Feel sorry for homeless people this time of year
 

Just spent a long day and night shopping in the city. I must be getting old. My legs and feet ache. My brain feels dulled and sluggish. I just feel like crap. It reminds me why I do most of my shopping online (including groceries). I feel sorry for the homeless people though, out there tonight in the cold, no nice home to look forward to.

I've lived in my fair share of 3rd world countries (nigeria, china, ITALY lol) and seen a great many homeless folk. Saw a lot in the states, so I know you guys are familiar (although not QUITE 3rd world he he). It has an impact on me though because its christmas and I live in a country which could easily wipe out poverty (you dont see much at all).

There are professional beggers who make a tidy sum, I'm sure, but mostly these are people caught in a catch 22: unable to get work because they have no fixed abode, and therefore unable to GET a fixed abode.

Whenever I had chance tonight I gave change to my daughter to give to a homeless person. If you rich webmasters go out shopping, I urge you to do the same. A few bucks means fuck all to us. Spend your notes in the stores and give your change to those who need it.

|buddy|

There is a song out there now called 'Underwear Goes Inside The Pants', which is actually a stand-up comedy act by Greg Geraldo put to music. It makes some good points about how we treat the down trodden.
----------------------------------------
We’re in one of the richest countries in the world,
but yet the minimum wage is lower now 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 bastard.
People love to judge homeless guys.
Like if you give them money they’re just going to waste it,
he's gonna waste the money.
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 looked right at the homeless guy and says
Why don’t you go get a job you bum?
People always say that to homeless guys,
get a job like it's always that easy.
This homeless guy was wearing his underwear outside his pants.
I’m guessing his resume ain’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 very strictly,
but technically I’m sure it's on the books.
--------------------------------------
The full lyrics are here: http://www.lyricsbox.com/lazyboy-lyr...s-zhxdsq8.html

I use to go to New York City every year to see the tree it was always sad to see homeless people freezing their ass's off with barely any clothing, nevermind the fact that they get kicked out of just about everywhere they go, I dont understand why many of them dont seek actual shelters..

There simply is not enough shelters. Some shelters will do only allow familys cuz of the kids (Salvation Army being one for family first) and some homeless have mental issues and are not safe to be with groups of people.

We had one homeless woman where we lived in Indiana that use to be an English professor & had a nervous break down. Her family would set up an apt & try to get her to stay, they tried to get her help.........she never would, she would end up back on the streets in the same dirty riped clothes & even wore all her layers in the extreme summer heat.

When there's 200 people that go to the shelter but the shelter closes it's doors after they take 100 that leaves 100 to freeze on the streets. Multiply that a bunch of times.

Also keep in mind that we have rehab programs for criminals but not for those released from mental care. Many people just have no clue of what to do and there is no support structure.

That being said a friend that turned junky for a few years claims a shelter saved his life. He also claims that there were times he was more afraid to be there then on the streets of DC.

I usually hand out a little more then pocket change this time of year.

i hope with god's help they will find courage to face all the circumstances that they encounter everyday, especially the homeless. i hope they will still feel the meaning of christmas.|santa|

UW, that made me think... I know it was a comedy routine, but there are a lot of sad truths there.

The homeless shelter here has double sided sad truths too. Many people stuck outside the shelter in the cold, but also I guess they close the shelter at a certain time and they don't allow those who are drunk inside. So many of them choose to stay out and drink and hit the shelter during the day for food. It's all pretty fucked up.

Awhile back a homeless guy asked me for some money outside a gas station. I gave him 20 bucks and he was very gracious. It kind of pissed me off though when I was leaving and he started asking me if I wanted to buy stuff. He had a bunch of junk, offering to sell me smokes and such... Told him I wasn't interested and then he snapped into a pissed off mode. After I gave him 20 bucks I figured he'd be happy...

A lot of petty stuff people waste money on could easily help the homeless... Or imagine 3rd world countries where 100 bucks can feed a person who is starving for many months...

- kero

Growing up in a small town, I don't think I have ever seen anyone homeless. I was very sheltered and besides living in other states, I guess still am. But even seeing homeless people on the news, makes me sad not just this time of year but always. Imagine, if we took the money we have spent on the war, the homeless could have been given new homes and good lives.

Homeless is a way of life in NYC. Walking to the subway to work, in the winter we'd step around those sleeping on the grates. and actually after a while most of the "neighbors" would help them out if they were regular.

For every story that is written about some homeless person dying and have millions in the bank.. or one that makes "big" money panhandling.. there are 1000's that truly do not have a pot to piss in.

I adopted a couple and used to take them to H&H bagels for coffee and bagel in the morning.. we'd take them last years coats etc. They told me they were safer on the street than in a shelter and they could be together.

When i first moved to Vegas in 1992, we asked our guide to show us the 'worst' areas.. they were pristine compared to where we'd come from and i said..and where do the homeless gather.. he said..oh we don't really have homeless here.. only a few.

Now that i'm back here after being gone for 7 years.. Homeless are everywhere.. and there are very few shelters here. Vagrency laws are very tight here because of the tourism.. so most end up in jail.

with rents at 800-900 minimum and minimum wage still at 5.15/hr i'm sure there will be even more here next year.