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127 Comments
- chinaman1212, on 03/18/2009, -23/+9511. Mental illness
12. Laziness
13. hiding from the law
14. Bitch took everything in the divorce - alanocu, on 03/19/2009, -2/+72When I was younger, we used to go to the 24 hour McDonalds on the way home from the bars on Saturday night and get food. We bought extra for the few homeless people in the park across the street from my apartment. And 99% of the people we spoke with were mental cases. They appreciated the food, but couldn't complete a sentence or have a conversation if their life depended on it. It's a sad reality.
- plecostomus, on 03/19/2009, -0/+47This isn't really an article about homeless people wanting to be "homeless" per se, it's about homeless people not wanting to go into shelters.
The image of "chronic homelessness" is not correct for many of them. I think another recent article said the majority of homeless are only in that position for 6-12 months at a time. For the actual chronic homeless (a minority) it is primarily an issue of mental instability/disease, social rejection (see: military veterans), addiction, and lack of education.
I strongly recommend the interview with Matt, who writes Homeless Tales:
Part I: http://gosmelltheflowers.com/archives/8144
Part II: http://gosmelltheflowers.com/archives/8159 - kevman459, on 03/19/2009, -2/+47This is a list of choosing a shelter vs. choosing the streets, they're already homeless either way unfortunately.
- NicoNicoNico, on 03/19/2009, -0/+40I have a friend who was homeless for a little while. He went and joined a band of other people on a subtropical island. It was possibly the best place to be homeless, and the authorities generally ignored it because it put less a strain on the shelters.
Essentially, if you find yourself to be homeless, head south and stay in rural wooded areas, preferably near water, like my friend did.Usually, you won't be so lucky as him, but it's better than a shelter any day. In my opinion, if you're sane and not addicted to drugs, do not be homeless on city streets. Ever. Find a way to buy a tent and camp instead. There are ways to get food and boil water, both of which would be more plentiful if you find out how to do it. If you have to, read up on it at a library before you go.
EDIT: I should mention that you should *walk* if you have to. Get a bus ticket if you have the money, but use any means necessary to get out of there. - w0lfh0und, on 03/18/2009, -5/+45Mental illness is not a conscious choice.
- brickbat, on 03/19/2009, -2/+27The title is VERY MISLEADING.
This is a list of why people choose to stay homeless rather than going to a shelter. It is not a list of reason for people "choosing to be" homeless.
Cheap sensationalism. - bigsteve, on 03/19/2009, -2/+22I worked for a homeless services / community outreach in Philadelphia for a few years, I learned a whole lot. Most of your list might have been tongue in cheek, but it bears addressing. Homelessness is too horrible to come out of laziness, end of story. Do people get comfortable in it eventually? Some do. Hiding from the law might make sense unless someone recognizes you by face.
Other reasons not to "come in" are an extension of #1, but instead of fearing other homeless in shelters, some homeless fear poor conditions, fear the shelter admins themselves, etc. Also, many shelters are gender segregated... I forget what percentage of homeless are couples here in Philly, it wasn't high, but I was surprised to hear that it happened at all. So another reason to not "come in" is, if you have a homeless partner that isn't the same gender, you pretty much need to split up.
Really sad. - rokklobster, on 03/19/2009, -0/+17I'm sure the advice is helpful, but I doubt the people who really need it are going to see it here.
- atlasdugged, on 03/18/2009, -18/+34number 1 is mental illness...odd that the story missed it
- pogoman11, on 03/19/2009, -4/+18Yes, but mental illnesses often lead to poor conscious choices, like paranoid distrust of shelter services.
- vidaliasweet, on 03/19/2009, -2/+16One thing many people don't realize is that a lot of these guys are veterans. It actually happened to a member of my family and I had no idea this kind of thing went on before. It's very sad, with PTSD, mental illness, and drug addiction, a lot of these guys ( and gals) have a tremendous amount of obstacles to overcome. It's been conservatively estimated that 1 in 3 homeless people are veterans.
- IsraGeek, on 03/19/2009, -1/+12Interesting reasons. It's so sad.
- okcomputer1982, on 03/19/2009, -2/+13Many homeless DO work. Sometimes you just can afford a home. I know at least 3.
- ReLiC71, on 03/19/2009, -1/+11But the article is about the reasons that people *choose* to live on the streets. Mental ill-health is not a choice.
- Rain12913, on 03/19/2009, -0/+10mental health: psychological well-being and satisfactory adjustment to society and to the ordinary demands of life.
Why did you need that defined again? - w0lfh0und, on 03/19/2009, -2/+11Actually studies show that in excess of 80% of homeless people would like to work, probably not dissimilar to the housed population.
- xtalcase, on 03/19/2009, -4/+13Seriously, ***** homeless people. All of these reasons are *****. They gave up their right to control, privacy, comfort, etc when they decided to stop trying to help themselves. Homeless are a burden on society because many of them choose to be.
I've worked with many homeless charities, from fundraising to soup kitchens and shelters, because I thought they deserved compassion - boy was I mistaken. I know there are a few out there that truly need help and have hard luck, but for the most part they are lying, manipulative losers. Some of them are drug addicts, some of them are lazy and don't want to keep a job, most aren't worth my time or my money. Many homeless people DO have family they can turn to, but choose not to.
I only give to charities that benefit homeless animals (who DON'T have a choice in anything and truly are innocent victims). - directedition, on 03/19/2009, -0/+9Yeah, it's a rather misleading title. It's an article about why homeless people prefer to stay away from shelters, not why they choose not have to have a home of their own.
- dizavin, on 03/19/2009, -0/+9...Schizophrenia isn't something you really opt into.
- WaveyRavey, on 03/19/2009, -6/+14They would be reasons not choices.
- inactive, on 03/19/2009, -2/+10I'm telling you man... if civilization were to collapse, and launch us back into the stone age, these homeless guys will be the survivors... well them and maybe Bear Grylls.
- jggube, on 03/19/2009, -3/+11Is it a lifestyle choice?
- nedzeve, on 03/19/2009, -1/+9I want to believe homelessness is a choice, so that I won't feel bad about homelessness.
- tomarocco, on 03/19/2009, -1/+9I predict the Digg generation will see significant period with high homelessness rates in their lifetimes. You really never know when it is gonna happen to you. For most people it is less than two paychecks away. At least the seed of good sense has been planted.
- cheddaro, on 03/19/2009, -1/+8Funny how many kids become homeless once the weather is nice. Once it gets about 70 degrees outside, all sorts of kids come out begging for change. Then I guess when it gets cold again they apologize to their parents for telling to ***** off last summer, and hang out there...
- inactive, on 03/19/2009, -2/+9Telling that fresh air isn't among the reasons. I've heard homeless people comment on how shelters smell bad.
- traceybrown86, on 03/19/2009, -0/+7Great article. What really stands out to me is the sad truth you touched on, that many homeless people feel isolated and ignored by others. They are ridiculed if they do have contact. It reminds me the difference a simple "hello" can make in someone's day. Thank you!
- ilrak, on 03/19/2009, -8/+15yeah and unfortunately we dont have many resources to take care of these people. Thanks Ronald Reagan!!!!!!!!
- CrankMyBlueSax, on 03/19/2009, -0/+7Homeless people need economic stimulation too. Not just AIG execs.
- Biscuitz, on 03/19/2009, -0/+7Um, the title is so inaccurate =/. The items on the list aren't "choice". It's more like basic info on homeless people. I didn't see one thing in that list about why they _choose_ to be homeless.
- nesagwa, on 03/19/2009, -0/+7Many places won't hire you without a permanent address (any corporate business). They also have no means of contact. No cell phones or a house to have a landline in.
There is a reasons programs exist to hand out prepaid phones to homeless job seekers. - MrChunks, on 03/19/2009, -1/+7Read a few comments upwards, and read the story title. Mental illness is not a CHOICE.
- inactive, on 03/19/2009, -0/+6you have a laptop or something? how do you do your "work" of placing people first on google?
wait a minute, you're not really homeless are you - TheMachine1, on 03/19/2009, -1/+7I think mental illness explains 99% of chronic homelessness. But the article is right as a result of that mental illness the typical shelter is conceptually near useless. A shelter needs to be more like an apartment building with low cost micro housing units.
With the same freedom and privacy non-mentally ill people would expect in housing. - clyde2801, on 03/19/2009, -0/+6My fiancee has a childhood friend that moved to another state after hooking up with another guy, leaving her state job, selling all of her stuff including her car, and giving up her apartment. After staying with the guy for a few months, she discovers-surprise, surprise-that he's an alcoholic! She left after he emptied their joint bank account, and agreed to make car payments for a few months until she got her life together.
She moved in the house in August, and so far she's still there with her daughter. She keeps making idiotic decisions and keeps on screwing up her life. She's homeless except for my fiancee's love and charity, and too frakkin' proud to ask for advice...she would be better off having a magic 8 ball make all of her decisions for her.
I find out later on that this is not the first time she's pulled this kind of stupid stunt-but it's the lowest her frakked up relationships have gotten her. I can understand why her friends and family don't want to take her in. It's starting to affect my relationship with my fiancee, and I'm tired of being held hostage to her bad decisions, and protecting her from the consequences of her actions.
I'm praying for patience, but if she's not out by May, I may have to leave myself. - Janv1er, on 03/19/2009, -0/+5I often talk to homeless people, they always tell the best stories.
- ladysherwood, on 03/19/2009, -0/+5I agree, I can even remember thinking as a kid that it would be great if there were programs set up to provide homeless people with something like a PO Box, but now due to the patriot act and such that's even less of an option.
I've never been homeless, but there have been points in my life when it was a very real fear that it could happen. The last thing I'd expect anyone in a homeless position to do is feel like they will receive equal treatment in an interview process if their application right away screams instability. It's truly a sad situation. - SL0WP0KE, on 03/19/2009, -0/+5I was homeless for a few years due to leaving an abusive home as a teen. The rules at shelters about when you have to be there and the required religious (and at some, AA) meetings actually prevent you from getting a job. If you have a child, domestic abuse shelters will assist you in getting welfare and getting on a waiting list for housing assistance; but other than that the only way to get an income to get a place to live is to sleep on the streets for awhile. This of course means you'll have to have a job that doesn't mind you smelling bad... and one that doesn't have a dress code because you probably won't be able to buy/keep clean something to wear.
I was homeless because of my own choices and so is everyone else. A few people are homeless because they choose to leave an abuser immediately rather than wait awhile and save up some money. Many are homeless because they would rather do drugs than getting clean and dealing with life. - focusnothought, on 03/19/2009, -7/+12I can tell you come from a priveleged background.
- lightningrod220, on 03/19/2009, -0/+4Using a library computer?
- JDanner3, on 03/19/2009, -0/+4Agreed. We must have some kind of change in the law that will allow people with schizophrenia into hospitals with families guidance. Far too many of these people with severe mental illnesses can't recognize the fact they need to be checked in. It is illegal to have them them in mental institutions without their consent. I realize there is potential for abuse to lock up people with severe mental disorders against their will, but many of these people end up in prisons (which are worse for them) anyway.
So it is true we have the addicts and the people with schizophrenia on the streets. It is a tough problem but we really could start with the schizophrenics. They are in a bad position because they often don't know they need help. - TequilaCollins, on 03/20/2009, -0/+4As many of you have already pointed out, this article is about why already homeless people don't use shelters. But while we're on the topic, I'll point out some other error also.
OK, a little back ground about me. I have been homeless twice myself for brief periods. During that time, I got to know the other homeless people.
He claims that only 1% choose that lifestyle. I know for a fact that this is not true. If I had to estimate, I would say a full 30-50% are homeless by choice. The reason is not because they love to camp, it's because they don't like the stress of regular bills. They don't like to worry about the car payment, mortgage/rent, and utilities. While some of them don't mind working some, they don't want to be tied to a job they "have to" go to everyday. Some of them choose to stay homeless permanently, while others do it on an on & off basis. I had a friend that would be homeless about 6 months on, and then 6 months off, more or less. Even his #5 says it. They don't like regimen.
There's also about 10% of them that have arrest warrants out on them. This is a good way to avoid getting caught since if you're homeless, you don't really have to carry an ID and can give any name you want.
"Sometimes they can go weeks, months or even years without speaking to a single soul". *****. They will attempt to initiate a conversation just as anyone else would. A lot of people won't respond to these attempts, but others will. Plus, there's all the other homeless out there. Does the author really believe that they don't talk to each other?
Addictions: So, going to a shelter that is monitored (at least a little) is going to expose you to more alcohol/drugs than hanging out in homeless camps completely unsupervised?
Intrusion and Anonymity: You mean the same sort of info you're required to put on a job application?
And here's another fact about homeless. They teach each other how to get "banana checks". These are what they call the SSI disability checks. They will teach you the questions they ask, and the proper answers, so that you will qualify for mental disability and get the monthly checks.
As I said earlier, I used to be homeless, so I got a much better look at things that this idiot author.
That does not mean that I won't help them, but when I do it's directly to that person and not to an organization. One I know is not there by choice, but is just down on their luck. Telling one from another is not easy as they have gotten real good at telling stories, but if you see one regularly, then talk with him. After a while, you should get a better idea of the real reason he's homeless, and whether or not he really needs help. - ladysherwood, on 03/19/2009, -1/+5in the city I live, I'm sure there are a great many legitimately homeless people. However, that being said it is difficult to tell the difference from poor people who are down on their luck, homeless, hopeless, and looking for a way up and out of their predicament and the pan-handlers that drive Toyota Corrolas and live in the suburbs, but drive downtown to stand on the street corner & pretend to be homeless, making a living of panhandling.
I wish I could find the Pitch Weekly article where they did bios on a bunch of area panhandlers for you, but I cannot. :/ - zacharytelschow, on 03/19/2009, -8/+12Bingo. Of course everyone wants nice things. Not everyone wants to work.
- whorunbartertwn, on 03/19/2009, -1/+5Ok let me get this straight.
You're a guy typing on a computer who makes money using computers who has posted about your IBM Thinkpad and claims to be homeless, yet you dismiss this other guy what does he know about being homeless since he has a computer? - smrekar, on 03/19/2009, -0/+4My sister is homeless for the last year. she just had a baby on sunday.
This is why homeless people don't use shelters, none of these are reasons why she is homeless.
Also, The guy that said mental illness - she didn't start with it, but isolation has definitely contributed. Be careful not to confuse the symptoms w/ the cause. - clyde2801, on 03/19/2009, -0/+3Funny, I've been feeling the same way about wall street executives lately...
- TomT127, on 03/19/2009, -13/+16"Do homeless people ever really choose to be homeless? No, not really. Still not convinced? Well next time you see a homeless person sleeping on the streets try dangling the keys to your nice plush suburban home under his or her nose. Inform them that the central heating is fired up, the fridge is fully stocked and there is fresh linen. Tell them Fido is welcome, they can have their friends over and they can come and go as they please. I can guarantee their will be a dozen proverbial shopping carts parked in your driveway come lunchtime.
That may be but dangle a job in front of them and see if they take you up on it. - xEn1gma, on 03/19/2009, -6/+9Atlasdugged is correct -- why is he being dugg down? A lot of the homeless people of today are results of poor mental institutions releasing the majority of their patients in their founding days.
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