I know people believe that their money may just go to drugs, but if they actually stopped and took the time to get to know some of those people then they would easily see who is truly needy and who is there just to get drug money. I was in downtown Seattle a few weeks ago handing out lunches to some of the homeless people down there. Some of them will just take the lunch and brush you off, but others are more than eager to talk with you and tell you their story. I had a conversation with one guy who just really didn't have any support from his family and it was truly touching to hear his story. Despite all his hardships, tough, he still had an amazing outlook on life and I would not trade that conversation with him for anyone else "more important" by the world's standards.
As a side note, sethbwa metioned that President Bush was doing nothing to help the homeless. Well duh! The President has no control over the economy or a homeless person's ability to work. Time to stop blaming the President for everything that goes wrong in the society. Instead, why not get out and DO something?!?! It sure saves a lot of breath whining about it...

Being homeless, doens't make a peson any less human. They should still be treated with the same respect as a millionare. We should help them all and let the love pour out.

Their Choice or not we should still help them out.

I don't really think so ya know. I mean, they may have done something wrong but I belive every one deserves a second chance. Think of it as getting a bad great on a test. Does this mean your done for the marking period. NO. Would it be fair if it were. NO. Same deal with the homeless. And believe me George isn't doing anything to help.

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They can juggle in the streets, they can enter in educational programs

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There are a lot of places in North America where you have to buy a busking license to play guitar, or juggle, or mime-otherwise the police arrest or fine you. they probably don't cost much, but 10 or 20 bucks might be a lot to someone living on the street. There are places where people who clean windshields are arrested/fined, too.

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There are people that want to be homeless

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This is true, but I doubt they're the majority.

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they can enter in educational programs

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Depends on the educational program and how down and out the person feels.

A lot of "education programs" for the homeless where I live are demeaning and give no hope of being able to subsist-training programs that will only allow you to work at McDonalds or sweep floors for the rest of your life. (Nothng wrong with either of those except they don't pay anything near to a living wage.) Some-not all but some-of them even assume that you aren't functionally literate and have no communication or social skills, when there are intelligent, educated people-people with degrees even-living in poverty and on the streets.

If people treat you like you are incapable of success and unworthy of more than scraps, it's really hard to get out of that headspace and overcome your troubles. Let alone to reach out and enroll in assistance programs that reinforce your awareness of how people think you're less than they are.

Plus, how do you get to those educational programs or-if you're lucky-your demeaning minumum wage job when you're first starting out? what if it's across town from your safe sleeping place? How do you ensure you're showered and wearing clean clothes? Where do you plug in your nonexistant alarm clock to make sure you get there on time? (okay, so there are battery powered ones) Where do you keep your stuff-clothes or whatever-when you're at work? okay so programs designed specifically for the homeless would take those things into consideration, but how many spots in those programs are there and, again, how good are they?

I also don't think that we should blame the president for all our problems. I don't like our president, but he only has so much control.

There are people that want to be homeless. They don't want to pay rent or spend their cash on a house, they think the streets are their home. I have heard that when something big happenes in a city, the police round up the homeless and put them in jail for a day so that they aren't out. Or if there is a big snow storm and they might die if they are still outside they are put in jail.

i've got a question, if you see a homeless person on the street and you've got spare change on you, would you give it to him?

i know its sad. butthey cant refuse him because he's homeless. he has a right to work anywhere he is qualified. which is alot of places. if he is willing to work hard and make osmthing of his life...he will.

Quoting Bauhaus:

"We’re in one of the richest countries in the world,
but the minimum wage is lower than it was thirty five years ago.
There are homeless people everywhere.
This homeless guy asked me for money the other day.
I was about to give it to him and then I thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol.
And then I thought, that’s what I’m going to use it on.
Why am I judging this poor *******.
People love to judge homeless guys. Like if you give them money they’re just going to waste it.
Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do? Save it up and buy a wall unit?
Take a little run to the store for a throw rug and a CD rack? He’s homeless.
I walked behind this guy the other day.
A homeless guy asked him for money.
He looks right at the homeless guy and says why don’t you go get a job you bum.
People always say that to homeless guys like it is so easy.
This homeless guy was wearing his underwear outside his pants.
Outside his pants. I’m guessing his resume isn’t all up to date.
I’m predicting some problems during the interview process.
I’m pretty sure even McDonalds has a “underwear goes inside the pants” policy.
Not that they enforce it really strictly, but technically I’m sure it is on the books. "


red you should read it, he has a point

"The problem is, you don't know if that is why they are homeless. There could be other problems that you don't notice."

it depends. if you can actually see that htey really want to change. that they are trying to get a job. they are try

"i totaly disagree with redrepublican."

tell us how you really feel.

"alot of the homeless people's jobs are getting sent over seas (thanx to GWB)"


you see the thing is. outsourcing has been happeing for a couple of decades. Bush didnt start it. Clinton probably didnt start it. in fact no pres can start outsourcing. outsourcing happens when the American people demand quality goods for a lower price. and since Americans also demand a hefty paycheck which increases production costs and a whole lot of other costs , it is all out near impossible to have the two demands mmet without sending jobs to China.

"and it's not like they have the sort of money to go by a suit to go to an interview."

if you work at MCDee's they provde the clothes for you. its not the only place that does such things.

"they barly have enough to feed them selves."


in fac tif they work in mcdonalds (depending on which one your at) you get free meals.

"The problem is, you don't know if that is why they are homeless. There could be other problems that you don't notice."

it depends. if you can actually see that htey really want to change. that they are trying to get a job. they are trying as bet they can...then you give them money.
i do get what you are saying though...

"If they can't get a job, what should they do instead of begging?"

how could they not get a job?

"There were different conditions. Immigrants used to be able to get jobs easily because they would work for low pay and long hours and in dangerous conditions with no benefits."


you gotta start out soewhere. this goes into a differnt topic but ill say it here. Americans are too lazy. they see those who make more money then they do and they feel jealous and they cant comprehend why that is so. they don tthink its right.

"Now that there are labour laws, there is no advantage except being qualified."

you dont have to be qualified for anything to wrok at a Mc Donalds.

I agree with you yogore and in answer to your question I state that they could do other things besides beg if they did not have a job. For example here in Venezuela we have an 80% of poverty and (if im not mistaken) a 20% of unemployment; nevertheless, the people can sell things without working for an industry. They can juggle in the streets, they can enter in educational programs, there are things you can do other than begging.

i totaly disagree with redrepublican. even though people are capabe of working doesn't mean that they can. alot of the homeless people's jobs are getting sent over seas (thanx to GWB) and it's not like they have the sort of money to go by a suit to go to an interview. they barly have enough to feed them selves. so heck no it doesn't mean there lazy it means that the government is pretty much forceing them to stay on the streets once they get there because they know there is no way in hell that they would be excepted for a job. thay can't even take a shower and buy a suit more or less get a job!!!

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that is good. but we shouldnt be giving money to those who are too lazy to work for themselves.

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The problem is, you don't know if that is why they are homeless. There could be other problems that you don't notice.

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Because even if someone could not get a proper job he could do something other than beg.

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If they can't get a job, what should they do instead of begging?

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when the immigrants first came to America,they werent much differnt. they had to work hard and make somthing of their lives.

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There were different conditions. Immigrants used to be able to get jobs easily because they would work for low pay and long hours and in dangerous conditions with no benefits. Now that there are labour laws, there is no advantage except being qualified.

What if he couldnt get a job, because he was discriminated for being Latin, or Black, or even Jewish."

thats the part where you go to the authorities and say that you are being discriminated against.

"I think you should give money to the elder, to the children, and to the mentally challenged.Because even if someone could not get a proper job he could do something other than beg. Nevertheless i think giving the money to foundations that help the homeless would be the best choice"

that is good. but we shouldnt be giving money to those who are too lazy to work for themselves.

What if he couldnt get a job, because he was discriminated for being Latin, or Black, or even Jewish. I think you should give money to the elder, to the children, and to the mentally challenged.Because even if someone could not get a proper job he could do something other than beg. Nevertheless i think giving the money to foundations that help the homeless would be the best choice.

why doesnt he get a job? when the immigrants first came to America,they werent much differnt. they had to work hard and make somthing of their lives. its hard but thats the American Dream. success is out there!
all you have to do is go get it! you really have to want to get it.

and you are very welcome