So many homeless - Page 3

sweetee2 · ‎06-21-2015

Here in Utah we have a huge homeless issue. Because of our very low jobless rate, we had so many come here last summer that they were camping in tents along the streets in the city were the shelters were to get food. The mayor came up with a plan to spread them out in the city in little shelters in neighbor hoods nexted to elementary schools and such. Of course families are livid.

We have many ,many organizations that help them here, but we are busting at the seams.

embgm · ‎07-02-2014

The woman I know could only stay in the shelter for a period of time not forever. Shelters are a temporary fix to this huge problem.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

OK I'm going to be a hard (insert your word) when it comes to student loans. I have no patience for people who LET their children start out college getting student loans. It's not like they don't think the kid will go to college, if you want a decent job (any kind) these days you MUST go to some kind of 'college'. You want to be a mechanic (you must go to classes to LEARN how to work on car computers, etc).

When in the name of Heaven will parents learn that part of having a child means that you must set aside even $5 every 2 weeks for these kids? Come on, $5 every two weeks, people spend that much on junk.....don't dare try to say that's too much.

Growing up many of you have seen how terrible my life was (I've posted it here). I know what it's like to really not have any food, I totally know. But even we could have afforded $5 doesn't have to be every 2 weeks. A few dollars here and there.

Yet, people don't think about it. The kid is young, we need this or that. I see putting aside money for college the same as buying diapers for the kid. These parents let the kid start out in debt immediately.

Many will never catch up, never. I've mentioned here that I asked my Cardiologist why he had young children so late in life (we are friends). He said, "It took forever for him to pay off his student loans". He's every bit of his late 40's. Now I'm not saying a parent is responsible for all of their kid's education.

I am saying a parent needs to start from the time the kid is born setting aside a few dollars here and there (and not touching it) so the kid has a year or two to be debt free (as far as college is concerned).

I've heard all of the excuses of why a parent can't afford to set aside a few dollars here and there. Don't bother. I know of people who instead of buying a lot of Christmas presents they give their grandchildren and/or children money to put into their college fund (or whatever they want to do with it when the time comes).

Instead people go around buying lots of Christmas and birthday presents.

I am sorry to go off but many of you think that is the reason so many young(er) people are struggling so badly, I agree with you, from what I've heard. I've also heard that many people NEVER pay back their college loans and don't care (it often catches up when their salary is attached down the road).

I believe more should be done to stress to parents the importance in preparing this tiny baby for 'the real world' (when he or she has to prepare for life).

I'm going through this right now with my neighbor. I love him so much. He's a wonderful kid. He graduates this year. He does things for me and I pay him. I also help him with his school work and give him constant "Come on you can do it" talks. I'm worried right now because a family member gave him a night job. He comes home from school, has 1/2 hour and leaves for the job of cleaning offices. He gets home at 11:00PM and must be at class the next morning at 7:00 or 7:30. I keep saying, "Your job is to get good grades". His family isn't poor. Both parents work. They are amazing people but they don't understand the importance of preparing him for the world out there as far as education. His Dad has said, "You don't need to go to college". I say, "True. But you do need to get some kind of trade". He does want to go to college and tells me he does. It all goes back to the grades and what he does before he gets out of high school.

I was one of the homeless people you'd see. My friends in high school never knew how hard life was for me. They cared but they coudn't do anything about it. Fact is, I survived. I do know some don't.

There are people (I HOPE) who are smarter than me who (HOPEFULLY) can solve our homeless problem.

I do know that parents need to step up and start saving for their chidren's future. If the kid doesn't want to go to college when the time comes (some don't, that works) but at least give them the opportunity.

The best thing we've done for our daughters (and many other people I know did for their's) was to save for college. My daughters and their husbands started off (after college) without any student loans.

We felt like that was as important as most of the other things we did for them as their parents.

I'm not saying that is the solution to homeless, (read up) I am saying it is a slice of the problem as many have suggested here.

Incidentally, I haven't told the kid next door, but if his grades get him in, I will pay part of his tuition. He will sign a document saying that if he doesn't keep up his grades and gets kicked out of college, he will pay me back. However if he completes each year of the loan, he will only owe me a smile, a thank you and a hug (which I love his hugs).

embgm · ‎07-02-2014

Annabelle I completely understand what you are saying. You however cannot lump everyone together. I worked at a university where all three could attend college for free. Well one picked a very expensive college and despite having some saved funds he needed to take out loans to attend it. He is lucky he doesn't have $80,000 in loans. My other two are loan free. His choice. I do agree it's hard to convince young people to save. All of my boys joined their 401k programs at their jobs as soon as they were eligible at our prodding. Circumstances are different for each individual.

proudlyfromNJ · ‎05-01-2010

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
OK I'm going to be a hard (insert your word) when it comes to student loans. I have no patience for people who LET their children start out college getting student loans. It's not like they don't think the kid will go to college, if you want a decent job (any kind) these days you MUST go to some kind of 'college'. You want to be a mechanic (you must go to classes to LEARN how to work on car computers, etc).

When in the name of Heaven will parents learn that part of having a child means that you must set aside even $5 every 2 weeks for these kids? Come on, $5 every two weeks, people spend that much on junk.....don't dare try to say that's too much.

Growing up many of you have seen how terrible my life was (I've posted it here). I know what it's like to really not have any food, I totally know. But even we could have afforded $5 doesn't have to be every 2 weeks. A few dollars here and there.

Yet, people don't think about it. The kid is young, we need this or that. I see putting aside money for college the same as buying diapers for the kid. These parents let the kid start out in debt immediately.

Many will never catch up, never. I've mentioned here that I asked my Cardiologist why he had young children so late in life (we are friends). He said, "It took forever for him to pay off his student loans". He's every bit of his late 40's. Now I'm not saying a parent is responsible for all of their kid's education.

I am saying a parent needs to start from the time the kid is born setting aside a few dollars here and there (and not touching it) so the kid has a year or two to be debt free (as far as college is concerned).

I've heard all of the excuses of why a parent can't afford to set aside a few dollars here and there. Don't bother. I know of people who instead of buying a lot of Christmas presents they give their grandchildren and/or children money to put into their college fund (or whatever they want to do with it when the time comes).

Instead people go around buying lots of Christmas and birthday presents.

I am sorry to go off but many of you think that is the reason so many young(er) people are struggling so badly, I agree with you, from what I've heard. I've also heard that many people NEVER pay back their college loans and don't care (it often catches up when their salary is attached down the road).

I believe more should be done to stress to parents the importance in preparing this tiny baby for 'the real world' (when he or she has to prepare for life).

I'm going through this right now with my neighbor. I love him so much. He's a wonderful kid. He graduates this year. He does things for me and I pay him. I also help him with his school work and give him constant "Come on you can do it" talks. I'm worried right now because a family member gave him a night job. He comes home from school, has 1/2 hour and leaves for the job of cleaning offices. He gets home at 11:00PM and must be at class the next morning at 7:00 or 7:30. I keep saying, "Your job is to get good grades". His family isn't poor. Both parents work. They are amazing people but they don't understand the importance of preparing him for the world out there as far as education. His Dad has said, "You don't need to go to college". I say, "True. But you do need to get some kind of trade". He does want to go to college and tells me he does. It all goes back to the grades and what he does before he gets out of high school.

I was one of the homeless people you'd see. My friends in high school never knew how hard life was for me. They cared but they coudn't do anything about it. Fact is, I survived. I do know some don't.

There are people (I HOPE) who are smarter than me who (HOPEFULLY) can solve our homeless problem.

I do know that parents need to step up and start saving for their chidren's future. If the kid doesn't want to go to college when the time comes (some don't, that works) but at least give them the opportunity.

The best thing we've done for our daughters (and many other people I know did for their's) was to save for college. My daughters and their husbands started off (after college) without any student loans.

We felt like that was as important as most of the other things we did for them as their parents.

I'm not saying that is the solution to homeless, (read up) I am saying it is a slice of the problem as many have suggested here.

Incidentally, I haven't told the kid next door, but if his grades get him in, I will pay part of his tuition. He will sign a document saying that if he doesn't keep up his grades and gets kicked out of college, he will pay me back. However if he completes each year of the loan, he will only owe me a smile, a thank you and a hug (which I love his hugs).

I think you have to understand that every person is different and has different ways. My husbands sister always told her children "If you want to go to college, you will have to pay for it".

That was her look on life and she stuck to those words. The kids went to college and took loans.

That was the belief in that family. Like I said everyone is different and don't all have the same priorities. Right or wrong.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

People become homeless for many reasons. Mental illness and PTSD (both In military and civilian life) are just the tip of the iceberg. Our economy has undergone dramatic changes in the last 50 years. A college degree no longer guarantees a great job, as it did in my day. My daughter told my grandchildren that they could go to any school they wanted to attend, as long as it was a state school. With the money we put away every month from the day they were born, and the money they got from the state as an incentive to good students, they have no debt. My grandson majored in business and found a good job. My granddaughter is a sophomore majoring in international business.

For those who have no advanced training after high school, either at a community college or through special apprenticeships, the odds of living the American dream are not good. Education is so closely tied to income that charts look like skis in the snow, exactly parallel. Even at the depths of the recession, college grads' unemployment rates were half of those without degrees. That doesn't mean they were in the jobs they wanted, but they were working. Not having any marketable skills can lead to poverty and an inability to put a roof over your head.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

My neice is a VP at a bank and her department is to go to college campuses and set up bank accts and credit cards for students. They are fully aware these kids can't pay off credit card debt and that they charge everything then pay the minimum on the bill each month using their student loans. They go out for a pizza - charge it - starbucks , charge it - for beers with friends , charge it and then pay the bill with their line of credit from their student loan. Then they graduate and the reality hits them -- they are deeply in debt to both the student loan and the credit card. Someone(PARENTS) somewhere along the way needs to explain to them about getting a job for incidental expenses and not using student loan money to pay on credit card debt.

dex · ‎03-09-2010

@Annabellethecat66 You are a beautiful person.I agree with most of what you said but the fact is many people don't have much to spare when it comes to saving for their children's education....got to think of their own futures too with retirement looming at some point and costly health problems.I know that some people never prepare for any future and those people will struggle.I have been a careful spender ...I don't even own a cell phone and I am sure that I am one of the few left on the planet....have also helped my son but can't do it all.I think that you are a shining example that success can happen when a person works hard and has a little luck and support along the way.I think your 5.oo savings plan is good but I put food and life's necessities ahead of all else.

Cookie2025 · ‎03-10-2010

@151949 wrote:
My neice is a VP at a bank and her department is to go to college campuses and set up bank accts and credit cards for students. They are fully aware these kids can't pay off credit card debt and that they charge everything then pay the minimum on the bill each month using their student loans. They go out for a pizza - charge it - starbucks , charge it - for beers with friends , charge it and then pay the bill with their line of credit from their student loan. Then they graduate and the reality hits them -- they are deeply in debt to both the student loan and the credit card. Someone(PARENTS) somewhere along the way needs to explain to them about getting a job for incidental expenses and not using student loan money to pay on credit card debt.

... you forgot boo b jobs.

Mj12 · ‎03-09-2010

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
OK I'm going to be a hard (insert your word) when it comes to student loans. I have no patience for people who LET their children start out college getting student loans. It's not like they don't think the kid will go to college, if you want a decent job (any kind) these days you MUST go to some kind of 'college'.

You need to realize that not everyone thinks the way you do, unfortunately. I know a few people who were never encouraged by their parents to go to college (amazing, right?) So of course their parents weren't saving for it. I also know a few people whose parents had their own issues, weren't the best parents, so they sure weren't saving for college. I also have a friend, an attorney - her parents paid for her undergrad but told her that any advanced degrees was on her. So, she took out loans for law school and is paying it back.