing nothing.

My guess as for main reasons: drugs, alchohol, or they just flat out gave up on life.

fuck, when it comes down to it I still feel sorry for all of them. I just respect the ones that are willing to do work.

sorry for the rant

 

[vixenbabe]

I donate some time at a local women's shelter each week.

This shelter is for women who were forced from their homes by abusive husband's/lover's. It makes me cry at times knowing that they have NO WHERE to go if it were NOT for the shelter.

Sad thing is, as many women and kids staying there, there are MANY more needing a safe place for themselves and the kids.

I often wonder where they end up if the shelter has to turn them away due too lack of room.

 

[Prometheus]

not bashing them, but considering the other side, realize that many of these (most?) people are drug addicts or alcoholics, and that they have made choices that have led them to where they are, just as you may choose to sacrifice a significant part of your life working or studying to better yourself.

every major American city has some taxpayer-funded program set up to help them via shelters, counseling, health care, soup kitchens, etc. (which is more than the government ever offered me free of charge) -- if they are sleeping on the street it's because they choose not to use the services provided. Of course, many I've seen are mentally handicapped - I don't know if that is a cause or a result of their homelessness - naturally those that are deserve special attention.

 

[the nature boy]

The fact that there are homeless folks bothers me.

As you said, we should spend more of our foriegn money on our own underpriviledged.

I also think that some of the money that goes to save the whales, spotted owls, and other animals, should go toward helping employee these people--the ones that want jobs and also the children out there. My heart really goes out to the children.

It is sad that many people would lay down their life for an animal, but would not raise a finger for a brother or sister in need.

I agree with just about all of your post but I don't think we spend more on foreign assistance than we do on our underpriviledged, that is, unless you have statistics.

 

[Prometheus]

my post above doesn't apply to battered women obviously. I was referring more to the "career homeless," not to those that are just in a temporary bad situation, and for whom more should be done, IMO.

why the U.S. gives billions of dollars yearly in foreign aid while simultaneously kicking women out of overcrowded shelters is beyond me.

 

[the nature boy]

also, in DC, many of the homeless are mentally ill, in a majority of those mentally ill were released as a result of Ronald Reagans bizarre mental health policies in the early 80's.