Will homelessness ever end?

KKkitty · 02-12-2014 12:01AM #1

In the news today we were told of the awful story of a man who died metres away from the Dail due to being homeless. Before anyone says this man is not the first to die alone let me just say I hope it's the last story of its kind we hear of. Whatever the reasons for a person to be without a permanent roof over their heads are why is more not being done about it.

The One Doctor · 02-12-2014 12:03AM

Politicians do what's popular, not what's right, sadly.

suicide_circus · 02-12-2014 12:07AM

UN figures suggest that 21,000 people, mostly children, die of starvation per day. Cruel world.

biko · 02-12-2014 12:10AM

No, homelessness will never end unfortunately. You can help by supporting a local shelter.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 02-12-2014 12:11AM

Well, no, because most people aren;t homeless and therefore don;t see it as a problem; while homeless people don;t vote.

NIMAN · 02-12-2014 12:16AM

Where are these people's family/relaties?

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 02-12-2014 12:22AM

NIMAN wrote: »

Where are these people's family/relaties?

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

This is the problem: everyone thinks someone else should be repsonsible for solving things. In a lot of cases the family are the ones that put them on the street in the first place.

KKkitty · 02-12-2014 12:24AM

NIMAN wrote: »

Where are these people's family/relaties?

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

He may have fallen out with them or they didn't know the full extent of what he was going through? Especially coming into the hard winter you'd feel for those who sleep rough.

Arbiter of Good Taste · 02-12-2014 12:28AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

This is the problem: everyone thinks someone else should be repsonsible for solving things. In a lot of cases the family are the ones that put them on the street in the first place.

But if the reason is, say, drugs related, can you really blame them?

The ones that I can't understand are "normal" people who have fallen on hard times who end up on the streets or in homeless shelters. I would hope that if one of my friends or family fell on hard times that they would not be afraid to ask me for some help - be it financial, or a roof over their head. Vice versa, I know that if I were in trouble there are a handful of friends I could turn to. I think the deterioration of social ties these days is really sad.

Mr. Incognito · 02-12-2014 12:29AM

8 billion people.

Famines, war, starvation, genocide, laziness, mental health, etc

No.

Packrat · 02-12-2014 12:36AM

Homelessness will never end, no, just as poverty, joblessness (by choice or misfortune) etc will never end.

Some people just cannot cope with life as well as the rest of us. It's unfortunate, and it's good that as a society we catch as many who fall as we do.

NO society in the world EVER has managed to pick up and carry all the ones who fall, and it's an absolute fallacy to think that one ever can.

We are absolutely the most privileged and pampered humans who have EVER lived, living in the most ordered, legislated, policed, and supported societies of all time.

Yet we cannot catch everyone who falls. We never will.

This is no excuse however to stop trying, impossible though our goal undoubtedly is.

The One Doctor · 02-12-2014 12:39AM

Packrat wrote: »

Homelessness will never end, no, just as poverty, joblessness (by choice or misfortune) etc will never end.

Some people just cannot cope with life as well as the rest of us. It's unfortunate, and it's good that as a society we catch as many who fall as we do.

NO society in the world EVER has managed to pick up and carry all the ones who fall, and it's an absolute fallacy to think that one ever can.

We are absolutely the most privileged and pampered humans who have EVER lived, living in the most ordered, legislated, policed, and supported societies of all time.

Yet we cannot catch everyone who falls. We never will.

This is no excuse however to stop trying, impossible though our goal undoubtedly is.

Other countries do it quite a bit better than us.

Yamanoto · 02-12-2014 12:42AM

NIMAN wrote: »

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

I don't think that's fair comment, without being in full possession of the facts etc.

cruais · 02-12-2014 12:46AM

NIMAN wrote: »

Where are these people's family/relaties?

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

NIMAN, thats a bit of a closed view you have going on there.

Often with homelessness, its not as simple as asking where the family are. You don't know that mans situation or circumstances with his family.

Often you will find that some people wish to go MIA from family and friends and no matter how hard people search for their loved ones, they dont get the results they're looking for unfortunately.

So please broaden your thoughts to include other possible circumstances. Never judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes

bluemartin · 02-12-2014 12:48AM

NIMAN wrote: »

Where are these people's family/relaties?

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

Most people on the streets have families but for one reason or another the homeless person has fallen out with them or in some instances the families are not even aware they loved ones are on the streets.

The causes of homelessness are multifaceted and it is not always down to drink and drugs, mental issues play a huge role as does relationship breakdown. remember many people could be as little as one pay cheque away from homelessnesn.

Sclosages · 02-12-2014 12:53AM

Guess what - I'm homeless from tomorrow. I will have no option but to beg and sleep in undergrounds. I will possibly die. **** happens, you make your decisions, you **** up your life, you die. Natural selection.

Sclosages · 02-12-2014 12:55AM

bluemartin wrote: »

Most people on the streets have families but for one reason or another the homeless person has fallen out with them or in some instances the families are not even aware they loved ones are on the streets.

The causes of homelessness are multifaceted and it is not always down to drink and drugs, mental issues play a huge role as does relationship breakdown. remember many people could be as little as one pay cheque away from homelessnesn.

Thank you for taking the time to make that post. Most people don't bother.

bluemartin · 02-12-2014 12:56AM

Sclosages wrote: »

Guess what - I'm homeless from tomorrow. I will have no option but to beg and sleep in undergrounds. I will possibly die. **** happens, you make your decisions, you **** up your life, you die. Natural selection.

You need to present yourself to your local coucil housing office in the morning, they all have homeless units where you will be assessed and directed towards emergency accommodation. i dont know where you are based but do find out also talk to your local SVDP for help and support.

Venus In Furs · 02-12-2014 01:00AM

Severe mental illness can cause people to *choose* to be homeless.

Remember that poor man who was burned to death in the Phoenix Park while sleeping rough? He had a house and money. I don't always agree with the "society doesn't care" stuff, particularly seeing as people who say it are also part of society.

lulu1 · 02-12-2014 01:01AM

NIMAN wrote: »

Where are these people's family/relaties?

Had this guy who died not got any family? If he had, they should be ashamed of themselves,

He probably did have a family somewhere but for all we know maybe they did all they could to help him to no avail

Venus In Furs · 02-12-2014 01:02AM

bluemartin wrote: »

You need to present yourself to your local coucil housing office in the morning, they all have homeless units where you will be assessed and directed towards emergency accommodation. i dont know where you are based but do find out also talk to your local SVDP for help and support.

And Simon Community and Focus Ireland. Sorry to read it Sclosages.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Most people make mistakes, lots of people **** up (Christ knows I have!) but most people don't end up homeless - you don't deserve this.

bluemartin · 02-12-2014 01:07AM

Venus In Furs wrote: »

Severe mental illness can cause people to *choose* to be homeless.

Remember that poor man who was burned to death in the Phoenix Park while sleeping rough? He had a house and money. I don't always agree with the "society doesn't care" stuff, particularly seeing as people who say it are also part of society.

I don't think 'choose' is the most appropriate word to use when dealing with people out of home due to mental health problems. Often there are more than mental health problems at stake with these people.

Sclosages · 02-12-2014 01:08AM

I'm in London.
My sister recorded a track to raise money for the Simon Community.
Clearly, me being on the streets is going to be a relief to everyone. I won't have broadband or a phone. I won't be able to tell the truth.

FISMA · 02-12-2014 01:13AM

Matthew 26:11.

bluemartin · 02-12-2014 01:18AM

Sclosages wrote: »

I'm in London.
My sister recorded a track to raise money for the Simon Community.
Clearly, me being on the streets is going to be a relief to everyone. I won't have broadband or a phone. I won't be able to tell the truth.

It is very difficult being homeless in London and it is bitter cold here too at the moment. I would advise you to go straight to the Irish centre in Camden town they will go through your options with you.

Zambia · 02-12-2014 01:18AM

Sclosages wrote: »

I'm in London.
My sister recorded a track to raise money for the Simon Community.
Clearly, me being on the streets is going to be a relief to everyone. I won't have broadband or a phone. I won't be able to tell the truth.

The day you stop seeing yourself as a victim is the day you are not.

Report your partner to police for domestic assault.

Reach out to anyone who can help . Google women's domestic violence assistance and start there.

Leave your partner as soon as possible. As in now.

the_syco · 02-12-2014 01:22AM

KKkitty wrote: »

Whatever the reasons for a person to be without a permanent roof over their heads are why is more not being done about it.

During winter, when spaces are few and far between, getting them to stay sober for the night is only half the problem. Getting them into a place when temps are very effing low is the other half of the problem.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 02-12-2014 01:24AM

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

But if the reason is, say, drugs related, can you really blame them?

The ones that I can't understand are "normal" people who have fallen on hard times who end up on the streets or in homeless shelters. I would hope that if one of my friends or family fell on hard times that they would not be afraid to ask me for some help - be it financial, or a roof over their head. Vice versa, I know that if I were in trouble there are a handful of friends I could turn to. I think the deterioration of social ties these days is really sad.

Balance that with people who have been forced out because of abusive relations and, in at least once case I know, simply being gay.

letsgetloud · 02-12-2014 01:26AM

hope not or I will have no one to throw rubbish at.

Banned, that humour is not welcome here.

Mod.

KKkitty · 02-12-2014 01:32AM

In any city or town how many buildings are left idle? Could these places be done up to give homeless people somewhere sheltered to sleep?

Karl Stein · 02-12-2014 01:32AM

There are people who've had such dreadful experiences that they find being indoors unbearable.

Will homelessness ever end?

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