744,000 Homeless People in the USA

[Sanslines]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16564208/

[Sanslines]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16564208/

[LamontCranston]

99.724% of people in the USA have homes to live in... remarkable. Has that ever been true in another generation?

[usmc1]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by LamontCranston:
99.724% of people in the USA have homes to live in... remarkable. Has that ever been true in another generation? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Depends on what you define as a home. Barely adequate shelter, old-people warehouses, tenements, flop houses, cinder block rooms, ticky tacky apartments and the like might provide one shelter against the label of homeless, but hardly rise to the level "having a home".

Furthermore, as is your wont, merely citing that something differs from that which is asserted does not invalidate the assertion.

In this case, even if more than 99% of Americans have some sort "home" does not mitigate the plight of those who do not. They are most often "damaged" people in some form or another and deserve our help and not some pitiless, self-satisfied snideness.

You're trying to hi-jack the thread. 'Taint happening. The issue is homelessness, the homeless and what, if anything, can we as a society do--not that all of us are not homeless.

[shomymojo]

ship them all to Hugo Chazvez...LOL

[Naturist Mark]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">ship them all to Hugo Chazvez...LOL </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Ha ha ha!! Lets make fun of the unfortunate people!

Mental illness, divorce, medical calamity. Fun stuff!

-Mark

[Daveinct]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by LamontCranston:
99.724% of people in the USA have homes to live in... remarkable. Has that ever been true in another generation? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Great news, I'll go mention this to the people at the shelter a few blocks down the road. It's sure to cheer them right up.

Dave

[naturalmanwa]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">You're trying to hi-jack the thread. 'Taint happening. The issue is homelessness, the homeless and what, if anything, can we as a society do--not that all of us are not homeless. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I really feel that the homeless situation shows a lack of care by the gov't, be it local, state or national. While it is true that a certain percentage of the homeless are that way by choice, many of them are not and would do better with some form of help. Private organizations cannot do it all to solve the problem they didn't create. I think the economic situation in an area has a lot to do with the number of homeless, but I am not educated in the specialty that deals with situations such as this, so Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

[nacktman]

Another question to address is just how many are but one paycheck from being homeless as well. I bet the number would have a meteoric rise then.

Also another point ... most of the help and assistance those that are homeless or in substandard housing get comes from others in those substandard housing and out of that one paycheck.

Why is this national disgrace tolerated?
Where are those that could more readily aid those in need.
Who will come to your aid should you have need of it?
How do such detached from reality people develop?
What are we going to do about it?

[nudeM]

Interesting topic, since just last week, there was an article in the newspaper (local) of a homeless lady and her pregnant daughter. The reason they are homeless is due in large, is they are constantly being denied 'further' benefits, for they don't fit within the criteria. Sad, isn't it. I will try to find it and link the story.

Amazing, right after the story, the next paragraph down, it was announced there is a new program that will have funds to help these kind of individuals, that comes from the State. Apparently, it's another program that will start up, on top of other programs that aren't working already. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/smoking.gif

[LamontCranston]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Great news, I'll go mention this to the people at the shelter a few blocks down the road. It's sure to cheer them right up. </div></BLOCKQUOTE> Actually Dave, down the road in CT the Department of Social Services budget is $4.3 billion. That's an annual number that buys a lot of care, housing and feeding.

Homelessness is not a news story. It's propaganda trotted out to coincide with the new Democratic leadership.

When the Republicans come in office we hear news stories about unnamed monsters requiring us to lock our doors and grow the defense budget.

When Democrats come on the scene, it's stories about homeless and downtrodden.

No? Here's my scientific predition: In the next week or two we'll hear about another evil corporate elitist caught cheating... just in time to talk about taxing the rich.

It's propaganda folks.

Or are you telling me that a government with a trillion dollar annual budget to work with can't find housing for 700,000 people? Really? There are probably 700,000 empty trailers rotting on the gulf coast as I write this.

Everything serves a purpose or it gets resolved. Even the homeless.

[nacktman]

Naturist Mark had it right ... Clueless! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gif

[shomymojo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Naturist Mark:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">ship them all to Hugo Chazvez...LOL </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Ha ha ha!! Lets make fun of the unfortunate people!

Mental illness, divorce, medical calamity. Fun stuff!

-Mark </div></BLOCKQUOTE>....Mark...you missed my point...I was making fun of Hugo Chavez...LOL...as a former law enforcement officer..i know more than i want to admit about the homeless...

[texasjoe]

Along with homelessness - which is very real - is the topic of food insecurity.

Most people live so close to the edge financially that homelessness is a real but out of mind possibility.

Tokyo is not the only place where one's choice is between paying rent or buying groceries.

[Daveinct]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by LamontCranston:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Great news, I'll go mention this to the people at the shelter a few blocks down the road. It's sure to cheer them right up. </div></BLOCKQUOTE> Actually Dave, down the road in CT the Department of Social Services budget is $4.3 billion. That's an annual number that buys a lot of care, housing and feeding.

Homelessness is not a news story. It's propaganda trotted out to coincide with the new Democratic leadership.

When the Republicans come in office we hear news stories about unnamed monsters requiring us to lock our doors and grow the defense budget.

When Democrats come on the scene, it's stories about homeless and downtrodden.

No? Here's my scientific predition: In the next week or two we'll hear about another evil corporate elitist caught cheating... just in time to talk about taxing the rich.

It's propaganda folks.

Or are you telling me that a government with a trillion dollar annual budget to work with can't find housing for 700,000 people? Really? There are probably 700,000 empty trailers rotting on the gulf coast as I write this.

Everything serves a purpose or it gets resolved. Even the homeless. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Homelessness is not propoganda. It is a very real and present problem in America, and as I noted, in my neighborhood. I see homeless people in my neighborhood every day, talk to some of them regularly and, when I had more free time, volunteered at the shelter just blocks from my home (in one of the wealthiest states in the nation). These are very real people who receive little to none of the DSS budget. Rather than propoganda, it is a daily story that should be in the news more often.

Our government could find housing for 700,000 people, but it doesn't.

Oh, and by the way, the story of the Enron scandal was broken in Fortune magazine in March of 2001, during a Republican administration.

Dave

[LamontCranston]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">These are very real people who receive little to none of the DSS budget. </div></BLOCKQUOTE> Because they've been turned down or haven't applied?

It is sad, it is tragic, but it is not a *very real* problem in America. Not when compared to the early 1930's.

If it was, they'd fix it. Seems like a small number when compared to the whole.

My beef is ---- WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

This is just a news story, it pops up, people wring their hands, they feel good because the issue is *out there* yet still folks are homeless.

Look how fast billions and billions of dollars, food, water, and shelters were poured into the gulf coast.

They have the power to fix it so FIX IT.

[Sanslines]

Homelessness and hunger are very real problems in this vast and wealthy country. The sad truth is that it is easy to become homeless or hungry. There are many documented cases of people who have become sick with a serious illness such as cancer and were thus unable to work. Taxes and bills kept comming and forced many such individuals into bankruptcy.

I was thinking about this last night when I heard on the news that David Beckham (of Manchester United fame) is going to be paid $250 million over 5 years to join a soccer (football) team in Los Angeles. Think about what $250 million would do for the homeless and hunger problem. A misuse of this countries' resources?? Maybe this is the real problem....wrong priorities and a tremendous misuse of resources.

[usmc1]

Lamont is correct about one thing, which is sure proof taht even a blind squirrel will find the occasional acorn.

Our government, this nation, you and I and you, and you, and you have the power to do something much more effective in dealing with homelessness and all of the other social ills afflicting us.

Where he errs is to blame them, the "government". The "governement is not the problem, it is the solution. Now, the more erudite among us will find the irony in that statement, since it was Reagonmics that eliminated most, if not all, of the federal funding for social programs.

But, the governement will not act unless We The People demand taht it act. Be informed, be active, mobilize into groups and organizations which reflect your desires, and elect canddiates based on record and stated aims and not virtually meaningless diviseive wedge issues.

Get up off your couch, put down that can of beer, slip on some duds and get out there and take back your country.

Yes, there are some mentally disturbed people who "prefer" to live on the streets, but most are damaged and displaced people struggling to survive amid pleanty.

Those taht mock them with jokes and those that minimize their plight suffer from a different sort of ailment, soulessness. Sorry Mark, Nack, I think they do have a clue, one makes snide comments about every serious topic and the other prances around with a pseudo-intellectual, more superior than thou response to any social program, policy or issue brought up on these boards.

[shomymojo]

Sorry Mark, Nack, I think they do have a clue, one makes snide comments about every serious topic and the other prances around with a pseudo-intellectual, more superior than thou response to any social program, policy or issue brought up on these boards.[/QUOTE]...you left out the one that is a ...self rightous blowhard... http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gifLOL

[Sanslines]

"How I lost my home - 3 stories":

http://realestate.msn.com/buying/Article2.aspx?cp-documentid=2104117

[fred950]

When I first read the article, I thought that the figure cited is a bit low. A mis-placed decimal point, perhaps.

A large munber of the homeless that I see don't have the mental facilities to exist without some sort of structured, sheltered enviroment. That sort of envirement DID exist up to about the mid to late seventies. Then a double whammy hit. Liberals wanted them to be 'Intgrated into the community" and conservites' budget cuts.

[NudeTopher]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LamontCranston:

It is sad, it is tragic, but it is not a *very real* problem in America....
------------------------------------------------

If you had the misfortune of a tragic event in you life and you lost your support network and your house it would be anything but an "unreal" problem. What you are saying is that currently,
it is not a real problem that effects you.

In other posts you have suggested that others "fix" the problem. Are your arteries that hard that the ills of society are there for others to fix? Are you not a part of the community as well?

[WNYjoe17]

A lot of interesting and valid points here.
-Many in the US are 1 paycheck away from the same.
-It is a deplorable situation
-WE are the government
-even 99.726%...(Do the math)
All are correct. But, here is the bigger issue. How do we fix it?
There is validity to the statement that republicans and democrats find different things of importance. There is an old economics concept: "Guns or Butter?" That's all the difference is. Which one do we give money to? domestic issues or military issues?
Sooo... back to the discussion.
Many people know how to abuse the system. And have no problem with continuing to do so. Many others have a hard time getting anything. What frustrates me is the legitimate ones that get denied. We need to make major changes in how we look at those who are different. Some are not able to work, some lost their jobs, some truly have metal issues. The idea of "there is a fine line between brilliance and insanity" makes sense. We need to start to grow and listen and learn from those who disagree with us. Once we attain that level, and we must work to keep it there...If we hit that point, we are open minded enough to begin to work on solutions.

[Sanslines]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WNYjoe17:
A lot of interesting and valid points here.
-Many in the US are 1 paycheck away from the same.
-It is a deplorable situation
-WE are the government
-even 99.726%...(Do the math)
All are correct. But, here is the bigger issue. How do we fix it?
There is validity to the statement that republicans and democrats find different things of importance. There is an old economics concept: "Guns or Butter?" That's all the difference is. Which one do we give money to? domestic issues or military issues?
Sooo... back to the discussion.
Many people know how to abuse the system. And have no problem with continuing to do so. Many others have a hard time getting anything. What frustrates me is the legitimate ones that get denied. We need to make major changes in how we look at those who are different. Some are not able to work, some lost their jobs, some truly have metal issues. The idea of "there is a fine line between brilliance and insanity" makes sense. We need to start to grow and listen and learn from those who disagree with us. Once we attain that level, and we must work to keep it there...If we hit that point, we are open minded enough to begin to work on solutions. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good post Joe,

I think part of the problem today is that people do not want to get involved for a variety of reasons. Those who are homeless and hungry are looked down upon as scum by so many in our society. Here is a typical example: When I was working in a gym, I was cleaning out the old lost and found items that were acquired over the past few years. This was a huge pile of clothing and others who worked in this gym didn't want to be bothered with it. They wanted to toss the whole pile into the dumpster. I personally gathered up all of the clothing and took it down the street to the Catholic Charity where everything was gladly accepted. Believe it or not, I could not find one gym worker or one gym member who would go near that charity. Heaven forbid if they were to be seen near such a place and surrounded by such people. Such is the typical attitude of many people I come across : "Keep the homeless and hungry away from me for such a sight is ugly and I do not want to look at ugliness!"

I think a major solution to the problems of hunger and the homeless is for people to get involved in some capacity themselves - whether that capacity be food or clothing donations, volunteering for meals on wheels or habitat for humanity, or making cash donations to any reputable charity. Do not wait or expect the government to solve this problem. We the people need to stop expecting the government to do everything and start solving these problems ourselves.