The homeless/zombie crisis.

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Many homeless are mentally ill. Many more slipped thru the cracks of our miserable excuse for a social safety net.

Hand outs don't work, but a hand UP? That's a different story. But we don't invest in people in this country, so why should we expect quality?
I often will take people out to eat. We don't have a lot of homeless here. We get people that are traveling and stop and hold signs "willing to work for food." I sometimes give money. Sometimes take them out to eat. I have access to cheap military winter gear. Practically free polypropylenes. I keep a couple extra sets and hand them out if needed.

I met a homeless dude that lost all his toes and part of each foot with it. Wheel chair bound. The drs told him if they removed what was left of his feet he could walk again with prosthetics.

Sad thing is the people that bitch about social programs. A little help and that guy may have kept his feet. So now instead we are guaranteed to pay his disability and medical costs.

We all need a little more compassion for other humans.
 

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
I often will take people out to eat. We don't have a lot of homeless here. We get people that are traveling and stop and hold signs "willing to work for food." I sometimes give money. Sometimes take them out to eat. I have access to cheap military winter gear. Practically free polypropylenes. I keep a couple extra sets and hand them out if needed.

I met a homeless dude that lost all his toes and part of each foot with it. Wheel chair bound. The told him if they removed what was left of his feet he could walk again with prosthetics.

Sad thing is the people that bitch about social programs. A little help and that guy may have kept his feet. So now instead we are guaranteed to pay his disability and medical costs.

We all need a little more compassion for other humans.
There are programs out there but it's a patchwork, not a cohesive system of investing in people, giving them the support they need and offering them a clear and understandable path to self sufficiency.

Many are mentally ill and physically disabled- and any society that would have others believe it is responsible and compassionate must have effective and robust systems in place to aid, house and enrich these disadvantaged groups.

This is my first chance to say what a vile piece of shit Senator Jeff Sessions is (R,AL); he's worked hard throughout his entire political career to cut all such funding so that his benefactors, the ultra rich, can get yet more tax breaks they have no need for.
 

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
There are programs out there but it's a patchwork, not a cohesive system of investing in people, giving them the support they need and offering them a clear and understandable path to self sufficiency.

Many are mentally ill and physically disabled- and any society that would have others believe it is responsible and compassionate must have effective and robust systems in place to aid, house and enrich these disadvantaged groups.

This is my first chance to say what a vile piece of shit Senator Jeff Sessions is (R,AL); he's worked hard throughout his entire political career to cut all such funding so that his benefactors, the ultra rich, can get yet more tax breaks they have no need for.
We for sure need better mental health programs.
 

Hookabelly

Well-Known Member
There are programs out there but it's a patchwork, not a cohesive system of investing in people, giving them the support they need and offering them a clear and understandable path to self sufficiency.

Many are mentally ill and physically disabled- and any society that would have others believe it is responsible and compassionate must have effective and robust systems in place to aid, house and enrich these disadvantaged groups.

This is my first chance to say what a vile piece of shit Senator Jeff Sessions is (R,AL); he's worked hard throughout his entire political career to cut all such funding so that his benefactors, the ultra rich, can get yet more tax breaks they have no need for.

Yes, this was true in Seattle, mostly mentally ill at first, but now the herioin problem has eclipsed the "homeless problem" I've read articles about this growing epidemic of ppl who started off addicted to prescription drugs and when they couldn't get them anymore, their addiction forced them to switch to heroin.Cheaper, easier to get. And these are folks from ALL walks of life, not just grouped as "mentally ill," Seattle's problem with herioin vans and tents all over down town is so bad that the mayor wants to create safe shelters where they can safely do their drugs.

Was just listening to a piece yesterday on the radio about a former meth/herioin addict who got help from a Seattle organization and is now driving the van the goes and hands out clothing and food to homeless. His (the former addict's) take on it was that you can't just supply housing, you have to eliminate the addiction first. I'm all in favor of th $ going to that. Maybe what @Alienwidow was trying to ask is how best to deal with it? I don't think the answer is just throwing more$ in the direction of building houses to get high, putting the $ toward actually investing in the individuals.

Treat the addiction, (while providing housing, job skills etc) not warehouse the drug addicts. would that solve it?
 

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
My city is one of the most community oriented I've ever seen, especially here in texas.
Why does portland have such a high percentage? I've seen a lot of cities plagued by it. Salt lake city always sticks in my mind it's horrible in some areas

We need to push for the cities to do more. Its better for the community in the long run anyway.
Invest a little
 

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Yes, this was true in Seattle, mostly mentally ill at first, but now the herioin problem has eclipsed the "homeless problem" I've read articles about this growing epidemic of ppl who started off addicted to prescription drugs and when they couldn't get them anymore, their addiction forced them to switch to heroin.Cheaper, easier to get. And these are folks from ALL walks of life, not just grouped as "mentally ill," Seattle's problem with herioin vans and tents all over down town is so bad that the mayor wants to create safe shelters where they can safely do their drugs.

Was just listening to a piece yesterday on the radio about a former meth/herioin addict who got help from a Seattle organization and is now driving the van the goes and hands out clothing and food to homeless. His (the former addict's) take on it was that you can't just supply housing, you have to eliminate the addiction first. I'm all in favor of th $ going to that. Maybe what @Alienwidow was trying to ask is how best to deal with it? I don't think the answer is just throwing more$ in the direction of building houses to get high, putting the $ toward actually investing in the individuals.

Treat the addiction, (while providing housing, job skills etc) not warehouse the drug addicts. would that solve it?
This is an excellent solution. It has to be available, accessible and NONJUDGMENTAL, or it will fail.
 

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
My city is one of the most community oriented I've ever seen, especially here in texas.
Why does portland have such a high percentage? I've seen a lot of cities plagued by it. Salt lake city always sticks in my mind it's horrible in some areas

We need to push for the cities to do more. Its better for the community in the long run anyway.
Invest a little
America has gotten out of the habit of investing in its own citizens.
 

Hookabelly

Well-Known Member
America has gotten out of the habit of investing in its own citizens.
Again, this can be so much more effective on an individual basis. I just expressed that on @Bob Zmuda's thread. If each person just committed to investing a few hours a month it would have as much impact as all of our faceless programs do. $ is necessary yes, but actually helping a person is invaluable on so many levels. It can be as simple as sorting clothing at a shelter, ANYTHING. Folks at these shelters work so hard. It's thankless, demanding work. Imagine if we came alongside them and pitched in[/QUOTE]

My city is one of the most community oriented I've ever seen, especially here in texas.
Why does portland have such a high percentage? I've seen a lot of cities plagued by it. Salt lake city always sticks in my mind it's horrible in some areas

We need to push for the cities to do more. Its better for the community in the long run anyway.
Invest a little
Not just programs, but people themselves need to find it in their own hearts to just fucking help out. You will never be able to legislate that. It has to come from inside a person's conscience
 
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Kind Sir

Well-Known Member
T
There are programs out there but it's a patchwork, not a cohesive system of investing in people, giving them the support they need and offering them a clear and understandable path to self sufficiency.

Many are mentally ill and physically disabled- and any society that would have others believe it is responsible and compassionate must have effective and robust systems in place to aid, house and enrich these disadvantaged groups.

This is my first chance to say what a vile piece of shit Senator Jeff Sessions is (R,AL); he's worked hard throughout his entire political career to cut all such funding so that his benefactors, the ultra rich, can get yet more tax breaks they have no need for.
Fucking tax breaks man
 

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
My city is one of the most community oriented I've ever seen, especially here in texas.
Why does portland have such a high percentage? I've seen a lot of cities plagued by it. Salt lake city always sticks in my mind it's horrible in some areas

We need to push for the cities to do more. Its better for the community in the long run anyway.
Invest a little
grunge music
 

Bob Zmuda

Well-Known Member
Well @Alienwidow good job. You hit the report button SO many times I got a warning. Lol.

Honestly after this thread I can't even fuck with you regardless. You're below human level and have fallen into mainy territory.

I honestly feel more sorry/sad for you than anything.

Karma is gonna have fun with you. :)
 
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curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
..........snip...
You will never be able to legislate that. It has to come from inside a person's conscience
My opinion is chronic mental health care needs to be legislated. Handing out socks/toothbrush in a bag won't make a dual diagnosis patient take their meds. Some people simply need to be in a sheltered environment for their entire life and most families are not capable of subsidizing that level of care.
 
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