Homeless

Applying morality as a source of crowd attacking to belittle the facts and thus remove evolution as a viable belief or in this case fact. Sigh

When I've seen someone work minimum wage, part time and still rent a room, it's hard to have sympathy on most. When I've seen a woman beg while having her children stand next to her and in front of a hiring within sign, it's hard not to lose hope in humanity. Some people are legit, but at least in America, there's little reason to truly be destitute. The opportunities are truly numerous, all you have to do is try. But, I know a good chunk of those who beg make more than I do for sure and it's tax free. I've only given to those who honestly told me what they want, be it drink or just water( which I got rather than gave cash). I need money too, but I won't beg...just waste away my 401k...meh...gots mah money for bills though.

I would have to disagree on that. Although I understand the point you are making. Theres going to be people using the support system to their advantage as a means to help themselves. However from the good amount of homeless I see and surely thats quite a few I have noticed the pattern that I was stating. The beggers on the streets are usually the chronic homeless type the ones who have accepted the routines given to them rather then go anywhere else. The aspect of being homeless is much like the aspect of the life as a criminal who has been given a nice shiny plate on his record. Then is told after you have served your time you are free to go but in reality unless you are skilled enough your stuck in a hole. Thats my view though the reason I can say that is based on all the people I have seen going through a few states and living in them. In the major citys that I did live in I noticed that pattern upon trying to talk and socialize with them. Of course thats all anecdotal evidence.

With my career, I've been blessed to work with the homeless on numerous occasions. Every year here in Denver, there's a huge event called Project Homeless Connect where those in need get help. I'm fortunate enough to have helped with providing haircuts. It's not much, but it makes a difference. As a stylist, I get to listen to their stories without judgement because they have no one to turn to. I had a man cry because I was the first person to touch him in years without disgust when all I did was cut his hair. These homeless that we look down on are amazing people who have gotten the rotten end of the stick and don't know how to get out of this situation. Granted, a lot of them do turn to drugs and alcohol, but honestly, if I was in that position of desperation, I would want to forget too. Not all homeless are druggies, alcoholics, or crazy. They just want out of this situation and need help. "Oh, I don't want to help, I work for my money", when these people are in such desperate times, begging becomes a job. "They'll just spend money on booze and drugs", then instead of giving money, go to the store and buy them a couple gallons of water for 99 cents, or go to the thrift and buy them a coat. "They deserve to be homeless, damn druggies", most of the addictions happen after homelessness. No one deserves to be homeless and one should never wish it on someone. If you can't/don't want to give money, talk to them. These homeless are people too, a lot of them don't have anyone to talk to, so just listen to them speak. That, honestly, is one of the biggest things you can do. I'm not blind to the problems that many homeless have, I've been afraid for my life because of certain homeless people, but not all are like that. This mentality of them not being worth our time or us being better than them needs to stop. A person is a person regardless of their social and economic status. Everyone needs food, water, and a friend.

Exactly for those curious Here is a little data if you are interested to have proper citation and facts. Although a bit dated it still maintains accuracy for the most part. http://homeless.samhsa.gov/ResourceFiles/hrc_factsheet.pdf

Kichi, I suppose an ounce of naievity was in what I said. I understand there are circircumstances where an individual literally can't get a job, but I'm tired of seeing the people who seem to be taking advantage of people's good will. I'm not saying all are like this, that'd just be stupid. But, seeing someone use their kids for sympathy ( Why would you drag three kids with you? I suppose it could be legit, but you'd be putting them in danger.) or watching someone beg, get money, go to their nice truck and come back most every day only dduring the summer. Now, again I realize tgere are many legit cases, but many people make it hard to believe I suppose... I don't mean to cone across as calus and I'm certainly not hating on those truly in need. As for the 401k part, yeah, it's gone, but I count myself lucky for having a job and having thst to get due to circumstances.

It's not just about getting a job. Many jobs that are available are not full time. I have been homeless twice while working a job because I didn't make enough to support an apartment myself. I only had a place at those times when I could find someone to split bills with but that's a challenge too because lots of people want their own place or you find out your roommates are freakin crazy. You get tired of a couple that lives with you getting drunk, yelling and screaming and calling the cops on each other 5 times in 3 weeks. Also if you haven't had a job in awhile or had issues with your last job or are an ex convict, most places don't want to hire you and the longer you go without a job, the harder it is to find someone to hire you. When I was younger I was also homeless a couple times on purpose with friends. yes we did live off an easy system, free meals and showers. Raiding the donations behind Salvation Army whenever we needed clothes and playing on campus computer labs or free A/V rooms at the library. Though we slept outside or friends houses in bad weather. Mostly it was just a way to party whenever an not have responsibilities. But that lifestyle does get old quick. And if you live it too long, it's hard to get out of it even when you want to. There are all kinds of homeless, but unfortunately they all get typecast as dirty drunks, druggies or crazy. Many of them are unable to help themselves or simply want freedom not to be a working class slave of society living meaningless lives (to themselves) until they die.

Unfortunately, in modern society, what should or does give our lives meaning has been skewed. Everything is about money. Your only considered "successful" if you make lots of money. Your supposed to graduate high school so you can get a piece of paper (diploma) go to college for another piece of paper (degree) so you can get a career (aka high paying job) and collect more pieces of paper with artistic renditions of dead presidents, get married, pop out a bunch of kids (make sure they go to college and perpetuate the cycle), over and over again world without end, Amen. But what is the point of it all? We are taught that money is happiness these days. But what really has meaning to us? Aren't our relationships to others far more important than pieces of paper with dead presidents? Finding someone to explore the boundaries of human consciousness and meaning, isn't that more important?

Hmm I guess I can say that I've been homeless twice "In accordance to what it stands for via the law." But no really going into detail about it. The change of scene was pretty nice though.