Why don't the majority of people care about the homeless?
EvilMerlin
Posts: 1,865
I've always had a dream since I was a little kid that I'd help as many homeless people as I can. And that within my radial reach of help, I'd cure every homeless person and hope that it would pass on to all areas.
Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when they ask me what I'm passionate about and I talk about this.
When I was a little kid I had this elaborate plan(for an eight year old) To make a self contained homeless shelter that can run itself by the homeless.
I've actually had two meetings with people before, project developers, and I basically get laughed out of their office. Not because the plan wouldn't work, but because it won't bring them millions. Which I understand, but some people just don't really care anymore.
It's really hard letting go of dreams, especially one that I've held onto for so long. Sometimes it's the only thing keeping me going...my mind trying to figure out a way. Any way, to get things done.
Sometimes I think I just care about too much with too many different things. I guess I kind of think that could be a case because it's killing me mentally and emotionally and draining any chance at allowing myself to be happy.
Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when they ask me what I'm passionate about and I talk about this.
When I was a little kid I had this elaborate plan(for an eight year old) To make a self contained homeless shelter that can run itself by the homeless.
I've actually had two meetings with people before, project developers, and I basically get laughed out of their office. Not because the plan wouldn't work, but because it won't bring them millions. Which I understand, but some people just don't really care anymore.
It's really hard letting go of dreams, especially one that I've held onto for so long. Sometimes it's the only thing keeping me going...my mind trying to figure out a way. Any way, to get things done.
Sometimes I think I just care about too much with too many different things. I guess I kind of think that could be a case because it's killing me mentally and emotionally and draining any chance at allowing myself to be happy.
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Sad, but true.
Thats sweet of you to have homelessness as a cause of yours. It's so depressing to see all of the homeless people on the streets in the city.
Nothing will ever change if everyone gives up hope. I'm sure many many things that are hugely popular now, were once laughed at. Keep the faith.
So what exactly is your plan to cure the homeless people? and what about the ones who don't have an illness, just down on their luck because of unemployment? and the kids who've run away because of domestic problems, how are you going to take care of them?
Find shapes in the clouds.
Hear the murmur of the wind
and touch the cool water.
Walk softly,
we are intruders,
tolerated briefly
In an infinite universe.
Over the course of time, I've met Lawyers, guys with master's degrees, professors, and people who've had terrible lives from the beginning and never finished school, people who became drug addicts but stopped and can't find a way to get back, etc...
The conversations I have with these people, I think, really make a large impact on me and my friends.
That's the whole point. To create a place where people can help themselves. But not many people are interested in coming up with any ideas because it doesn't nothing for themselves.
Yes, it makes you sick that someone else is suffering, lovely attitude. Because they're all drug addicts, and choose to destroy their own lives by their own free will so they can beg on the corner to go get another fix.
Really? Ask them for a dollar? Why not help yourself and create an altenative fuel source? I mean, because it's easy to help yourself with no support structure around you, right?
The sad fact is that a good number of homeless people are mentally ill and ended up using drugs/booze to "medicate" themselves which of course just compounds the problem.
I like to think people do care but just feel overwhelmed and think "how could I change that?"
Thanks for the positive vibes, GS.
Thanks for being a smart ass and looking too much into my wording.
Really, I mean you can just start off with a plan such as buying out an abandoned building in the slums, that had a hotel setting. That way everyone can get their own room, Then hire people to do maintenance, manage, cooks, servers, maid work, to work alongside with all the tenants to just give them the slighest of skill sets and work experience to build a resume to just get a simple job to start their way back into society. Just a baby step program.
Sure it'd take a while to sit down and plan out details and get some kind of budget figured out so you'd know how much funding you'd need, but I mean just a basic layout, you never hear of anything.
I'm sure if we spend billions on killing people, we could come up with the few millions to create a place to help people. Oh wait...why would anyone want to fund that.
Yeah I hear ya. I have a few buddies that I visit anytime in Frisco if I can find them. I've met some amazing people by just sitting down and getting them a meal. Sometimes the conversation is more important than a full stomach. People are beautiful in most aspects when given their opportunity. It's nice to see you do that as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSRCjG-VLk
Excellent clip. That's always been one of my favorite rants of his.
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
Can I rent a space in your box? We can keep each other company.
Summerfest 2006
"Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
gets to me every time
That's funny.
I've just forwarded it to some friends of mine who are golfers.
As long as you don't snore.
what befell the homeless
to make them so
do they horrify you
disgust you
do you pity them
what?
do you blame them
judge them harshly
do you say a silent prayer
as you walk past
to your invisible and absent god
oh lord
please keep me from such a fate
do you give thanks
to the almighty
for your warm hearth and home
the love of your family
your good fortune
when they ask for an offering
do you oblige begrudgingly
willingly
or brush past them
like they are a gnat
or some other bug
you can't tolerate
ignorance
do you have a kind word
a greeting with a smile
do you ever think of them at all?
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
they have places where people can help themselves, its not a novel concept. A lot of these places are empty. Food shelters are crowded when people are hungry, empty after they've had some food.
Find shapes in the clouds.
Hear the murmur of the wind
and touch the cool water.
Walk softly,
we are intruders,
tolerated briefly
In an infinite universe.
That's the whole point. To eat and leave so the next person can get in. Why would they stay in a food shelter? That's run by somebody. It's not a place for them to live or get any kind of other help. They go eat and then move on to try and help their next problem.
Just like an overnight shelter. So many are kicked out, turned away, pushed back to the streets because there's no room and limits on their use of them. Many are in places that they can't get to due to their location and are trying to find their ways to get to a place that will help them.
I used to have the same idea when I was a kid! Unfortunately, my studies have taken me in a somewhat different direction with my life. But I hope to start volunteering with our local Healthcare for the Homeless sometime this year if I can. I tried serving food at a homeless shelter for awhile, but they serve at 5 PM and I get off work at 6 PM so I ended up abandondoning that idea. I'm sorry to say that all I do now for the homeless are randomly give them money, food, or hugs. Or I buy the occassional homeless guy a drink.
I used to feel like I didn't want to give homeless people money for fear that they'd just spend it on alcohol. Then I started thinking: 1. Who am I to judge? 2. If I were homeless, I could probably use a drink!
I remember this one time I went downtown to the annual Fall Crawl, where swarms of people turn out to listen to bands and get drunk. Some of the stages are set up outside, which means the homeless people get to listen to the music. This one time I was dancing with this homeless guy, and when the band ended I wanted to go into the nearby bar and have a drink. I knew this was probably not an option for the guy, and that struck me as terribly unfair. Not only can he not afford to have a drink, but he'd probably get kicked out of most bars he tried to go into. I, on the other hand, as a young woman, can (or could at that time) usually go downtown with no money, go to a bar, and not only would I not get harrassed, but people would buy me drinks! And this only because of the way I looked - not because I'm in any way a better person than this homeless man. Not to mention all the alcoholics with jobs - or at least showers - who go to bars all the time and get served and respected. Who are any of us to say that just because a person is homeless s/he doesn't deserve a drink like the rest of us? So I brought this guy into the bar with me (they tried to kick him out, but I said he was my guest and I was buying) and we sat and had a few drinks and a nice conversation. A couple of his homeless friends joined us. Turns out they knew my grandparents! Anyway, I ended up losing a friend over that experience, which was really sad. But my point is this: Homeless people deserve just as much respect, love, and maybe even drinks as the rest of us. None of us know for sure that we won't some day be in the same position.
EvilMerlin, I commend your compassion and ability to feel concern for issues & people outside the scope of your own life. You are an inspiration and I hope you succeed in fullfilling your dream! (Have you tried meeting with your local homeless services to see what wisdom and/or collaboration they have to offer?)
Excellent point!
You will love this place....
I work in a very large NYC homeless shelter- we refer folks all the time. The social mission is amazing- it makes complete sense. It's such an easy idea.
I have, and I've sat down with a few coordinators before with my cousin, and they're interested, but again, it's just trying to find funding/time to get it started. I'm in the same boat as you. I don't have as much time as I'd like to actually sit down and help, so when I'm on my free time I'll gladly buy someone a drink, or some food, or sit down and chat.
I loved your story, thanks for sharing, and yes, it's a small world. Like the person that knew your grandparents, I once met a guy in Frisco that grew up in the neighborhood I grew up in Southern California. And he asked me what it was like since he was about twice my age. And we just sat there and shared memories. It was just a great talk that was great for myself, and it seemed like it was for him because someone just let him get his thoughts out.
Thanks for your kind words, as I only hope to one day become an inspiration because of my actions and not my thoughts.
I'm going to New York in September. I'm stopping by for sure. Thanks for that.
and they always have these lame stories why they need money. i need money for bus fare, or i need new batteries for the bus ride home so im not bored. load of crap. if they said im a lazy person with a drug problem can i have some change to make the day easier, i might actually do it. but dont lie to me and think im retarded.
i dont owe these people anything. thats how i feel.
no offense but that's a fantasy, no one in their right mind will fund that, the overhead would drive any company out of bussiness.
An answer to your question by Ani DiFranco;
"i remember the first time i saw someone
lying on the cold street
i thought: i can't just walk past here
this can't just be true
but i learned by example
to just keep moving my feet
it's amazing the things that we all learn to do"
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