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Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,776
Registered: ‎07-09-2011

@shortbreadlover

 

Likely your recent neighbors, about whom you posted frequently, have now joined the ranks of those homeless.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras
Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,698
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

You are a very caring person @shortbreadlover. Luckily, the cities near me have enough reasonably priced apartments that a person with a job can afford.  I used to work with younger people who even took a second job to improve their financial situations. While not lumping everyone together, I truly think bad choices (like drugs and alcohol) account for a lot of homelessness. The largest city in my area has shelters, but for safety reasons, cannot accommodate drug addicts.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,305
Registered: ‎06-08-2016

I can't afford $1200 per month rent but I'm not homeless

 

 


@shortbreadlover wrote:

no it is not the job of government.

 

but in my city, we are seeing people pushing out of homes because the developers want to build costly housing.  they city just wants the income from the building fees , taxes and permits.

 

many of the homeless that i know, are people who just can't afford the rents on the ages that they are paid.  i also see retired people on a limited income that can 't afford over $1200 per month rent.


 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,734
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Most people want to help the homeless, but few want low-income housing next door or down the block or even in their town.  It's a huge problem in the US.  I don't know what the solution is.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,136
Registered: ‎06-25-2018

i would not mind low income housing next door to me.  but i do not want a drug house or people that steal and such things.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,300
Registered: ‎09-15-2016

There are plenty of things you can do just be getting involved so contact Homeless Shelters...they have mobile units that handout food & hot drinks while giving info for beds & warming centers, volunteer at hospitals that get many homeless patients, volunteer at Habitat For Humanity...they give a hand up without giving a handout & there are lots of other organizations that deal with mental illness, job training, education, child welfare & on & on. There are many reasons for being homeless & none will be solved by wringing hands, saying so sad, blaming companies that make money or depending on government go fix it because they have blown through billions & accomplished little. Citizens feet on the ground & hands to work...get involved.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,231
Registered: ‎07-27-2015

@Mj12 wrote:

Most people want to help the homeless, but few want low-income housing next door or down the block or even in their town.  It's a huge problem in the US.  I don't know what the solution is.


@Mj12 You have addressed the real Elephant in the Room...I truly believe people want to help the homeless (those homeless that want to be helped). Just don't come into my neighborhood or gated community!

I believe the solutions have to start with why the people are homeless in the first place. I have always said that some are only one paycheck from being on the streets depending on where you live and your economic circumstances.  There are some living on the streets and they had no intentions of being there but "Life Issues Happened"

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,374
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@Mj12 wrote:

Most people want to help the homeless, but few want low-income housing next door or down the block or even in their town.  It's a huge problem in the US.  I don't know what the solution is.


I've seen what low income housing or section 8 housing did to the two neighborhoods I grew up in.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,739
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

WE have a paper put out by the homeless called groundcover news. They sell the paper ,and keep the money ,to help them  a bit, financially. It breaks my heart ,when they ask ,if you would like to buy a paper ,and people say I'm good, and walk right past..If they were so good, they would cough up a buck ,to help these people

 

Some of these people are delightful. One lovely older lady, escaped a violent marriage with just the clothing on her back. She was able to go to a women's shelter. She was clean ,articulate ,and well educated. There are homeless people that have a job. They are saving to get a place to live. I know this ,because my church shelters them

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,144
Registered: ‎11-21-2011

Do you have a homeless shelter there? We have one that works pretty well for people to sleep and eat at.

 

Most of the homeless people around here will likely be like that forever. Lower rents wont help them. Severe drug addiction or mental illness have taken over there lives unfortunately.

 

I see a number of them every morning. Many of them are along my running route. I speak to all of them along the way unless they are sleeping. Except for one who is a little volatile. The deserve to be treated the same as the others I see when I'm out there.

 

I try to help them out when I can with a little cash. I have a pair of boots in my car to give to one guy that I see all the time. I'd say the community is just trying to manage life for these people so they don't freeze to death or starve. We do have a van that goes around to check on people and take them to the shelter if they want to go. Very sad.