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sunandsurf13 On June 29, 2009

Deleted



Sydney, Australia
#1New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 07:17:27
Last year one of our top radio personalities "adopted' a homeless man from the street with the aims of cleaning him up and getting him employed.

He was given hotel accommodation (including food) clothes, assistance with counselling, and job interviews for things he could do were lines up for him.

He did not show up for 3 of the interviews organised for him, and explained bravely on-air that he just didn't feel like going. As I understand it, he then disappeared before anymore could be done for him.

Have you donated money to homeless people? Do you work with them on a volunteer basis? Is it possible for these people to change and turn their lives around?

Your thoughts are welcome.
Narnar On December 28, 2010




At home, United Kingdom
#2New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 07:20:30
I've only ever donated them money. One day I was feeling very generous so I gave this homeless lady ?35
MirLou On November 18, 2013




Cork, Ireland
#3New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 07:21:42
Indirectly, I have observed a lot of work being done to try help homeless people. It seems many of them like that way of life and they can't accept the help offered to them, they still want to continue as they are, so wander off again, without even saying. On the other hand, I've witnessed some who have accepted life and have made a complete turn about and living normal lives now and working well.

View Image
Spazzy On July 04, 2009

Deleted



, Australia
#4New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 07:45:32
I volunteer for an organization that puts on a spread once a month (food, clothing & basic necessities) for the homeless in the area. We have the regulars that show up every month and a lot of different faces too. There have been plenty of success stories where they have turned their circumstances around and re-entered society (for want of a better term), but for those that are still homeless & struggling day to day to survive I don't think any less of them.
tardcore On May 24, 2010

Deleted



Between a rock and another roc
#5New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 08:16:52
If you give money to a homeless person, you are enabling their alcoholism. If somebody wants bad enough to get their s*** together, there are enough ways to do it.
sunandsurf13 On June 29, 2009

Deleted



Sydney, Australia
#6New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 08:18:34
@tardcore Said

If you give money to a homeless person, you are enabling their alcoholism. If somebody wants bad enough to get their s*** together, there are enough ways to do it.



Not all homeless people are alcoholics. In fact, many are not.
epicnessincarnate On April 06, 2010




who knows..., Australia
#7New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 08:39:16
it depends whether it was voluntary. i know this man who spent 90% of his life working to feed his family. as soon as his son got a job good enough to support his mother the man packed up and moved out. he hated having responsibilities so much that he would rather live on the street. once every year he and his son meet on the same park bench and talk. but this man enjoys being homeless.
PhoenixNebula On February 25, 2010
TFS' village idiot.


Deleted
Banned



, United Kingdom
#8New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 08:49:33
I have never donated money, but have bought a cup of tea for a homeless guy a couple of times. I honestly think that some people would rather live homeless. I got quite freindly with a homeless guy once, because he helped find my missing cat. Everyone called him Jez, and he told me that he prefered living like he did because he was "free."
Octavarium On December 23, 2021




Pacific North West,
#9New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:00:01
For the last 4 years I've worked as a convenience store clerk at a store thats pretty much in the city center. The homeless shelter is about 7 blocks from the store and I see people from the shelter every day as well as those living on the streets and in the city park just 3 blocks away. Some are decent people who for whatever reason had ended up in a bad situation and where and are honestly doing all they can to get out of it and get on making a living and leading a 'normal' life again. Others, the ones I mainly see during the night shift hours I work (11 P.M. till 7 A.M.), others have become 'accepting', shall we say, of where they are and the simplicity of their way of life, panhandling for money and having their food stamp card. Some are where they are because of alcoholism as well, living to drink so they can escape from the reality of their position. Staying drunk and working only enough to get a few bucks to feed their addiction.
So there are those that want to get out of the situation, those that are comfortable with the life of no real responsibility and those who have given up 'life' all together and will more than likely never escape it.

I can also say that for about 3-4 months I lived in a Rescue mission. I got stuck in a city and ran out of money and so had to stay there or live on the street. There were probably about 200 people staying there. A lot of them went out looking for work every day through the day job temp. service, working to save up enough money to get out and back to family or whatever. Those were of the 1st group I mentioned above.
Then there were those of the 2nd group. Those that were comfortable with their life as it was. No responsibility, no stress, no worries. They had built their lives around being homeless and knew how to survive, which churches served free meals and at what times and where any where in the city et cetera. One man I got to know had been living in the mission for 12 years at that time and had no want or need of anything more. He was perfectly content and actually sorry for all the people who held 'normal' lives because in his eyes they were the ones that were suffering with all the stress that society forced upon them.
And then there were the alcoholic's and the druggies. I learned from the 'old timers' to look out for those of the homeless and to watch my back when they were around. And I learned the ones that would more than likely jump you or steal your stuff if they got the chance and they thought you had anything they could use. And I'll tell you, some of those scared the s*** out of me.
So yes, there are those that are working hard to get back into the working world and appreciate any help they can get. The rest, from very up close and personal knowledge and observation, they are happy right where they are and in all probability will never want any different. Being homeless has become their way of life.
tardcore On May 24, 2010

Deleted



Between a rock and another roc
#10New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:43:43
@sunandsurf13 Said

Not all homeless people are alcoholics. In fact, many are not.

Most are in America.
Kristy69 On September 14, 2014
Carly's Mommy





Underneath the Cyanide Sun....
#11New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:44:44
In my opinion, most homeless people like being homeless. They like the lifestyle, and the truth is, most of them made the choice to become homeless.

Granted, some were honestly put out of their homes and had no where to go, but that's a small amount of people, and those people are the ones who make the attempt to get emergency housing, ect.

I've seen three instances in my life where a homeless person has made me not give them money.

At a stop light there was a homeless guy pacing back and forth perfectly fine as we pulled up to the light, as soon as our car stopped, he began limping dramatically.

Another instance, I was feeling generous one day and gave a homeless woman $10. She immedietly went into a beauty store.

The last example is when my dad and I were going to an Orioles game and walking throguh downtown Baltimore, a cop was telling a homeless guy that he can't loiter in front of buildings. The cop was being polite and telling him that there is a shelter less than a mile away from where they were and he'd be glad to take him there. The homeless man replied AND I QUOTE:

"Now why would I want to do that? I'm homeless for a reason."

sunandsurf13 On June 29, 2009

Deleted



Sydney, Australia
#12New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:47:23
@Octavarium Said

For the last 4 years I've worked as a convenience store clerk at a store thats pretty much in the city center. The homeless shelter is about 7 blocks from the store and I see people from the shelter every day as well as those living on the streets and in the city park just 3 blocks away. Some are decent people who for whatever reason had ended up in a bad situation and where and are honestly doing all they can to get out of it and get on making a living and leading a 'normal' life again. Others, the ones I mainly see during the night shift hours I work (11 P.M. till 7 A.M.), others have become 'accepting', shall we say, of where they are and the simplicity of their way of life, panhandling for money and having their food stamp card. Some are where they are because of alcoholism as well, living to drink so they can escape from the reality of their position. Staying drunk and working only enough to get a few bucks to feed their addiction.
So there are those that want to get out of the situation, those that are comfortable with the life of no real responsibility and those who have given up 'life' all together and will more than likely never escape it.

I can also say that for about 3-4 months I lived in a Rescue mission. I got stuck in a city and ran out of money and so had to stay there or live on the street. There were probably about 200 people staying there. A lot of them went out looking for work every day through the day job temp. service, working to save up enough money to get out and back to family or whatever. Those were of the 1st group I mentioned above.
Then there were those of the 2nd group. Those that were comfortable with their life as it was. No responsibility, no stress, no worries. They had built their lives around being homeless and knew how to survive, which churches served free meals and at what times and where any where in the city et cetera. One man I got to know had been living in the mission for 12 years at that time and had no want or need of anything more. He was perfectly content and actually sorry for all the people who held 'normal' lives because in his eyes they were the ones that were suffering with all the stress that society forced upon them.
And then there were the alcoholic's and the druggies. I learned from the 'old timers' to look out for those of the homeless and to watch my back when they were around. And I learned the ones that would more than likely jump you or steal your stuff if they got the chance and they thought you had anything they could use. And I'll tell you, some of those scared the s*** out of me.
So yes, there are those that are working hard to get back into the working world and appreciate any help they can get. The rest, from very up close and personal knowledge and observation, they are happy right where they are and in all probability will never want any different. Being homeless has become their way of life.



This is a hugely insightful post....what an amazing insight into that experience. Kudos.
sister_of_mercy On March 11, 2015




London, United Kingdom
#13New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:51:10
I have given money and food to homeless people that I see in the city, I think no matter what has happened to them to get that way, being on the street can completely mess you up psychologically as well as physically. It's horrible seeing homeless people with their dogs in doorways in the winter time especially. I don't think anyone chooses to become homeless, just that they are put into circumstances that they do not know how to deal with.

When I'm older I plan on volunteering for a homeless charity, nobody deserves to be on the streets.
sugarflyguy On March 15, 2010
Pro-Pho-tographer


Deleted



Leaving TFS today:), United Ki
#14New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:52:55
There is this beggar who keeps annoying me, thinking that I am stupid...he wears the newest jacket this past winter, and I saw him going around with some of his mates...and he still begs....annoying
epicnessincarnate On April 06, 2010




who knows..., Australia
#15New Post! Apr 26, 2009 @ 09:54:34
oh god your one of those people who believes in the good inside all humans arent you?
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