posted August 12, 2010 11:28 PM         

He was lucky that you were there.

posted August 13, 2010 05:52 AM         

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies with in us."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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posted August 13, 2010 06:12 AM         

my husband said we should organize a fundraiser and get several bands to play and raise money for homeless. i think i will.

posted August 13, 2010 07:38 AM         

It reminds me of the movie Conversations with God based on Neale Donald Walsh’s experience when he was homeless and the first time he had to eat the left over’s of another. Definitely not an easy life and quit heartbreaking.

We shouldn’t look down on these people as if we are better than them. Even if you don’t have money, a kind word or smile will do as well.

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies with in us."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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posted August 13, 2010 07:40 AM         

That's a wonderful idea My gran has a organization that offers 3 meals a day for homeless people. They often have fund raisers to help.

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies with in us."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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posted August 13, 2010 08:27 AM         

gyps- so sorry to hear about your brother.

posted August 14, 2010 10:56 AM         

When Regan closed down the "insane asylums", they were forced to the streets.

Shame on Mr Regan.

The ones who are just down on their luck are often in shelters, seeking help, etc. Often the ones on the street are the mentally incompetant ones.

There is help out there for those that will seek it, you may see them on the streets during the day, but at night they are at shelters. For the ones who cant make rational decisions for themselves, they will wander and wander....blessed souls for sure to choose a lifetime as such, but it is their choice.

The proud ones, the ones who are truely homeless do not panhandle. I, once, approached a lady who carted around her worldly goods in a shopping cart, and a dog and a puppy in the baby seat of the basket. I offered her and gave her a $5, for her dogs, cause her energy was strong and proud, she was truely homeless and I probably would have offended her if I offered her money for herself.

There are people on every corner where I live and ten times as bad in my state's capital.

posted August 14, 2010 11:03 AM         

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In my experience, both personally and professionally, be very careful who you choose to help.

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There is help out there for those that will seek it, you may see them on the streets during the day, but at night they are at shelters.

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Also.....too often it is the lazy aszed moochers going to the food pantries and all.
These guys often have better living environments than I do even now....they get sooooooooo much for free.
They often make big money under the table and often have new cars and so forth too.

posted August 14, 2010 11:22 AM         

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It reminds me of the movie Conversations with God based on Neale Donald Walsh’s experience when he was homeless and the first time he had to eat the left over’s of another. Definitely not an easy life and quit heartbreaking.

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We shouldn’t look down on these people as if we are better than them. Even if you don’t have money, a kind word or smile will do as well.

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posted August 14, 2010 11:34 AM         

Indeed there are screwballs in shelters, but there are, also, people who truley need help, from what I have seen, anyway.

From the unexperienced eye, one can be fooled.

I always refer to the idea of the panhandlers on the side of the road, who collect their cache then drive off in the BMW parked a ways away...probably a gross exaggeration, but a point illustrated nontheless.

And to be sure, buy them a meal, or something they need, never give money.

I remember this young blond girl, months ago, clearly pregnant, who was panhandling up and down a nearby freeway. She was anglo and it suprised me that she, all white, blond and pregnant would be out begging in a city of Hispanics....and high crime.

She had to be truely not there, in the head! Medicaid automatically pays for pregnant women and their children...tho she choose to put her self out there day after day.

posted August 14, 2010 05:19 PM         

Alot of people with mental disorders, my brother included, have no idea that they have them, that's part of the disorder!!

And I was going to say the same as Hippichick, when they closed down the wards, homelessness became a HUGE problem.

It's not fair, and it's not right, but that's the way it is.

Alot of folks wonder why the families don't help, and truth be told, alot of families have TRIED over and over to help.
There comes a point sometimes when you have to give up because it can take over your whole life... been there, done that. And also, alot of homeless people choose not to have anything to do with their families for various reasons.

I gave a blanket that I keep in the car to this homeless man that lives in front of the gas station, a few winters ago. I didn't have a dime on me, or I would of given it to him.
But, while my friend was taking forever in the store, I sat on the ground just talking to the man. And when I went to leave, he said, "I really thank you for the blanket, but even more for the talk."

posted August 15, 2010 06:27 AM         

One of my lecturers at Uni did a lot of work/study with the homeless population in Leeds (UK). One of the things he found out what that a lot choose to live on the streets as preferable to the alternatives available to them. Whilst many do have alcohol or drug problems this is not the sole reason for their homelessness. The other interesting thing was that you see a lot of homeless people with apparently healthy looking dogs. He found that their owners spent a disproportionate amount of their 'income' on their dogs, and would go without food themselves in order to feed their dog.

I don't know about this 'be careful who you help' business. I think people wouldn't be on the streets begging unless they needed the money, and if I can spare some change, why would I judge their worthiness to receive it.

We have something called 'The Big Issue' in the UK, which is a magazine that homeless people can sell on the streets to make money. I bought one a few weeks ago off a guy that looked desperate for a fix (I might be wrong, but he was agitated and pacing around) - I thought at least he was trying to make income honestly. Who am I to judge him?

posted August 15, 2010 01:30 PM         

I am currently looking at a case involving a 90 year old guy, who is on deaths door and trying to get his finances in order before he dies. He has just found out that the bank statements his son has be giving him for the past 15 years are fraudulent, and his son has stolen all of his money.

The risk I take in opening my wallet in front of a non-predatory homeless person seems negligible to me, especially when compared to all of the other risks I run on a daily basis.

posted August 15, 2010 04:17 PM         

if my purpose here is to care and give, than what good am i if i refuse my purpose in this life..... if it is what i am here to do. what would it benefit me to walk away from what i feel in my heart is right? i can't. we all have our purpose. if i get robbed i get robbed, if i get beat, i get beat. the part of me that matters no one can touch. that is my soul.

i dont care if one other person thinks i am right if i know i do the right thing by caring, i know in my heart helping people less fortunate than myself..is the right thing to do. if i stand alone, i stand alone.

posted August 15, 2010 05:51 PM         

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you are right though lexx, i dont consider the danger. at all. when i picked up a woman who was being beat in the middle of the road with cars passing all around, i put myself in danger, he could have hurt me too. i don't / didn't care. i had to help her. it is my life purpose to help other people. if i die doing it, so be it. i gotta die sometime. fear can not motivate my actions. ever.

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