How did homeless people become homeless?

Lost User

Michael P Butler wrote:

It is very hard to get a job, if you don't have an address.

...and vice versa most likely :| Paul

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code frog 0

In many cases you have a good question. In many cases there is just *so* much more to it. You obviously haven't considered that many choose to be homeless and in talking with some of them there reasons are compelling.

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Chris Byrne

for your sake, I hope you never have to find out... small minds

Red Stateler

Sure they would. Suppose they pay $6/hr (I think it varies by location) and suppose he works 2 jobs that totals 12 hours/day for 6 days/week. That's $1728/month. Consider that you're supposed to pay a max of 33% of your pay on your home, he would be able to afford a $576 apartment. Where I live you can't get much for that, but if he got a roommate, he could live comfortably in a 2 bedroom apartment.

Paul Brower

:-D:-D

Link2600

code-frog wrote:

You obviously haven't considered that many choose to be homeless and in talking with some of them there reasons are compelling.

You've talked to them? :omg:

Ray Cassick

Obviously you have not frequented the McDs around my house :)

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Andy Brummer

I hope you were trying to be funny, but that is really in poor taste, even by my standards.

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-- modified at 17:21 Wednesday 24th May, 2006

Andy Brummer

:laugh:

I can imagine the sinking feeling one would have after ordering my book, only to find a laughably ridiculous theory with demented logic once the book arrives - Mark McCutcheon

Wjousts

Of course you don't include other bills that come with a home, like heating, water and the need to buy food. Also how many landlords do you know who'd give an apartment to a homeless person without a large security deposit and a months rent up front. The need to scrap up an up front deposit is a significant barrier if you don't have a penny. But thanks for caring...

Christian Graus

addiction, mental illness, there are all sorts of reasons. Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++

Marc Clifton

espeir wrote:

12 hours/day for 6 days/week.

While possible, I honestly think that's asking a bit much of a person on a continuous basis. Where is the time work on elevating oneself out of that situation, like attending training classes, doing homework, etc.? On the 7th day? Well, like I said, possible but not likely for a long time. You're also not factoring in the time to get to the other job. And also, is McD's going to hire fulltime workers? Probably not. Then they have to pay health insurance, or a part of it. So what you're really talking about is 3 part time jobs. No health insurance, and frankly, public transportation (I'm assuming your hypothetical homeless person can't afford a car, insurance, gas, licensing, registration) isn't that cheap anymore.

espeir wrote:

That's $1728/month

That's BEFORE taxes. Marc Pensieve Some people believe what the bible says. Literally. At least [with Wikipedia] you have the chance to correct the wiki -- Jörgen Sigvardsson

Paul Conrad

Andy Brummer wrote:

that is really in poor taste

I agree, the post by Link2006 was pretty low.

Paul Conrad

Marc Clifton wrote:

health insurance

That is if the McJob even offers health insurance. Paul

Marc Clifton

Link2006 wrote:

How did homeless people become homeless?

By spending all their time surfing CP. ;P Marc Pensieve Some people believe what the bible says. Literally. At least [with Wikipedia] you have the chance to correct the wiki -- Jörgen Sigvardsson

Justin Cooke

Let's also remember that a large portion of the homeless people in the US are single moms and their children. It's pretty easy to get stuck without housing when the deadbeat father leaves a mom with kids to support. She then needs to work AND take care of the kids daily. This is impossible on a low income. I hope you realize that the minimum wage in this country (what can be earned at MacDonalds, WalMart, etc.) is NOT a living wage. Also, I know a large number of people were purged from mental institutions in the 80's and they had no real chance at finding stable work and housing. Many of these people were schizophrenic or had other very serious problems. It is very easy to lose one's home if you don't have the safety net that many of us take for granted and something bad happens to you (you are disbaled, you lose your job, your spouse leaves, ...) My father-in-law, for example, had a disabling stroke in Novemeber of last year. He could no longer work -- yet, his SocialSecurity disability payments only began this month. The only reason he didn't lose his housing is that his family members were able to make his payments. Many people aren't so lucky. -Justin

Ed K

In my previous job (police) nearly 50% of the homeless I ran into (and that was a lot!) that were not drunks, addicts or crazy were put there by the IRS. ed ~"Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -Frank Outlaw.

Tad McClellan

I used to work in the public defenders office in San Francisco. That qualifies me as somewhat of an expert on the matter because lot's of our clients were homeless; that is until the got arrested. Then their home was provided for them by the taxpayers of the city and county of San Francisco. Having said that, I will tell you their are two main reasons for homelessness. This is of course subject to much debate but I think most people will agree to these two. 1) Drugs (including alcohol). People with an additiction will sell anything and everything to get drugs. Drugs also happens to be the root cause of about 75% of all crime if not more. Robbing a gas station for money to buy drugs or holding someone up for money to buy drugs is as much drug related as selling on the corner. I once had a client who had masters in physiology and somehow got hooked on crack. She lost all of her family and friends because she stole from them to get money to by crack. Eventually she ended up on the street and got busted. But not before prostituting herself for money to by drugs. 2) Mental sickness. Lot's of people on the street are their because their is not enough help for mentally ill due to budget cuts during the 80's that still remain in place today. They can't get medication or don't take it and eventually they commit some crime. Then they go to jail where their illness is diagnosed and medicated. They get released and the cycle starts over again. The main thing we who are not homeless must consider is whether to give loose change to homeless. Do not do this. Every one of those folks know where to get food and from which homeless shelter. If you give them money you are probably (not always) funding the nights bottle or pipe or something. If you give them something give them McDonalds gift certificates. Better yet, give money to the homeless shelter who will help them in the way they need to be helped. E=mc2 -> BOOM

Tad McClellan

That's what they told you because you were a cop. The IRS by law cannot put someone on the street. E=mc2 -> BOOM

Tad McClellan

Very true but certainly not the majority of homeless. There are lot's of good shelters for single moms to help them get back on thier feet. E=mc2 -> BOOM