topic Re: Homelessness in Community Spirit

Homelessness

grandmoon — Tue, 28 May 2013 09:45:21 GMT

I attended a workshop today on homelessness. There was a lot of discussion on what constitutes a person being homeless.

When do you consider a person is homeless ??

Re: Homelessness

i-need-a-martini — Tue, 28 May 2013 09:58:50 GMT

When they have no chance of finding money to pay rent or they have no idea where to turn for help or when they have no way of providing a permanent haven for their children - then I consider them homeless.

Re: Homelessness

grandmoon — Tue, 28 May 2013 10:03:31 GMT

When I was asked I answered "When they had no permanent address." There were a number of people there who didn't agree with me.

Re: Homelessness

i-need-a-martini — Tue, 28 May 2013 10:07:16 GMT

Well I suppose they are theoretically correct in disagreeing. You can not have a permanent address but still have support of family, friends and various organisation that can keep you off the streets.

My brother in law is homeless in the sense that he doesn't have a permanent address and very occasionally sleeps on the street or in shelters. But the reality is that he can count on his brothers and sister to help him whenever he needs. He has support.

Re: Homelessness

poddster — Tue, 28 May 2013 10:07:41 GMT

I have known some who have chosen to be in that situation.

One was a renouned concert pianist until she caused the accidental death of her only daughter. From time to time she still plays at a concert but has chosen not to get attached to ANYTHING or ANYONE.

Yet another that I know appears to be a homeless person and can be seen searching the contents of disposal bins in the city, he just hates to see things wasted.

Both of those two people are intelligent and one has lots of talent.

So next time you see a homeless person why not take the time out to engage them in conversation, you might just get a surprise. There are still some "diamonds in the rough" if you care to look 🙂

Re: Homelessness

vampire-teddy — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:02:22 GMT

i was taught in a social work subject that you are homeless if you don't have a permanent address for example if you are couch surfing, living in a shelter, living on the streets etc. some people find themselves homeless due to circumstances, other choose to be so (they may consider being on the streets safer that in a house after experience of abuse).

there are many reasons why people become homeless and it does not take much of a change in circumstances for some one to find themselves in such a position, most often circumstances out of the persons control.

Re: Homelessness

bella_again — Tue, 28 May 2013 13:05:33 GMT

We are taught that also VT. I agree it does not take much to see people in that situation. Sometimes I wish I had the resources to tackle some of these issues head on, the more the community are a part of the solution the better.

Re: Homelessness

print-stuff-and-things — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:39:27 GMT

A friend of mine has Schizophrenia and lives in a boarding house. He is teetering on the edge of homelessness daily. If he had to go to hospital for a few weeks, he would loose his room. So although today he has a 'home', tomorrow may be a different story. I think there is 'secure housing' and anything else is just varying degrees of homelessness.

Re: Homelessness

crystal**flake — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:51:03 GMT

When they dont have a home.

Re: Homelessness

bright.ton42 — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:20:17 GMT

i

there are many reasons why people become homeless and it does not take much of a change in circumstances for some one to find themselves in such a position, most often circumstances out of the persons control.

So true. When I was working in welfare one of our clients who was considered to

be homeless had been a surgeon. He had a mental illness but it was thought this was brought

about by tragic personal circumstances plus ensuing substance abuse. So easy to cross that line. Although very polite he shunned people and often slept rough.

Re: Homelessness

mlor16 — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:21:26 GMT

I've known a few homeless people over the years. What can I say? My beautiful late mother took in every needy person she knew. They usually ended up disappearing and then reappearing in a hostel somewhere. Then various departments would help them find some type of accommodation where they could start again. A few months later they would be back on the street, then back on mum's doorstep, then back in the hostel, then helped to find accommodation, then back on the street, then back on mum's doorstep....see the pretty pattern?

Re: Homelessness

clair.de.lune — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:35:42 GMT

That is a pretty pattern

The opening post doesn't sound like grandmoon

dig it?

Re: Homelessness

2106greencat — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:38:51 GMT

I'm with Crystal - when they don't have a home (somewhere to live, sleep, eat)