Comments on: The Homeless, Apparently Unworried by Life Circumstances, Take Amorous Romps

By: Dano MacNamarrah

Dano MacNamarrah — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:05:37 +0000

I have written about the terrible treatment if the homeless: one man that I’m friendly with was even set on fire by people in a car. I think for many people the visual reminder of that which is wrong with our society brings out the worst in them. Just as the playground bully picks on the weakest, so do some adults.
One of the issues aggravating the homeless, is the desire for officials to have them clean/sober before they place them in housing. Which is patently rediculous. The good news is that they’re beginning to realize that having a roof over one’s head goes a long way toward helping a person get off drugs/alcohol.
Many people that I’ve spoken with are afraid of the “shelters” that the city provides. As the looming foreclosures build in the city, and the return of vets with health issues not cared for, I have no doubt that the lovely folks at Rittenhouse Square will be seeing more than just one person brushing their teeth.

By: harryfreeloader

harryfreeloader — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:04:01 +0000

The bottom line on people’s attitudes toward the homeless—they don’t want them around. Period! The disapproving looks come from over-inflated egos due to the fact that the egotistical asses had the advantages and opportunities in life—the homeless, in many cases didn’t. Is it any wonder that many homeless have a bad attitude? It’s the accumulated effect of thousands upon thousands of negative experiences. If you can’t help, then leave people alone. Take those upturned mucus drainage pipes attached to your face, which you’re so fond of gazing down at the world from, and shove them in one of the lower orifices of your “bathed” body. The advantaged of society do not reside on Mount Olympus any more than the homeless live in the sewers at night. No one is better than their fellow man, even though people readily accept the illusion that they are.

No one to date has come up with a plan to help people get off the street. And let’s face facts while we’re at it. Most rescue missions, shelters, and day centers don’t really care about the homeless. In fact, most of them treat the homeless like crap. That’s why most homeless sleep and reside outdoors rather than shelters. Missions are set up to make money for the director and board. That’s it. They live off the money that comes in and leave the scraps for the homeless to squabble over. I know this from first-experience. The people that run the shelters have as much disdain for the homeless as residents of any town or city do.

The best way to combat homelessness is to bring back the jobs that were shipped overseas and put people back to work. Dignity is built by permitting people accomplish their dreams by effort instead of denying them the opportunity of provide for themselves. If the economy goes swirling down the toilet, as many economic forecasters are predicting, this country is going to have more to worry about than people bathing in fountains and ruining their scenic view because homeless people are in the way. In fact, some of the very same jackasses that go out of their way to scorn and deride the homeless may find themselves residing in their company. “Any fresh water in that fountain?”

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:45:36 +0000

this article had particular sting because I read it 2 days after volunteering for a 24-hour road race sponsored by Back On My Feet, a local non-profit that gives support to the homeless. I may’ve missed it, but I didn’t see any event coverage in the Inky.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:04:41 +0000

Having lived in New York now for 5 years, homeless people have simply become part of the landscape. They are on the subway asking for money. They are on the sidewalk with signs lettered in bold marker saying “Hungry,” “God bless you,” and so on. If they can’t get into a homeless shelter for the night, they are lucky if they can assemble one out of cardboard.

Since it would be impossible for me to give to all of them, I try to help out those who are young, I suppose since I can relate in some way. I remember this couple – they couldn’t have been much older than 18 – who when I offered to buy them one of those $5 foot long sandwiches from Subway, they just went ecstatic. Way more gracious than I’ve ever been when someone else has bought me a meal.

Headlines like that give people permission to take the attitude that homeless people are undeserving and inferior, less than human. That is disgusting.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:10:15 +0000

Liz,

It takes a whole lot to offend me, but this
article certainly did. The snobs who are making comments regarding the
homeless are lucky to have a roof over their heads. A little humanity, people.

Dennis

By: scott

scott — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:15:37 +0000

I don’t believe the mainstream media gets much of anything right, so when I see these kinds of headlines I am truthfully a bit numb to them.

I have never been homeless. I have worked with the homeless and firmly believe that there but the grace of God go I. So what do I feel when I see homeless people? Sympathy, empathy, how can I help and why do most of our cities want to just put them out of sight vs deal with the issue?

And to Barbara Craig (”as a resident you don’t want to see this, it is kind of gross”), she should be ashamed of herself. Or better yet, homeless for a month.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:10:19 +0000

Liz,

thank you for pointing this out. My illness and alcohol abuse to try to tame the voices in my head led me to a sprint of homelessness in 95. I was fortunate, I was living out of my car.

I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy.

Thank you for pointing out the plight of the homeless. It’s something we really need to think about but don’t because it’s easier to shut our eyes and pretend they don’t exist. I can only talk about my experiences across the river in Jersey, but it’s sadly similar.

By: April

April — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:55:44 +0000

It’s amazing how quickly forget what it’s like to be human when we have creature comforts—it’s so easy to take a restroom and a sink (two very simple things) for granted. In Portland, OR (where we used to live) they passed a sit-lie ordinance, which is just basically a way to keep the homeless from being anywhere private security officers or police don’t want them. Instead of fixing the housing/mental health/veterans’ programs issues, they spend money on an ordinance telling people where they can’t sit in a city??? It’s called being lazy and greedy and I think once tougher times hit more people we might wake up and realize these people, the ones who have to bathe or brush their teeth in public, are just trying to survive. I can’t imagine not having access to a restroom.