>

If you don't want to help, then don't help. You don't have to bullshit elaborate excuses so you still sound like the hero. Learn to accept the actions you take.
I drove trucks over the road for fifty years, and panhandlers were always just part of it. I am not so naive as to think that they might not take whatever money I give them for food and spend it on getting high. But I always asked myself, what if he IS hungry and I walk on by. I decided years ago that I would give someone enough to get some food, and what they did with it was not on me - that’s between them and their God. I might not make a difference in anyone’s life, but I may have helped a few get through the night. And that’s about as much as I could hope for. >

Hell, even if they do spend it on drugs maybe it's so they can be numb enough to sleep on the streets.
We don't know how other people deal with this hell-ride we call life, and it's not our place to judge. If they need a little help though, it's not shameful to extend a hand >

Youre looking at this the wrong way. Its not that people are homeless, therefore they need drugs to help them deal with the pain. Its the drug abuse and bad decisions that lead them to being homeless and living on the streets.
Yes we can judge because thats the vast majority of the situations. Heavy drug use will put you on a downward spiral that often leads to homelessness. Its up to the user to be strong enough to stop before it gets to that point. So by giving them money, you’re helping them finance their bad decisions. Dont be an enabler. >

Or you might just realize that here they are in a bad spot, and at this point, how they got here really isn’t the bigger issue. Hungry is hungry, and it won’t kill me to give them a meal. I don’t know which person did what with the money, but if you actually give a hungry man a meal… >

If someone asks me for food, I will never deny them a meal. Drug addict, bad decisions, or whatever the reason is. No one deserves to be hungry. Actual cash is another story tho… >

They’re pretty ok where I live. Avoid the screaming/drugged out crazies, but the rest are just regular people. Buy them a burger and chat with them for a bit. You’ll hear some pretty wild stories and have good conversations. >

I don't do that because the homeless in my area get clingy. I gave a guy i saw at the bus stop a few packaged foods a couple of times and then he started getting demanding asking for more and saying i should give him cash too. Stopped giving.
My coworker used to buy a crazy lady breakfast. Then she started coming into our work place randomly to tell coworker she was hungry and wouldn't leave. Called security on that one. >

I rarely go to the same person more than once or twice (what you described does happen very often if you work as an individual, even homeless people who go to my soup kitchen will recognize me and ask me for more stuff on off-hours), but I have a friend who sells cool stuff he found/makes and is a great dude, and camps sort of right below my apartment. Never had an issue with him, he’s got great character, very hardworking and helps the other homeless people around here. Good guy in bad circumstances. >

I mean my parents taught me that a lot of the homeless population was experiencing exactly what you described. I don’t think I can solve homelessness but I don’t see any issues in donating to local organisations or letting them have safe areas in the city >

Just be careful that they are actually genuinely working towards solving the problem. Unfortunately a lot of organizations are part of the “homeless industrial complex” and are incentivized to not solve the problem and instead by perpetuating it in a slightly different manner so they are well positioned to receive more funding to “tackle” the new developments of the problem >

I'm surprised you're downvoted. 
We could only really solve homelessness with social security, providing people with homes and basic income. So as long as we think that people have to be useful to deserve to have home and food, there'll be homeless people. >

i'm a recovering addict and spent time on the street in my youth 
my experience (though it has been many years now) was that there are definitely some homeless who will approach and sometimes accost you on the street for money - because of mental illness and/or aggressively trying to score booze/drugs, etc
but there are scores more who just had one bad turn of luck too many (bankruptcy, bills, illness, etc) who try like hell & go out of their way to avoid making any contact with "normal" folks out of pride or shame they might feel - so you're much less likely to run into them
and so unfortunately yes, the ones we are most likely to encounter paint a picture that isn't necessarily an accurate representation of who many homeless really are - it's just the belligerent/strung out/desperate ones who are most noticeable 
i know that once i was on the street maintaining my dignity became full time work (either that or i could abandon it altogether) and that i was very fortunate to cross paths with people who helped put me on a path towards independence - but i was very lucky (and still young) >

I'm not an expert on the homeless but, in my experience, the majority of homeless are (essentially) invisible. They shower regularly, have clean clothes, practice personal hygiene, and are usually working or going to school. 
With that said, homelessness acts like a degenerative disease. People who fell on hard times can start drinking or doing drugs to cope, or the stress can result in mental illness. Once you can tell someone is homeless from a block away the odds of them just having fallen on hard times are low. 
I believe we need to focus more on the invisible homeless to prevent the chronic homeless. In my opinion, extremely basic crisis housing (an apartment the size of most bedrooms) would go a long way towards managing homelessness. >

exactly. fucking. this. 
The guys out there trying to just survive and not be a burden is huge but they aren't the ones you meet because they don't run up on you asking for "a few bucks for gas to get home."
a friend of mine who's homeless now (though he's camping on my property the last six months) is absolutely homeless because of a bad accident he was in with his ex that resulted in a huge PG&e bill for knocking down a power line and then a botched surgery that's left him struggling to walk. His foot became infected living outside and walking on it constantly and when the emts picked him up he told them he didn't want opiates for the pain so they shot him up with ketamine against his wishes (I guess this is an opiate alternative in NV emts can use). Now he has a debilitating stutter and serious memory issues. 
One bit of bad luck leads to another until suddenly a previously productive member of society is struggling to survive with his dog. 
He wasn't able to get hooked into social services because every other week he was getting his phone stolen while he slept. It's taken weeks of getting him put back together, getting him doctor's appointments, getting him back on meds, and he's doing a lot better but he might never be the same and without help he would never have been able to even access the help he needed. 
I didn't mean to write so much, it's just such a shitty situation and he's just one man in a sea of homeless persons. >

If you don't like homeless people he is literally your problem. A social safety net prevents small mishaps from removing tax paying productive humans from the workforce. additionally this often leaves them absorbing far more resources when they hit emergency rooms for easily preventable illness. 
If you enjoy people living in squalor around you and higher crime rates (literally problems that are society's) then sure, let's leave people who fall through the cracks to struggle on their own. 
So many edgelords out to pretend they don't care about the problems they literally spend their time complaining about. >

While I agree that the majority of them do need more help that one individual can provide. Your post suggests that you shouldn’t be kind to them, kindness costs nothing and they absolutely deserve kindness. >

I would love to see you be kind to a homeless person who throws their own actual shit at you while spitting at you and screaming expletives because you won't/can't give them change. Like OP said, times have changed. >

Lol I’ve worked with homeless people and experienced a lot worse than what you described. But I can say that the majority of homeless people are harmless and I wouldn’t generalise a huge group of people based off of a few negative experiences. >

Do not feed the troll. >

I'm not a troll I just have no love for the homeless, and think they are a detriment to society, and there problems are of there own creation. >

Homeless people are the symptoms of our society's flaws. They may have gotten themselves there, they might not have. Who are you to judge them? A genuinely good society takes care of its sick, downtrodden and the worst off because a good society understands that by uplifting others, you uplift yourself and your society as a whole. >

Yeah its like what american was built on means nothing give us your tired, your poor but if your american fuck you buddy.
Christians help your brothers unless they are a different color nationality or class. >

We've definitely strayed far from the path. Those people aren't following Christ but rather what their preacher says. It's a sad day being a Christian in modern times. Christ preached nothing but compassion and kindness for the lesser off. He spent his time amongst the criminals and was shunned for it. Much like OP's sentiments, people then "why would you help them?"
Because they need it the most. >

Yes because they need it the MOST. Literally defenders of the weak SMH! >

OP I'm gonna paraphrase Gandi and say, "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians; they are so unlike your Christ."
Happy holidays. >

“I’m not giving him money, he’s just going to spend it on drugs.
Wait, that’s what I’m going to spend it on.” >


be there by choice 

Yeah, right. >

It doesn't matter why someone is homeless. Just be kind to the less fortunate. It's not that hard, even if you think they are there by choice. >

That's a clever way of looking at it. It doesn't matter that the Bible teaches us to care for the poor and needy, because they weren't talking about these sorts of poor and needy so we're off the hook. 
There have always been homeless addicts. Even going back to Biblical times they were those led to ruin by drink. >


attributed to people that fell on misfortune or chose to be ascetic

​

people you encounter on the streets are more likely to be there by choice or unable to overcome some mental anguish or addiction

How tf can you oversee, that these are pretty much the same? >

Dude. Drugs/drink have been around since before the written word. There's always a type of society ppl don't want to be a part of. Mental health has always been at play (probably much more before we had diagnoses for many many things). Kindness can be expressed in many ways including with just treating them as humans. They are still the disenfranchised just like ppl of oldentimes begging to be let within the city walls. Sometimes helping someone to the next day can change their life before the municipal services can. >

Actually pretty much all of those religious texts make it clear that you don't get to judge that. Helping is your moral obligation, it's not about whether it's easy. It's not even about who deserves it. >

I'm pretty sure a lot of the homeless have fallen under some serious misfortune. Mental illness, exposure to drugs as kids, PTSD/injuries in the military and being promptly abandoned by our government, etc. 
Fuck a religion that sends people to hell for being exactly as God made them by the way. >

Sounds like we are in complete agreement. We are not in any position to solve PTSD or other mental illnesses at the individual level. Agree on the point about religion >

Except you most likely are equipped to ease that burden. Even if it's by a little bit.
You shouldn't justify letting someone go hungry (or worse if you live in one of the cold areas) because you're waiting on someone else to solve the mental health crisis before you decide shoulder a minor inconvenience. >

Most houseless, by no means not all, were born into houselessness. Not everyone can get into Section 8, then get income, then buy a house, that is a lot of work.
Assuming that anyone can or should work and hand over a paycheck in exchange of a limited use of a shithole is well not smart and cruel, renting is mental health issue >

My only interactions with homeless are at the train station huddling together and speaking foreign, angrily walking around an entrance and randomly shouting things, or running down the train wagon uttering the same sob story every few meters. Oh and some that annoy with unwanted performances on the train.
The only ones i give to are who are just sitting passively by the wayside with a cup/etc. and not bothering anyone. Rarely see those on my way to work though. >

This isn’t it a hot take . Ppl hate homeless ppl >

Lived in SF briefly. I also dated someone for a few years living in Oakland. It dispelled a lot about my incorrect beliefs about homeless folks. Some of them are genuinely out of their mind, because they’re abusing drugs. Some are outright dangerous. This is not a simple problem to solve, because it also requires solving several other problems including addiction. >

Thousands of years ago (When religious traditions were formed), there were many more causes of homelessness that we usually don't see in developed nations. So I feel pretty guilty saying it, but I do think the OP is correct.
The way I see it, at least in the US, Canada, and similar countries; people are living on the streets because:
- They have given up (on working, or getting anywhere in life)
- They suffer from addiction/mental illness/trauma (and are incapable of maintaining regular employment or meaningful relationships with other people)
- They have made a series of very bad or very stupid decisions
- Some combination of the above
​
Realistically, most of us could probably offer a homeless person a few dollars or a meal. But if you agree with me about the causes of homelessness, then I would ask why you think it would actually provide any real, actual help?
(I don't claim to know how best to fix the problem, but just saying that doing anything a normal person could do it like putting a band-aid on a broken leg) >

I agree. And the other thing that I see some commenters mentioning is to give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe try chatting with them, etc. Essentially make a good-faith effort to see which category (of the ones you laid out) they fit in.
I’m a young woman so maybe I am biased by the fact I could be hurt/overpowered by another person easily, but I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to approach someone - or have them approach me - and then spend time and possibly put myself in danger to figure out if they’re someone down on their luck or someone with serious mental health issues or someone drugged out of their mind that will try to hurt me if I don’t pass them a few bucks. >

Bad take mate.
I firmly believe we're not evolved as we actually believe we are. Just technologically advanced. We're still battling the same things and problems like, drugs, alcohol, mental illness when the religious texts were written. 
Our mentality is still the same, but "different" vices than whatever people thousands of years struggled with.
As the other comment said, kindness costs nothing. Drop your ego and learn to love instead of hate. There's too much of that around. >

Humans are just as smart as they were thousands of years ago. You’re right we just have more tech and education but our brain capacity is very similar >

We are cavemen in hightech caves >

At least half of all homeless folks have a severe mental disorder. They cannot function as a member of society because their brain does not work correctly. 
They fall through the cracks when they are too sick to care for themselves but not sick enough to meet the criteria necessary for involuntary hospitalization. Most are not an “imminent danger to themselves or others” so they have nowhere to go and no way to care for themselves. 
As someone who serves this population, I hope you experience some strife in your life so that you can develop empathy for human beings whose brains and bodies don’t work as well as yours. >

No kidding. I can only assume the op leads an incredibly sheltered life. >

Its time to reopen the asylums.  Supportive housing won't solve the problem alone. >

Homeless people can be the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. >

And others can scream that you stole their spaghetti and then shit down the wall of an Autozone on Main St... Its all relative I suppose... >

But those are the same things >

The homeless in my local area (Areas since i've lived in a few cities through my life) are fine. Don't assume that just because you've had an bad experience with your local homeless means that most homeless people are bad, because they really are not. I don't usually assume bad faith, but it seems like you have a stereotyped view of what modern homelessness is. >

No, I hear what you mean… >

While I agree with most of what you’ve said here, I don’t think it means they’re not deserving of kindness or even a ride to a local shelter or help center. The biggest thing too is that you never know why someone is homeless and it’s not like you can just ask them cause that’s extremely rude, so it’s best to just help when and where you can. Even if that’s just giving them info on resources to help them at least have a place to sleep. >

I was never taught to be kind to them. My parents told me from day one to be wary about giving anything since most were mentally ill or alcoholics/drug abusers. >

Do you think mental illness is a modern invention?
Homelessness has always been largely a mental health issue. Some people, for a reason or another dont have the mental health to work and manage their lives. Its a disability.
If you give them food you are helping them, obviously pulling them out of poverty is out of the ability of most people, but it has always been the case.
It is a form of bias to think it used to BE a trivial problem and that now it is somehow worse just because you are experiencing it >

Yes but getting fried or layed off also is a cause as if your not able to get a new job in timely manner your either going to be in debt or go bankrupt. Young people can just go back to their parents if they are kind enough to let them stay. if this happens but an older person may not have their parents still around. >

I would agree with you but the real anger should be at people like Gavin Newsom and his friends that have made a fortune off the homeless taking in billions of dollars in federal money and spending it on things like "consultant fees" and "studies."  For these grifters homelessness has become a profit model. >

No those are the LA ones >

I agree with this... unfortunately most have mental health issues and addictions they DONT want to fix.... you cannot help someone that doesnt want to be helped. There was a  homeless guy who was offered multiple jobs but he said he makes more money in a day panhandling on the corner and its "tax free" he just didnt want to pay taxes. Eventually he was arrested hopefully for tax easion because he was 100% capable of working he just didnt want to >

Yes this is true because a lot of homeless now are high on drugs, alcohol or belong in a mental institution. >

I agree with you, it seems to me when reading a passage, the audience is meant for that time. >

Wouldn't mental health disorders leading to homelessness count as "falling on misfortune" ? >

Your post has the same energy as those Fox commentators complaining that poor people have refrigerators and phones, so the fuck what?
As my mother always said when she inevitably had me pull over so she could give someone on the side of the road holding up a sign some money: 'It doesn't matter what they do with it. It matters that you gave it to them.'
Being kind and doing the right thing is the desired end result. Anything after that is out of your hands. >

We are all just one mishap away from homelessness.
Also, quit being an asshole >

This is bullshit. 
No one is out on the street asking for money for fun. >

Upvote cause unpopular. No one chooses to be addicted to drugs or grow up in an abusive hellhole of a home. OP entitled >

i can’t speak for other countries… but here in america a lot of people are just an accident or diagnosis away from homelessness so…
hard, HARD disagree >

Or a paycheck away from homelessness >

exactly >

Still be kind. 
Suffering from addiction or mental illness is no reason to treat someone poorly. 
In fact, it’s been proven homelessness creates and exasperates addiction and mental illness. >

That's what we are taught to do but society does the opposite and get's away with it no one wants to hire homeless people when that would remove them from the street at least.  And lots of people look down on them. And they are basically told to move all the time even though they have no where to go. While not every one is like that a lot of people treat homeless people badly. >

So... don't try to help? >

I live in Seattle, near a busy thoroughfare where homeless congregate. “Compassion Fatigue” is a thing here. There’s been some scary shit lately. Of course, to be fair, the first ones to get Compassion Fatigue may not have had much compassion to begin with. >

I suggest giving to organizations that help the homeless instead, so you can both create a larger impact, and be pretty sure your money is going somewhere productive. >

'by choice's, very victim blamey, once you make a poor decision, it's a slippery slope. 
Decisions could also be from poor literacy - education, which is partly dependent on your social determinant >

I'm appalled. 
The OP thinks there is some right kind of suffering or misery deserving of kindness and that we should ignore the rest as if drug addiction or whatever isn't also misery. >

This is a very unpopular thread. Being a decent human being costs nothing. The Golden Rule applies here.
You offer literally nothing to help solve this growing problem. >

Yes yes yes. In Belgium you have a lot of homeless in big cities even though the government has a shit ton of help provided and shelter.
They don't want to follow the rules and rather be in the metro station peeing everywhere. >

What city is it worst in Belgium >

Brussels. 
Beggers and homeless in every metro station, outside shops, everywhere.
Most of them are illegal immigrant, some even with child that should be at school.
The only ones I have sympathy for are those with dogs, they can't get shelter with dogs so they choose to stay in the streets. >

When I see people discussing the homeless situation in America nobody ever mentions the criminal records a lot of these people have. When somebody commits a violent crime or sexually violent crime they are usually cast out of there close circle and end up homeless. Be careful 'helping' these people. >

This is my concern as a solo female and SA survivor. There are parts of my city I feel unsafe in for this reason (homeless people with violent histories) I know my help could easily get me raped or killed. 
As a smaller framed woman, my odds aren't good against someone 2x my size. I feel guilty but my safety comes first. I hate that I have to choose between the safe and being nice. >

Dont feel guilty about your safety. >

What a ridiculous take. As if the Bible is full of asterisks. Be kind to homeless people* 
*Only if they deserve it >

My dad is homeless, he knows he can dig himself out of it if he wanted to, but he can’t tell the difference and doesn’t see anything wrong with it so a homeless he stays regardless of it being a risk to his health and wellbeing >

The people you encounter are people with serious mental illness and/or drug addiction. That has not changed since the large institutions closed down in the 60s and 70s all over the west. These are exactly the people your parents should have taught you to be kind to. >

I don't care why they're homeless. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and helping a little. There's not enough kindness in the world and if you won't help people because of why they're struggling, then you're not a good person >


people that fell on misfortune or chose to be ascetic and refrain from the conveniences of modern capitalist society.
people you encounter on the streets are more likely to be there by choice or unable to overcome some mental anguish or addiction

What's the difference >

I was taught to be kind to everyone who's not actively harming people. You can harden your heart all you like, but I won't give up my humanity just because of capitalism. "The undeserving poor" is a myth perpetuated by the elite to make sure we judge people on the streets, rather than ask why they are there, unsupported. >


Religious texts will tell you

It's almost 2023. How do people still believe in this garbage? >

Just take it as history, he just means that that's what people in old times were told was rightful.
You really don't need to start a debate here, you're free to go jerk off on r/atheism though, people there will appreciate this >


Just take it as history

No.

You really don't need to start a debate here, you're free to go jerk off on r/atheism though, people there will appreciate this

Yes, I am also free to make that comment right here as you could see. If it upsets you, good. >

It IS history dude. You don't have to be religious to understand that religion was the driving factor for how people acted ethically and morally for hundreds of years. >

People acted ethically and morally before religion. Then religious people came through and said worship our God, or we'll fucking kill you. And yes it has history in it but it was written through the scope of religion and religion will do whatever gymnastics they could to get more followers. 
You're really trying to take history lessons from the book that moved its main character's birthday so it could gain more followers easier? >

Bad take. Religion and traditional beliefs existed long before people decided to record history. We don't know what came before religion, but considering it is the result of an extremely basic question (Why are we here?), I doubt ethics and morals were on people's minds before they started trying to explain the world around them.
Last one is just misinformation, I don't recall the Bible ever stating an exact date for Jesus' birth, it was religious institutions that moved it around to further their goals, as all institutions always aim to do. >


don't recall the Bible ever stating an exact date for Jesus' birth

Just have faith. >

Why should i not be kind to them through? 
It’s becoming a bigger and bigger problem. People maybe get hurt, start on pain meds, get addicted, lose their job, end up on the streets and get mentally fucked. How is this an active choice? And why will my kindness not help them? 
Ofc I won’t take all my clothes off and freeze to death in order to help them, but I do have enough money to help them out. I know some people who was able to turn it around, and often it was because someone kind helped them out a bit. We all need support at times, and our society needs to be more equal. >

This is such a reductive and stupid claim about homeless people. It seems kinda clear you’re tired of being told that if you’re a good Christian you should care about the plight of the impoverished/homeless but you don’t want to. So instead of making up some claim about how “well the homeless of today just want to be homeless it’s a choice” say what you really want to say with your chest. >

I work with a lot of homeless people and I can firmly say this is over exaggerated to an extent. Delaying the inevitable…I mean…why should we help anyone then? Why help a family that has parents that are working but still can’t do anything? It’s inevitable that they will still be poor and living in anguish no? You either help people or don’t, don’t come up with rationale to help make not helping justified. Mental issues, personal decisions, lost everything in a fire…who am into judge their situation or say I’m going to help the person who lost their home in a fire but the person with mental issues is inevitable they will keep living this way so don’t help? >

This is a stupid thing to post with rent skyrocketing for so many people. This was true maybe 2 or 3 years ago >

‘Hi homeless guy, I don’t want to give you any money as you’ll just use it to buy drugs to help get you through a freezing cold night on the pavement….. but omg look at how cute these shoes are, I already have 10 pairs but I need this pair too as I don’t have this colour!’ >

Everybody deserves kindness. You’re also incredibly uneducated about unhomed people and the circumstances that led them there. Spend more time listening and learning and less time judging. >

Can always help. Shit I lost my ID and birth certificate moving. That basically makes you homeless. Couldn’t get Jon, when I did get Jon couldn’t cash check. So much shit >

There are “homeless” and then there are HOMELESS.
I’ve encountered the “homeless” who stand around with their children in high end strollers, wear jordans but also a ratty pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, won’t accept anything less than a dollar, very choosey if you offer to buy them food because they “don’t want a burger from McDonalds” that they are standing near but instead “want a steak from Longhorn Steakhouse.” They wont accept a pack of socks or basic hygiene products and get pissy because you wont get them a $80+ pair of shoes. And at then end of the day, you can see them hop in their car and drive away.
These are the “homeless” people I tend to see and the only ones my husband has ever known existed.
Then there are the HOMELESS. The people who are truly down on their luck. There are the ones who live out of a garbage bag under a bridge. They are grateful of any assistance, and can give you some good stories. I’ve noticed that they are also willing to give back if they can. These are the people you should be kind to and I feel always make an effort to assist.
When my husband first saw true homeless people in Pennsylvania, he asked why people were under a road. I had to explain that they are homeless and that what he is used to seeing are not truly homeless people but people looking to take advantage of other peoples kindness.
Some people are homeless not by choice but due to circumstances beyond them. Drugs and alcohol abuse is another reason. Homeless people in my area have gone up a bunch because housing is so expensive and the jobs that are hiring (even when you apply they say they aren’t even though the building and signs around say they are) don’t pay nearly enough to afford a cheap apartment. Some homeless people live in there car, maybe parked at a Walmart. Just don’t confuse them with “homeless” people who want to take advantage of the kindness of others and go back to their house after a hard day of “work”.
Sure, you can get the true homeless people who you might want to avoid due to them actually being a threat. Some people homeless or not may come up to you for money. Some may keep there distance and wait for you to approach. Just be aware of who they are and your surroundings. >

Kindness and compassion for another arises from the realization that if you were born as them, with their exact DNA, and environmental circumstances, that you'd be that person and in their place today.
And it becomes apparent that no one in these circumstances would've chosen to be in the situation they are in, had they possessed a more balanced vantage point to align their faculties with.
With this perspective at hand, and the understanding of the vastness of astronomical time in which the human race's candle of consciousness is alight for a mere millisecond, it's impossible not to have compassion for other beings. >

OP was alive 2000 years ago apparently.
I'll continue being kind and you continue doing nothing. >

Not sure if I agree, as many of us are only a few missed paychecks away from being homeless and do not meet that description. >

So wrong on so manny levels. >

This is just an uninformed opinion. >

Wait, wait, wait... setting aside how awful your opinion is, you think that religious texts attributed homelessness in part to "the conveniences of modern capitalist society". Dude, pick any major religion's holy book(s) and I guarantee you they predate the idea of Capitalism by many centuries >

Its not a homeless problem anymore, it is an open drug scene. I've worked in this industry and there are soooooo many resources here in wa, but the problem is the drugs. Ppl dont want to get out bc they are handed everything they need so often. >

“Don’t help struggling people”
-Scumbag OP >

True. Where I live, you don't end up homeless from losing your job or going to the hospital. They're all obvious junkies/alcoholics. Going to work feels like a scene out of the walking dead (which they basically are) and it's just so annoying to be asked for money or cigarettes by those zombies every day. >

They need to be removed by the federal government and isolated in the wilderness. >

Some of them already live in the bushes and ruin the parks. It's just gross. >

That's not good enough, they shouldn't be ruining our parks and buses. There's children there for God's sake, take them to the desert exile them if they refuse to work. >

Thank you for having the guts to say it. Definitely an unpopular opinion, but I totally agree. When you give these people money you just enable them to continue to live this way. They are not looking to be saved by your or anyone else, just enabled to do as they choose. >

Some are definitely nice, some are struggling with a substance use disorder which is sad of course, if they were able to detox and truly stay off of the drugs many of them could maybe get back on their feet, but who knows
Working at a hospital we get the type that get banned from every homeless shelter, like at that point you're clearly just being a piece of shit and they really don't deserve sympathy honestly, seriously some of them treat you like trash for trying to direct them to resources and such
This one lady had one thin coat in negative wind chills and she rejected 2 winter coats graciously given to her by hospital staff. How can you feel bad for her? >

Yes. 
Enabling. You’re talking about enabling which is the reverse of helping. 
People have to be uncomfortable in their poverty or they stay there. 
The drugs, crime, and social welfare make for enough comfort to make this problem much larger in a lot of places. 
Many of them are always just reprobates. Too bad there isn’t a colony to dump them all on. I guess there is always California. >

So it's not worth it to at least try to help someone then?
How unempathetic. >

Dude literally admitted he causes people to be homless by raising rent on properties for personal wealth. He causes the problems he hates most in society and is ignorant to his own impacts.
I feel like I am being radicalized just speaking to him. >

Neoliberalism yahh yahhh. Infinite growth on a finite planet for a tiny minority of people. Deny poor the right to education, healthcare and housing. Homeless mostly people of color need a lesson on how to behave you know “White man’s burden”. Let’s in slave them in prisons. Bomb, coup and Exploit there home countries. >

No, religious texts are talking exactly about these people, they are not struggling, they are lost, they have lost hope. You cannot change someone's life around, but you can leave them with a memory that shows that people care, and hope that one day they'll have enough strength to want to get better. They may be terrible at the moment, but my job as a stranger is to treat them without judgment. Kindness isn't something that you expect to receive anything from, it's not something that makes you feel good, you do it because you are human and don't want to see suffering, it is a selfish thing, but everytime a stranger has been kind to me on a bad day and cared, it just made me feel soo much better knowing that someone cares and doesn't want to see me doing bad, it's just a need you can't really explain, but people caring means a lot to a person, maybe not at the moment, but it always means a lot. Drug addiction and serious mental health problems has always been a problem, health issues as well, you can't help everyone and probably anyone, but the least you can do is be human and treat people with respect. >

I’d say judge each homeless person individually, for who they are rather than which “group” they “belong” too, just like you should with everyone else. Grouping people based on features is wrong to me. >

Better home these homeless are not wearing multiple fabrics the religious texts says it's punishable by death. >

Bold of you to assume you wouldn't judge homeless people if you lived in the past >

We should be kind to all until given a legitimate and overwhelming reason not to be. People have innate value regardless of their actions or choices. Unless they do harm to others past the point of reconciliation they deserve kindness and respect >

even if it’s true, compassion goes a long way. for every homeless person you give money to that you think are getting drunk/high there’s homeless people that really do generally need the cash and have the best intentions. the world is a cruel place and we never really know what’s going on with people so I always donate when I can. it’s not really my business what other people do with the things I give them because once I give it to them, it’s not mine anymore. It could be just me because I’ve always been really sensitive to homeless people because I’ve had a lot of substance abuse problems in my life and if my lot in life was different, i probably would have been on the street too. empathy goes a long way, even if people, in your opinion, deserve it or not >

I’ve given food to homeless people asking for money for food. I’ve experienced some crying when taking the food. I’ve experienced some getting angry I didn’t give them cash. >

I mean, doesn't it say something about something when you make more begging than working a job. >

Today's homeless have a much higher amount of the mentally ill among them because the mentally ill were locked in asylums until the big reform a few decades ago >

I think a lot about the subject of homelessness. It terrifies me how close I am to it.
I believe our mental health and well-being are inversely correlated with our industrialized society and vulnerable people who may have thrived in a more intimate society may feel alienated and struggle to find connection, support, and meaning in our modern world. 
Hope and trust are such an intrinsic part of motivation and long term planning. When humans are mistreated and cheated and shown no support it is so easy and natural to quit and so difficult to trust and hope again.
Like a torch that has been drenched, it is an arduous process to reignite hope in a person. You can’t simply toss them a spark and expect them to light.
Not to mention the complications of drugs. 
I used to live in the city and remember a few homeless people urinating on my doorstep. I was making breakfast the first time it happened and the man threatened to come back and hurt me when I told him to stop. The experience frightened and angered me. It would be easy and natural for me to attribute blame for his transgression to the next homeless person. So human. But that’s not true. He did it and only him. Every single other homeless person is innocent of that crime. It takes effort to remember that’s true for everything, but it’s worth it if you’re strong enough to do it. >

I'm sorry, you ended midsentence. Delaying the inevitable... what, exactly? What's inevitable? Death?
Buddy, I got bad news for your inevitability as well.