On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 14:47:42 +0200, Frantisek <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Alin, I quite agree with the second paragraph of what you wrote, > but strongly disagree with the first ;-) > > First, for people it is easy to fall into homelessness. Your > wife kicks you out, you didn't communicate enough with the bureaucrats > so they cut your flat, et cetera. Even for educated people. > > Second, lot of the people on the street are handicapped in some way, > or with slight psyche problems. Considering that at least 30% of > society have neurotic tendencies (and probably the remaining 70% as > well <g>), which only in some people develop into more severe psyche > problems, this is nothing abnormal. But certainly these people are > easier to fall down and harder to get back up on their own. > > Third, given the chance, lot of the people want to get out of their > situation. Have you got any streetpapers in Romania? These are a nice > example of working model for this. Like Graywolf said, lot of the > people don't want to ask for help at start, because they don't know > where to ask, feel humiliated by it, et cetera. > > Fourth, some of the homeless are like these two. Young, punks,... You > might think it's their own choosing. For some, yes. But consider what > (and in Romania especially, although it's a big problem in my country > as well!) happens to "clients" of correction yards for young felons > and "clients" of these things for young people without family. There > is no socialisation work inside at all, they are totally unprepared > for life on their own after they kick them out. So they fall either > into crime or homelessness or both. I have seen the number. Just > imagine the situation. > > Fifth, yes, some, but a small minority, may like the life they live. > If you think otherwise, I suggest asking the beggars. I did. > > Good light always, Frantisek >
I've been staying out of this debate, for a number of reasons. However, I just wanted to agree with you, Frantisek, on most if not all of your points. The thing about homelessness, or so called "street people", is that one really doesn't know who they are, who they ~were~, and how and why they got there, unless you get to know them. Forgive me if I told this story to the list before, but maybe it bears repeating. About 5 years ago here in Toronto, a mother and all of her children (two or three, I can't remember) died in a horrific car crash. The father/husband wasn't in the car, and he of course was wracked with guilt. He was an engineer, with a successful practice. Big house, two new cars, etc, etc. After the accident, he started drinking. Couldn't perform at work due to the trauma and the drinking. Lost clients, lost money, eventually the bank repossessed the house and the cars. He was so ashamed that he didn't ask relatives for help, and ended up on the street, looking like any other homeless street person, begging for money, drunk and dishevelled. Luckily, after an extensive search, his relatives finally found him, he accepted help, and he's been able to get counselling he needs as well as shelter. He certainly isn't where he was before, but he's starting to pull things together. I only mention this because there are as many reasons for hitting the streets as there are street people. Emotional/mental issues, lack of education/skills, substance abuse problems, bad economy, just plain old bad luck. And yes (just so everyone doesn't think I'm some bleeding heart liberal - even though I am), some so-called street people are assholes. Some are just lazy bastards who would rather beg than work. Just like some guys and gals who wear suits and work in office towers are assholes. And while not many of them are lazy, there are some suits who are crooks and would screw the government, their colleagues or the shareholders if they could. But I digress... The point about The Homeless, is that they're all individuals, they all have their history, and they're all different. One can't generalize "why they're there". Unless you get to know them, any such generalization is a grave injustice. Thanks for listening, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
