SubinMaine
Posts: 1888
Joined: 1/7/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Vendaval
That is wonderful news! I am very happy for you and instynctive. 
Thank you Vendaval *smile*
Now...because i feel pretty bad about the semi-hijack of Stella's thread, i figured i'd try to address her original questions from my perspective:
quote:
ORIGINAL: stella40
However what I find is not many people are really bothered as to how their hardearned tax money is spent.
When i was an active part of the work force, i *did* get concerned how tax money was being spent. Here, in America, the homeless population is growing at an alarming rate. i, also, have seen both sides of the coin within my own family (sad, but true) as well as with friends and i know that the government is not doing enough (or maybe enough isn't the right word...maybe it's "the government is not doing the CORRECT) things to address the situation. But yes, i am/was very concerned.
quote:
ORIGINAL: stella40
Is it perfectly acceptable to leave the majority of street homeless to their own devices and without any sort of help?
No, it's not perfectly acceptable. While some may think "they made their bed" there's a lot of underlying factors that result in homelessness. Most people need help...be it mental, physical or just plain "directions" on what to do to get out of the hole.
quote:
ORIGINAL: stella40
What is it we find so unacceptable about people without homes and without work who require help from the authorities? Why do we automatically assume that there is something wrong with them? What is so wrong about approaching the authorities for help when help is needed?
i think most people (notice MOST) have a narrow view of why the homeless are actually homeless.
Statements/Questions like: Why don't they help themselves? There's plenty of work if they just apply themselves! Drug addicts don't deserve my tax money. and so on....
Sure, sometimes it may be true, but not all the time and, i'm sure not the majority of the time. One of my best friends lost her home...job passed out pink slips, she lost her personal income, 3 children and one on the way. She was, homeless. She had to seek assistance. She had to go into a shelter and rely on the government to help her keep a roof over her head. She was a hard worker, a devoted mom and wife. She was also forced to lie and tell the government her and her husband were "separated" and he had to go stay with his mother in her tiny 1 bedroom apartment in order for them to GET help. His job making minimum wage would have disqualified her for any help. How someone is going to maintain a home on $8 an hour is beyond me, the math does not and will not ever work.
In another example, my own sister...never worked a day in her life. Got married at nineteen, had my first nephew about a year later, got housing through the state, got food stamps, got welfare, got heating/electric assistance...the government made it possible for her to not work. She is a VERY talented woman, she can draw so beautifully it makes your eyes hurt. At 18 she was approached by the Walt Disney Co. to work in their Animation Department. So, the opportunity was there for her to have an incredible career. She CHOSE the easy way. She lived off the government for 19 years. She recently lost her housing. My oldest nephew had had enough and moved down south to stay with his father. My sister and my youngest nephew were now homeless. The government told her she needed to go into a shelter until they found her housing again....so, i convince her this is the right thing to do because she needed to "hit rock bottom" to learn how to take care of herself and her son on her OWN. Her shelter? It is an apartment 100x better than the one she'd just lost. She gets her own bedroom, she has a kitchen complete with dishwasher, coffee maker, microwave, fridge....she's learning NOTHING. The government pays her $300 every two weeks to stay here until they find her a place, they have activities for the children and make daily day trips to museums, beaches, parks, etc. free of charge to her so she has all week from 9 to 4 open and free to do as she pleases. While i sit here and type this, i still ask, "how is this HELPING her?" The government continues to support this woman and makes no move to help her correct past behavior so it's less likely to happen again.
So, basically there's a bunch of reasons why someone could be homeless be it through no fault of their own or even if it's 100% their fault. People in America frown on public assistance because of examples such as my sister. This is the myth that's perpetuated.
Some find it hard to approach the government for help (my friend for example) because of the additional comforts they need to "give up" in order to qualify for the assistance or just on pride alone. When you work hard your whole life and things just don't pan out according to plans, you usually end up blaming yourself and thinking you won't even qualify so why bother?
i trully have no clue where i was going with this, not enough caffeine...but i will say this, Stella, you should be very proud of what you are doing to help...too many people will complain about the homeless problem, but ask those same people to stop complaining and start thinking/helping about/with a solution and they get horrified. It's really very sad.
_____________________________
That which yields is not always weak...
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RE: Whilst you are fast asleep in your bed... - 
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