On Dec 16, 2003, at 10:26 PM, Rick Mons wrote:
Mark Wilde writes:I heard loud and clear what you want people in positions of authority to do for the homeless, but nowhere did you say what you want the homeless to do to help themselves.
It depends which to which type of homeless you are referring. The mentally ill can not do much for themselves if they are having an episode, when they are in their own world, or do not have the mental faculties to know the difference. For these people, it is incumbent upon society to give them a warm place to live, food, medical and psychiatric care - if but for only two reasons: they do not freeze to death in the streets; and you don't trip over them while they scream at G-d.
For the addicted, it would be nice to get 'em into treatment, but barring that, at least it would get them off the streets to sober up and maybe, just maybe, see there's some thing else besides a bottle. At least get them off the streets, instead of creating a hazard for themselves and the neighborhood, or selling themselves for a rock and spreading disease.
The economic homeless require at least a base of operations from where they can re-establish themselves in the job market. A room, a street address, a telephone, clean clothes for an interview. Basic.
The responsibility, of course, is with the individual - provided they are of sound mind. If they fail to hold up their end of the bargain, the contract is nullified. There are 49 other states. Pick one. Here's the bus fare.
<snip>
In fact I know many illegal immigrants who can't
get food stamps or public assistance or any other kind of help from the
government who are not homeless.
That's because they're here illegally and not homeless. <!>
There needs to be some level of personal responsibility in your argument, or I am not buying it.
See my argument above.
I volunteer at an overflow shelter for homeless families. Any time you'd
like to accompany me and see first-hand how those parents do struggle to
make their families functional, drop me an e-mail and we'll arrange it.
I'm pretty sure it would be an eye-opener for you.
I second that.
Neal Krasnoff Loring Park
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