Homeless

I was wondering if there are people sleeping on the streets in developed countries outside of the US. Personally, I think it's a disgrace for one of the wealthiest countries in the world to allow any of its citizens to be homeless.

People who live(d) in or have visited other coutries, what's your experience?

tmo1965 said:

good question... i saw 4 people yesterday with signs at intersections. it makes me sad. i barely have enough to get by, but that's probably by choice and totally different thread, and donate my time to causes since i don't have money. how can there be soo many people without in a country of over abundance.

I think the saddest thing I've ever seen is people who are living under the overpasses on the expressway. And the numbers of them are growing!

they have places to go, some of the places make them leave during the day.
And some of them would rather be out sleeping on a park bench than sitting on a cot in shelter all day. they have social lives too, it doesnt mean they dont have any place to go. They just have places they'd rather be and other things to do than avoid being in your eye sight.
[Edited 8/6/08 11:59am]

Homelessness is not a problem exclusive to the US. Virtually every nation in the word, "developed" or not, has a homeless problem.

"Always blessings, never losses......"

Ya te dije....no manches guey!!!!!

I'm a guy!!!!

Its so sad. Last week I gave one of my son's friends a ride home from school who lives in the newly developed sections of the downtown area. There where just rows of homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks along the buildings for blocks. To see the contrast. It tore me up inside.

"Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man." General Ann Dunwoody

tmo1965 said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

The U.S government doesn't really care. In the meantime homelessness is growing by leaps and bounds here. I know people with homes and jobs that are afraid of what tomorrow and the winter may bring.

this year, with the foreclosure situation reaching epidemic levels i am afraid we will be seeing a lot more homelessness.

In answer to the original question, yes, there are. I've lived in Belgium and England, and it is a problem in both. There are facilities (shelters and soup kitchens), better maintained in England than Belgium, but regardless, it's still a big issue.

tmo1965 said:

tmo1965 said:

It seems to me that there was a time when a person who worked as a clerk at the corner store could at least afford to keep a roof over their head, albeit, it might be some tiny one-room flat, they at least had some place to hang their hat. Today it seems if you don't have a degree to get the job that pays a certain amount you're SOL just to have a bed. Perhaps I'm mistaken but times have changed.

"Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man." General Ann Dunwoody

tmo1965 said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

paisleypark4 said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

morningsong said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

meow85 said:

morningsong said:

It seems to me that there was a time when a person who worked as a clerk at the corner store could at least afford to keep a roof over their head, albeit, it might be some tiny one-room flat, they at least had some place to hang their hat. Today it seems if you don't have a degree to get the job that pays a certain amount you're SOL just to have a bed. Perhaps I'm mistaken but times have changed.

Times have changed.

Granted, I wasn't there, but given the stories I hear from my parents' generation, I'd say that's a safe bet.

My mom moved out when she was only 15, and was able to get a basement suite with a friend working only part-time hours for early 1970's wages as a waitress and have money to spare for movies or dancing at the end of the month.

I'll be working full time even after school starts, for $10/hour (and it's a union job! huzzah!) ) but even then I know I won't be able to pay rent if it wouldn't be for the extra kick in I get from student loans and CPP. As is, I still might have to move in with new roommates to keep a roof over my head. Fucked if I know when I'm going to have time for homework.

paisley43 said:

meow85 said:

Times have changed.

Granted, I wasn't there, but given the stories I hear from my parents' generation, I'd say that's a safe bet.

My mom moved out when she was only 15, and was able to get a basement suite with a friend working only part-time hours for early 1970's wages as a waitress and have money to spare for movies or dancing at the end of the month.

I'll be working full time even after school starts, for $10/hour (and it's a union job! huzzah!) ) but even then I know I won't be able to pay rent if it wouldn't be for the extra kick in I get from student loans and CPP. As is, I still might have to move in with new roommates to keep a roof over my head. Fucked if I know when I'm going to have time for homework.

It is SO very RIDICULOUS how they expect people to afford housing.
I find it so disheartening that especially in this day and age, this
is still happening (people on the streets). I don't know about other
countries (have never been outside the U.S.) but, it is still very
prevalent here at home and a damn shame! I often wonder if any of
these people realize their MAY BE some help out there for them
(ie:benefits, etc.). I hear there ARE some programs to help-you
just need to know where to find them. On the other hand, many people
do not "qualify" for this or that type of income. If that were the
case though, why in the world are there still so many homeless?
No one should be left on the streets to freeze!

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

I can't remember the name or even the denomination, but there's a church in Toronto that's taken an interesting approach to the homeless issue. I saw this when I was last there in 2001. For all I know the situation's changed since, but this was what was happening then.

The city had told them they could no longer keep their doors open for people to come sleep inside, as is the ages-old tradition of offering sanctuary. Toronto, like most of Canada, gets insanely goddamned cold in the winter. So, in protest to the city's decision, the church posted a sign outside the front door. Every time a homeless person was found frozen to death within a certain radius around the church property, their name (or John or Jane Doe if unknown) was added to the list.

When I saw it that board was running out of space.

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

meow85 said:

I can't remember the name or even the denomination, but there's a church in Toronto that's taken an interesting approach to the homeless issue. I saw this when I was last there in 2001. For all I know the situation's changed since, but this was what was happening then.

The city had told them they could no longer keep their doors open for people to come sleep inside, as is the ages-old tradition of offering sanctuary. Toronto, like most of Canada, gets insanely goddamned cold in the winter. So, in protest to the city's decision, the church posted a sign outside the front door. Every time a homeless person was found frozen to death within a certain radius around the church property, their name (or John or Jane Doe if unknown) was added to the list.

When I saw it that board was running out of space.

paisley43 said:

meow85 said:

I can't remember the name or even the denomination, but there's a church in Toronto that's taken an interesting approach to the homeless issue. I saw this when I was last there in 2001. For all I know the situation's changed since, but this was what was happening then.

The city had told them they could no longer keep their doors open for people to come sleep inside, as is the ages-old tradition of offering sanctuary. Toronto, like most of Canada, gets insanely goddamned cold in the winter. So, in protest to the city's decision, the church posted a sign outside the front door. Every time a homeless person was found frozen to death within a certain radius around the church property, their name (or John or Jane Doe if unknown) was added to the list.

When I saw it that board was running out of space.

OMG- so awful! I've never been to Canada but have heard
their Winters are incredibly cold. It SHOULD be that
way EVERYWHERE (ie:healthcare/insurance for everyone).
Yet another thing I find ridiculous. Canada's a great
country.

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

they need to get jobs.

superman said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

I have been told that in manyy 'developed' countries the homeless are "hidden" from the more traveled areas and tourist destinations.

Once on a trip to Mexico, we were at a resort which had a fence around the grounds. We sat by the pool and outside of the fence were the rows of locals pasted up against the fence looking in.

It was surreal because we were caged-in but not in the sense of being detained, but for "protection" from the nationals. Wierd, huh?

meow85 said:

superman said:

they need to get jobs.

Neat trick.

First off -Tell me of all these employers who are willing to hire someone with no previous experience or applicable skills or education.

How many employers will hire someone without contact information of any kind? Like I said, though many shelters are willing to let their clients borrow their phones and addresses as contact numbers, just as many aren't willing to do so.

What interviewer is going to hire someone off the street who may not have had a chance at a shower in a few weeks, let alone have clean, interview-appropriate clothes and other grooming products like deodorant or a good razor?

How many employers do you see ligning up to hire someone with substance abuse problems or mental health problems? Shit, people who do have homes are losing their jobs for "not fitting in" with their coworkers, nevermind having more serious problems like those many homeless people have.


Also, you seem to be forgetting what I've already pointed out here -a large majority of homeless people DO have jobs, sometimes two or three, and still can't afford a place to stay. What's your smartass answer for that?






It's people like you that make me ashamed to be human.

Twinkly1 said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

paisley43 said:

meow85 said:

Neat trick.

First off -Tell me of all these employers who are willing to hire someone with no previous experience or applicable skills or education.

How many employers will hire someone without contact information of any kind? Like I said, though many shelters are willing to let their clients borrow their phones and addresses as contact numbers, just as many aren't willing to do so.

What interviewer is going to hire someone off the street who may not have had a chance at a shower in a few weeks, let alone have clean, interview-appropriate clothes and other grooming products like deodorant or a good razor?

How many employers do you see ligning up to hire someone with substance abuse problems or mental health problems? Shit, people who do have homes are losing their jobs for "not fitting in" with their coworkers, nevermind having more serious problems like those many homeless people have.


Also, you seem to be forgetting what I've already pointed out here -a large majority of homeless people DO have jobs, sometimes two or three, and still can't afford a place to stay. What's your smartass answer for that?






It's people like you that make me ashamed to be human.

Why meow85-I think I love you!

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

superman said: