Take Action and stop homelessness!!

RoRo979

hi everyone,

i have, what could be called a life goal and i would like people to help me decide on whether or not it is viable, how it could be improved etc.

So as we all know, homelessness is growing, weather is getting colder, human empathy is lacking. With more alot more houses than homeless people and the government doing "all in its power" to help it, simply is not enough

My Plan

Current: I am currently starting to become an entrepreneur, computer science is the main area i am hitting due to its potential for moeny, app development, web development and whatnot. I also have a few minor businesses on the side but thats for another day.

With money I will/am earning i am looking to help them out how i can, 3 things i think they need is food, shelter warmth. So i am planning on following anonymous "op safe winter" and buying thermal gloves, jackets, blankets, hats, change of clothes, bags, waterproof things and whatnot, as for food im not sure what the best thing is, thinking of getting filtered watter bottle and food sachets to provide all micro-nutrients and hopefully some macro.

Shelter simply isnt possible for me to provide with my finance.

Future plan

with my business hopefully thriving, i get my hands on some land in the GDA hopefully, with a nice building which could house any homless people that wanted to come. Then trying to grow as much as our own food as possible with the land we should have, therby reducing costs, also solar energy to further reduce costs whatever it takes i will try my best to supply.

I plan on the first stage being fixing physical health, that means making personalised workouts, diets whatnot, they simply do whatever they want at this point their health will just slowly come back up.

stage 2: they begin getting roles around the house, one may cook, one may tend plants, one may clean, simply help one another and you yourself will also be helped.

stage 3: education, college will really not be viable for them unless they have strong desire, i will try and teach entrepreneurship, computer science as with this they work as they want, at home, with potential for a good bit of money or even possible employ them in my company which i should have.

stage 4: completion, re-introduced back into society ( if they want to that is) i have helped them as much as i can and im sure in return they will continue to help my establishment and help others.

My friends i understand how unrealistic this may sound but this is a plan that i want to base my life around. Finance may sound way out of my reach but i believe no matter which route i take i will find a way to get what is needed.

please if you have and ideas to improve this plan or whatever please comment

thank you

Birneybau

Well, good luck with it.

RoRo979

also this plan is based on not just me but a few others also that said they will help me.

I aim to get some help off the public by making an Irish anonymous group , a group i find very inspirational, and basically humanize the homeless again. put up pictures of their happiness, let the public know what and when im doing things, incase you think im doing this for social reputation or whatever my name will not be mentioned anywhere on the page and any picture with me in it i hope to be wearing the anonymous mask. I find the world these days is too based on I and not enough we so i hope some people will also see my vision and hopefully, if not join me, take action themselves.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” - M.K. Gandhi

kerry4sam

2015 will be the year I am optimistic about that!

Have a look at my own thread right here

Wishing you Best of Wishes,
Hopefully share some Positive News soon,
kerry4sam

Desolation Of Smug

I often share your dream. Then, generally, I wake up with a hangover and get on with real life.

yipeeeee

Any plan to deal with the causes of homelessness?

Drugs, alcohol to name a few.

RoRo979

Desolation Of Smug wrote: »

I often share your dream. Then, generally, I wake up with a hangover and get on with real life.

lovely to hear you also see the problem but choose to ignore it "get on with life" this is what i want my life to be about.

RoRo979

yipeeeee wrote: »

Any plan to deal with the causes of homelessness?

Drugs, alcohol to name a few.

That is where my plan completely falls, all this is assuming these people are economically homeless due to recession/ redundancy rather than drug addiction. I cant and no real point in saying ill try because trying to get someone off a very addictive drug is simply out of my control

bjork

What will differentiate you from the many programs and shelters that are already available? Why set up your own and not invest in the groups currently providing these services? What and how would you be better doing it than those that have years of experience in the area?

Desolation Of Smug

RoRo979 wrote: »

lovely to hear you also see the problem but choose to ignore it "get on with life" this is what i want my life to be about.

I only ignore it due to reality constraints. Reality is a bitch.

bjork

RoRo979 wrote: »

also this plan is based on not just me but a few others also that said they will help me.

I aim to get some help off the public by making an Irish anonymous group , a group i find very inspirational, and basically humanize the homeless again. put up pictures of their happiness, let the public know what and when im doing things, incase you think im doing this for social reputation or whatever my name will not be mentioned anywhere on the page and any picture with me in it i hope to be wearing the anonymous mask. I find the world these days is too based on I and not enough we so i hope some people will also see my vision and hopefully, if not join me, take action themselves.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” - M.K. Gandhi

Just read this now. You want to "put up pictures of their happiness" What would this entail? Most people wouldn't be too happy with this for various reasons I'd imagine

Also a "nice building"-Is this communal building for Families to stay in? Would that not be short term - I doubt there's many families who would be happy in this arrangement long enough to grow vegetables and for you to fix them.


If it is not drug addicts and others with mental issues you are aiming this at, what fixing and reintroduction to society will be required for families and their children?

kikidelvin

simple really,hire some coaches and take all the homeless to mosney where they will receive warm shelter,great food and the best of medical attention plus education courses and lots of other things also end of homeless problem.:)

Annasopra

RoRo979 wrote: »

That is where my plan completely falls, all this is assuming these people are economically homeless due to recession/ redundancy rather than drug addiction. I cant and no real point in saying ill try because trying to get someone off a very addictive drug is simply out of my control

But why are you ignoring all the massive problems of drug and alcohol abuse and mental health. If you ignore them then you're doing nothing really at all to tackle homelessness.

cruais

Where are u planning this? In dublin, cork, galway?

cloud493

I feel like this is off an episode of the simpsons or family guy or something, but I'm not sure which one.

Desolation Of Smug

For some reason I can't get Miss World out of my head - "I want world peace, and will work tirelessly towards it.."

RDM_83 again

OP I like your style, I presume what we have heard so far is just the for public consumption PR spin.

Now here's what I think the real plan is:

Obviously your going to need a base of operations, you can call it "The Shelter" or "The Home" for added irony (just make sure you always put the THE in!)

Now for stage 1 - The physical, have you considered using bionic enhancements or genetic engineering or is this an old school military fitness program?

Stage 2 - Identifying strengths and weaknesses and assigning roles, again very important you want to make sure your squads play to their strengths like espionage or heavy weapons

Stage 3 - (Re)-Education, I presume brainwashing and indoctrination are going to feature heavily just remember if you have by a fluke chance enrolled the Heroes old war buddy in the program just remember at a vital moment his programming will crack.

Stage 4 - Integration(Infiltration) Are you going to install your newly forged utterly obedient super soldiers in positions of power or are you going to go straight for a complete take over?

Personally I love this plan and am completely onboard if you have a treacherous second in command position available (and I will betray you!), my qualifications - I'm bald and have a goatee, need I say more .
I may have watched too many 80's action films over xmass

Yes I'm trivializing homelessness but this plan is nonsense when there is a myriad of other providers better placed to find a solution that have been around for years, join one of them and offer to teach a class or do general volunteering

Desolation Of Smug

cruais wrote: »

Where are u planning this? In dublin, cork, galway?

Narnia, probably.

RoRo979

hi, this will be planned in Dublin. Unfortunately as some of you may have guessed i am still quite immature, age of 18 and only doing the LC now. However, I have the frameworks of a few business ideas set up, already good knowledge of programming i plan on doing whatever I can. Your right, thats exactly what im doing, im ignoring the main reason why they are there and what is deteriorating my health. There is agencies already set up that deal with these problems, i have only a small group, the only thing i could do to help that is try and make them stop by convincing but as far as i know it is a physical dependancy. IMO that problem is out of my power.

By pictures of happiness i dont mean flowers and things of the sort, more so with their consent of course, showing the impact that even my simple, jacket/hat/pair of gloves is making a short term impact on their lives. Imagine the facebook group "humans of new york", that idea.

And as far what makes me different from other agencies, nothing at all, they are probably doing a better job than i ever will. I done like the idea of, if i give some money that me helping, i prefer to actually get involved, a hands on approach. While i suppose volunteering would also give me this oppertunity i suppose i just like to know exactly how my money will be helping them, ny talking to as much as i can and just making their days a bit brighter.

RoRo979

Desolation Of Smug wrote: »

Narnia, probably.

I understand this plan seems very time and resource consuming but c'mon man, going into town to give some clothes and food, that is hardly out of reach

bjork

Sorry I don't know where that grumpy face ^^ came from and I can't get rid!

RoRo979 wrote: »

hi, this will be planned in Dublin. Unfortunately as some of you may have guessed i am still quite immature, age of 18 and only doing the LC now. However, I have the frameworks of a few business ideas set up, already good knowledge of programming i plan on doing whatever I can. Your right, thats exactly what im doing, im ignoring the main reason why they are there and what is deteriorating my health. There is agencies already set up that deal with these problems, i have only a small group, the only thing i could do to help that is try and make them stop by convincing but as far as i know it is a physical dependancy. IMO that problem is out of my power.

By pictures of happiness i dont mean flowers and things of the sort, more so with their consent of course, showing the impact that even my simple, jacket/hat/pair of gloves is making a short term impact on their lives. Imagine the facebook group "humans of new york", that idea.

And as far what makes me different from other agencies, nothing at all, they are probably doing a better job than i ever will. I done like the idea of, if i give some money that me helping, i prefer to actually get involved, a hands on approach. While i suppose volunteering would also give me this oppertunity i suppose i just like to know exactly how my money will be helping them, ny talking to as much as i can and just making their days a bit brighter.

Very admirable idea RoRo but you need to tease it out a bit more. Do you think people (a family of 4 for example)will really be happy posing on facebook with gloves you gave them, when gloves can be bought for €1 in pennies, thanking RoRo for their warm hands? It'll be important to protect peoples dignity. NY is different, they don't have the social supports we have in Ireland.


Do you currently volunteer? This will give you first hand knowledge of issues these people are facing, rather than the often perceived ideas that they are facing and get you "in the loop" so to speak!


Good work though, you're thinking in the right direction

RoRo979

i currently go into town every now and then, buy some food and drinks and go around handing them out. Over summer my friends and I are doing a 2 day sleep out to get a better experience.

The facebok idea is not too look staged and convey a false image of happiness, but the main reason is to connect the community and allow people with the same vision work together, spread awareness and hopefully post some experiences they have had on the streets. if we think it is a bad idea and will make them feel worse i will of course drop it but i thought it would of been a good way to help one another?

My finance isnt hugh but then again it isnt tiny, i have been fixing phone and other online work for a while trying to make some money, am currently trading binary options and this is turning a profit, i hope to get good quality clothes rather than the cheap penneys things.

My ideas of course arnt perfect, but there ideas im nearly ready to start turning into action hence why i posted this thread, looking for people to help perfect the strengths/ improve the weaknesses and really just to see it from others perspectives.

Thank you for everyone who has already posted, helpful or not

RDM_83 again

RoRo979 wrote: »

am currently trading binary options and this is turning a profit

Isn't binary option trading just a scam
Well I know it is a real thing but anything that has pop up ads for it makes me think that for the vast majority of people its just gambling

RoRo979

RDM_83 again wrote: »

Isn't binary option trading just a scam
Well I know it is a real thing but anything that has pop up ads for it makes me think that for the vast majority of people its just gambling

while i dont want this thread to be an argument about this i will briefly explain, scam yes and no, designed to pull suckers in from everywhere to think they have a chance to get rich quick. I trade with one other lad in dublin, canada,russia and few odd countries. We trade as a group help one another out and it has been successful. If you decide to pick it up finding the right broker is key, many are regulated by cysec to get one that is and your safe from any scams, stockpair or gOptions are safe

Jesus Wept

Man I remember being 18, sort of.

better call saul

Once you hit college the only thing you'll care about is getting pussy and I'm not talking about slyvester the cat amirite mah nigga?

Binary options at age 18?f me you must be the next warren buffet if you are beating guys who have spent a lifetime at that craic. You got spunk kid, and not the type that comes outta your balls.

So what happens when on this happy land a guy starts beating his wife again? Unwanted pregnancies within the compound? Drug and alcohol abuse? What happens when they invite skanger friends over?

Motha****a the poor are poor due to poor behaviours. Whisking them away to a compound reeks of dog shelter mentality.

I suggest leave it to the pros, whose to say when your new porn hub idea starts reeking in the millions that homelessness will even be a problem? With an election coming up those cnuts in the Dail will be doing their best to keep people off the streets.

If you have any more ideas don't hesitate to post and I will gladly run them down and act as Devils advocate, might help you avoid problems if you decide to go down this route.

cassid

I have worked with a number of charities since I was in school ( many moons ago), am with the current one now over 5 years. I suggest for now, volunteer with a charity and you will gain experience, meet people working in the area and get an understanding of issues/complex problems charities face. Issue like homelessness are very complex, I am working with a family who just lost their home, due to having a child with severe special needs who requires 24 hour care, each case of homelessness is unique to that individual and so will be the solution.

If you are the type of person who wants to help and make a difference, then learn from those currently experienced in the area, finish college and volunteer.

KomradeBishop

The problem you will have, with taking in just about anybody, is the likelihood of having to deal with some troublesome people who will try to exploit what you are offering.

Many of these people will also need professional help, mentally and especially with drug addiction, which you won't be able to provide.

For when you inevitably do end up taking in troublesome people, there's a not-insignificant chance of others you are trying to help, being harmed.


That said, it's a plan where your hearts in the right place at least, and it can be made to work (with a lot of rethinking); it will never be as effective on the overall problem/causes of homelessness though, as properly funded public services, aimed at helping these people (simply because of the vast amount of funding and policy changes needed, to tackle the root causes of homelessness), but it can still make a difference.


An additional problem with this idea - and I'm not aiming this at you, your own intent seems to be good, it's just a conflict of interest that's important to note:
As an employer, providing housing and support for potentially desperate people, and potentially directly providing them employment, this would give you enormous control over their lives, which - if it were administered by a less-good-willed person than yourself - could be used to coerce/exploit these people.

So, it's probably a good idea to try and eventually make this initiative run completely independently/separately (including funding-wise), from the business ventures these people are likely to be employed in.
The trouble then is: How would that differentiate it, from any other similar homeless support group?


You'd need a ton of professional help/advice in this venture in any case, from people/organisations already well experienced with helping the homeless - otherwise there's significant risk of causing a lot of people harm, rather than helping them.

wexandproud

ffs if you want advice , the best i can give is take off the rose tinted glasses

Graces7

wexandproud wrote: »

ffs if you want advice , the best i can give is take off the rose tinted glasses

They will get knocked off very fast.. By the way wonder if many realise how much actual help there is for homeless folk in Dublin alone? http://www.coolmine.ie/about/links/food-day-centres-and-practical-support..... My family work with the homeless overseas and we have been sending food to the Salvation Army here rather than the cost of setting up a whole new scheme.. we would not touch focus or simon with a bargepole as 75 % of each euro they raise goes on salaries and advertising. focus run by a Sister whose order could feed every homeless person in Ireland and hardly notice it and who have empty buildings rotting all over Ireland.. small groups with volunteers can do more.

DoYouEvenLift

They need a 'permanent' residency/postal address and identification. From there, they could apply for social welfare. From there, help them setup a bank account. From there, help them move out of the residency you provided, so you can begin helping a new homeless person, and into their own with whatever aid they can get from welfare to hold them over until they can get employed.


You would need to be a multi millionaire with a LOT of patience and a total philanthropist personality to truly help homeless people. And that's just regarding the ones willing to help themselves.

Annasopra

I think OP that your enthusiasm and ideas are commendable.

However I think you need to learn much much more about the issue before going down this route.

I dont mean to sound patronising but instead of assuming you know and understand what homeless people want and need you need to actively engage with them first.

If you set something up that ignores causes such as alcoholism, substance abuse and mental health then its pointless. You are ignoring a huge amount of the causes and consequences of mental health.

Annasopra

DoYouEvenLift wrote: »

They need a 'permanent' residency/postal address

The guy who died in Dublin had that. His parents bought it 2 or 3 times.

Its quite patronising of non homeless people who dont engage with homeless people on a regular basis to assume that they know all their needs.

DoYouEvenLift

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

The guy who died in Dublin had that. His parents bought it 2 or 3 times.

Its quite patronising of non homeless people who dont engage with homeless people on a regular basis to assume that they know all their needs.

Yes, I know, but I was speaking purely objectively on how to get them off the streets for starters so they can get social welfare and go from there towards progressing.

yipeeeee

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

The guy who died in Dublin had that. His parents bought it 2 or 3 times.

Its quite patronising of non homeless people who dont engage with homeless people on a regular basis to assume that they know all their needs.

It's still amazes me that people blame Enda Kenny for this fellas death.

RoRo979

Well the overall aim of the plan is simply to provide warmth, shelter and food. But i completely agree with you all saying that these are 2 hugh flaws in my plan 1) it assumes these people are not addicted to any sunstance and are of a peaceful friendly nature, 2) these people are looking to get back on their feet rather than stay dependant on job seekers allowance.

I dont think that it is possible for me to solve these problems but as long as i know myself that they have the oppertunity to get back on their feet, that i am trying my best to help them and that they have no excuses as to why they cannot recover well, thats about all i can do.

Annasopra

RoRo979 wrote: »

Well the overall aim of the plan is simply to provide warmth, shelter and food. But i completely agree with you all saying that these are 2 hugh flaws in my plan 1) it assumes these people are not addicted to any sunstance and are of a peaceful friendly nature, 2) these people are looking to get back on their feet rather than stay dependant on job seekers allowance.

I dont think that it is possible for me to solve these problems but as long as i know myself that they have the oppertunity to get back on their feet, that i am trying my best to help them and that they have no excuses as to why they cannot recover well, thats about all i can do.

3 You are making assumptions about what is needed with a very basic knowledge of the issues or people involved

RDM_83 again

Actually is there many people living on the streets that don't have severe social problems or substance abuse issues?
AFAIK the homeless rate includes people already in temporary accommodation and the street sleeping rate is vastly lower (I have it in my head its aprox 100-200 but I'm not sure where that comes from).

Once people have a hostel place for a week straight I think they can access social welfare so somebody who is not accessing these things is highly likely to have severe problems other than poverty.

The issue IMO is the lack of wet hostels and safety in hostels, its not a very nice thing to say but it is realistic some of the people who are on the streets are dangerous people in certain situations I remember having a conversation with a older homeless man that had been cut up with a stanley knife by other homeless (in Smithfield)

Graces7

yipeeeee wrote: »

It's still amazes me that people blame Enda Kenny for this fellas death.

Try reading the comments on breaking news.. according to them Kenny is to blame for everything.... crazy

PizzamanIRL

If trust wasn't an issue you could just let them live in your house. End all homelessness.