bennyb

Homelessness is very difficult to solve when mental illness is a part of it. We would have to institutionalize people against their will in order to make sure they are properly medicated. And once they are properly medicated, their bahavior (hopefully) will improve to the point where they don't need to be institutionalized any more. At which point they will be released. And then they will stop taking their meds. And then they will need to be rounded up again. It's a tough circle to break.

Additionally, what about the homeless in a city like San Francisco? From what I hear, that is a very expensive place to live. Suppose a homeless person actaully takes their medication, kicks the alcohol abuse, etc., and manages to get a job paying $3000 a month - they will STILL be homeless. Getting someone off the streets is not easy if we insist on keeping them in the most expensive cities in the country. But what is the alternative - move them to cheaper cities? There would be a big public outcry against that. It's not an easy problem to fix.

And I have a lot of respect for Angelina Jolie. She said somewhere that she donates 1/3 of her income to charity, that's more than I do (of course it's eaasier to live on 2/3 of what she makes compared to 2/3 of what I make). I know people get upset that she helps "foreigners," but since when does a person's nationality determine their worth? A life in the Sudan is just as important as a life in California. And personally, if I had the choice, I would rather be homeless in America than starving Sudan.

SAB

Why knock someone for caring about refugees? If someone chooses one cause over another, is that wrong--at least they are doing something. It reminds me of family friends who complained about people donating to AIDS research instead of cancer research as if it was somehow better to donate to cancer research. I'm with benny, I'd rather be homeless on the streets of LA than starving and terrorized in Darfur.

crefloors

The bottom line is, sadly there are a lot of ills in this world and lot of people in need. You can't save the world so you have to pick your battles. If you think about ALL of it, it just becomes overwhelming and for myself, it really gives me a feeling of hopelessness...it's all just too much. So, I have to "turn it off" in some ways, and pick my projects and give as much as I can to those.

greenrph

I live in a city called Gates Mills, Ohio. It does have a low population (under 5,000).

As shocking as it may sound, the homeless we have helped did need buiness casual or sometime suits for interviews.

I guess it would depend on the area and the reasons but the last gentleman we helped was a engineer that had a substance abuse problem. We got him back on his feet and he got a job with Mohen.

The people here I think would be homeless due to some circumstances that they got involved in. Sometimes it is self induced and other times it is not of their own doing. In the end, they all need help.

This area would just deal with helping a person to get them off the streets and rehab them so they could get back to work.

I know Cleveland has some homeless you see from time to time. But Cleveland also arrests them and evaluates them and finds them the appropriate help they need.

Once again. I didn't mean to sound rude or that I didn't like the area. I just felt it was such a dichotomy to see such opulence in this area and then see the man filthy dirty asking for food.

I think the stars who are busy telling us to help other countries should help in their own back yards first.

I know I can't imagine sitting on the lanai of my 10 million dollar home, looking out over the ocean knowing that their are hungry people sleeping on the grass and benches just outside my gate.

Anyway, once again please know I meant no offense to anyone or LA area. I only mentioned this out of concern.

suze

greenrph, Your hometown must be a very small place. Your post strikes me as well-intentioned but very naive.

They are homeless, not stupid. If you were living on the streets wouldn't you want to do so in a warm climate in a beautiful place? I know LA, San Francisco, and (my hometown) Seattle all have large populations of homeless people.

Talk to the politicians about 20+ years back when social services spending was so severely cut. 30 or 40 years ago many of these people would have been in various types of institutions receiving the care they need and deserve. A few people live on the streets by choice, but more because there is no where else to go.

I know the number of homeless on the street of Seattle outnumbers the number of beds available at the shelters by a staggering amount.

greenrph

PS. As far as knocking Angelina for helping all I can say is can't adopt a couple of kids from other countries and gain my respect. She wants to be in the limelight for everything she does. I respect the ones who quietly dontate millions without all the cameras.

I am sorry but I can't forget that just a few years ago she was french kissing her brother on the red carpet, wearing blood in a vial and cutting herself as part of her bedroom antics as well as publicly stating that she will always have multiple sex partners, both men and women and that it is healthy.

I know we all have pasts but I persoanlly have a hard time respecting her as a Mother Theresa and believing now she has become this diplomat on world affairs.

This is only my humble opinion. I am not trying to get into a war here.

SAB

green are you more upset about homelessness in the US or by Angelina Jolie? It seems more like the latter. BTW do you know that Bill Gates gives millions to eradicate malaria in developing countries, maybe you should be upset with him for not helping "americans".

Scarlett

When someone donates large amounts of money, it attracts attention, and attracting attention to the staggering numbers of children and people who are dying of hunger, in another country is a good thing, it will inspire others to help.
Bill Gates is richer, and not quite as attractive as Angelina Jolie-why are you not complaining about his donations?

In NY and NJ and here in Portland Or, there are places where you can donate business clothing for men and women who are trying to get back on their feet and into work again. I hope there are ladies out there, right now, earning a living and prospering, wearing a jacket or dress that once belonged to me.
You don't always have to give money to make a difference.
But complaining about other people who give , is small minded.

Scarlett

LOL, SAB, we were thinking alike and posting at the same time

Wednesday

I think the morale of the story is to pick something that moves you and just do something, no matter how small the gesture-and there is plenty that needs help and all are important-The environment, land, animals, military care packages, writing letters to the government, refugees, education, homeless, volunteering, teaching, hurricane relief, building houses....what you get back will be bigger than what you have given...and my two cents about Angelina- I think she sets an excellent example working with the UN. Think how much change could be made if all wealthy Americans gave 1/3 of their income to help someone else.

aileen679

The homeless also tend to go to spots where the tourist make easy pickings. Just about all they can be arrested for is loitering. We had a program once where the police were allowed to pick them up, drive them to an area where they could get food and shelter. They promply walked back to the tourist areas. So much of the money would go for booze instead of food.

It is very complex. The most burdensome ones are those that simply don't want to be told what to do. whether this is a mental illness or just plain stubborness....it's there and it's hard to handle.

Incidently, washable clothes are needed much more than business suits. Suits can't be washed. Underwear and socks are also always in short supply. People tend to forget to donate that sort of clothing. They just toss them when they begin to show a little wear or get a little faded.

beachbum

<<I think the morale of the story is to pick something that moves you and just do something..>>

Amen, Wednesday.

greenrph, to compare the homeless situation in your town of < 5,000 to that of LA's population of... what.. 10,000,000? is ludicrous. Nevertheless I applaud you for what you're doing. Just as I do Angelina.

suze

5000? Oh brother, now I get it.

I believe there are more homeless people on the streets of Seattle every night than the population of your entire town!

bogger

Oh Boy, what a topic. Homeless are everywhere, I live on beautiful Cape Cod and believe me we have our own sad cases here. It's always difficult to do the right thing, move these folks away from downtown areas to "clean it up for the tourists" or allow them to panhandle and sleep on the streets. So far the problem hasn't been solved and when I say problem I mean how to best serve EVERYONE not just the homeless but the community in general.

I think years ago during the Dukakis administration they decided mental illness did not warrant commitment into a mental facility. Consequently most of the homeless we see have mental illness and addiction problems and most prefer the streets to the regulations of a shelter.

I think the scariest place I've ever witnessed is Vancouver. One ride through the drug/homeless area and you will think your on another planet. I've never ever seen another city's homeless district that frightening. Again, drug addiction, mental illness.

BayouGal

Wow, greenrph (pharmacist?), I hope you are not new to Fodor's, because this deluge on a newbie might have him/her never coming back.

If you are NOT new, which looks to be the case, then you probably chose the title of your trip report (?) to garner attention and get such a dialogue going. Kind of like publicity about the personal lives of celebrities gets the public's attention--which some celebrities then wisely use to further the good causes they are involved in.