Homeless people

I had to read a book called "Stone Cold" in school a few years back and it gave me a really different perspective on homelessness. Its fiction and some parts are just for drama but overall its a very interesting look on how kids similar to my age are affected....

http://www.thepavement.co.uk/story.php?story=62 Last November The Pavement ran a story on the figures for the number of ex-servicemen on the street, questioning the traditional figure of approximately 25 per cent of readers being ex-Forces. Ten years ago, a report published by ESAG claimed that nearly a quarter - 22 per cent - of those living on the streets had a military background. http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/poppy-support/the-number-of-homeless-veterans-dropping-but-more-needs-to-be-done The researchers have estimated that there are around 1,100 single homeless veterans living in hostels or sleeping rough in London each night. That's just a) veterans and b)in London! scary to think that! And I don't agree with your point about being deceiful, that's like saying all old people smell and won't be quiet!

Having read the links, it is clear to me that you have selected what you believe to be the strongest points that reinforce your argument. You forgot the rest of the stats and the fact that it says that the numbers are decreasing, and the fact that this artefact is almost three years old. You are so not biased. Anything else you say is void, so please just stop.

And like it or not, homeless people are deceitful. They'll swear blind that that the money you give them will go toward food and spend it on something completely else like, for example, drugs. Hmm such desperate hungry souls, right. Wake up.

I know that you've said that the opinion isn't your own OP. But as someone who has been officially classed as homeless before, I'd like to point out to everyone that homelessness can happen to anybody at any age for any reason. I for one did not drink or take drugs.

Where did i say you criticized their alcohol use? I only talked about it because you said they are all addicts and therefore deserve to be homeless and ignored. Again, why do you keep on claiming they refuse to put in the effort? How do you know this without having talked to them? Prejudices are an ugly thing.

You are mistaken. I never said that they are all addicts and therefore deserve to be homeless and ignored... Can you even read?

Havent you thought about that maybe it is easier to get out of this with help from others? If you havent, then maybe you should do some research about the importance of social networks and family systems. It is much harder if you dont have anyone.

I don't doubt that. But I personally don't want to help them as I don't trust them.

Your tendency to generalise everything is disturbing. Do you have any valid studies which indicate that they have all been " lazy bastards" at one time in their life? I doubt you will find them. They could have been runaway teens who became homeless, people who lost their jobs (you know, nothing unheard of in this economy) and couldnt find another job.

Excuse me, if you lose your job you do not become homeless immediately. Ever heard of a payout? They had plenty of time to find a new one but were too lazy to do so.

All of us who have money should give to those who havent. Thank God there are less selfish people around who dont mind sharing their hard earned money. Those who dont have any money can still volunteer.

What? Are you mental? why "Should" anyone give to someone else? They are not entitled to it. I don't know if you are trolling, but if you are then please stop. It's pointless.

Erm no, i dont avoid them and i dont give to every single one of them esp. those that seem intoxicated. I give to the homeless who sell a homeless magazine. This magazine is published once a month and tells their stories and has some other stuff in it. Homeless people in my city have the option to buy it from shelters for a small amount of money and then sell it for profit.

So they are homeless, yet manage to afford a magazine?

It is hardly being lazy standing around for hours in pedestrian zones selling magazines, these people are not drunk although you claim all homeless are. They are determined to improve their situation and i gladly buy a magazine or when i already have that magazine, i just give them some money anyways.

I never said all homeless people were drunk!

I am not taking a moral highground, i didnt claim i am mother teresa or the kindest person out there. But i dont generalise all homeless people and claim they have all been lazy, are deceitful and are all addicts. How rude of you to make a character assumption and say they are all deceitful yet you dont even know any.

I could make a character assumption of you but it would be ugly. You really seem to be a cold, selfish, judgemental person. I hope you will become kinder in the future and less bitter.

If you don't mind me asking, how did you get into that situation?
And then how did you get out of it?

I was thrown out of my house when I'd just turned 17 and was put on the homeless list but was never offered any accommodation. I was taken into Women's Aid and then I rented a room in a shared house after I'd been given special consideration by the council (in order to receive income support & housing benefit). I did my A Levels and I'm now in my second year of University (took myself off income support just after I finished A Levels).

So whilst I had a lot of help to find my way, it goes to show that there are plenty of homeless people who aren't drug addicts or alcoholics

Actually, I'm not biased. It's true. They may be descreasing but do you really think they could go from 23% to 2% in 3 years? It will have shifted by about 3%. Youth crime is also going down but I bet you wouldn't believe that either. You need to do some reading, or volunteer for shelter. Until you've done that please don't comment or judge what you clearly don't understand.

In fairness, even with registered charities you don't know where your money's going.
"Why don't you just give that money to us, and we'll err... We'll see it gets to them..."
I know exactly where my money's going. Too that guy in town with three socks and one shoe.
And now its going to the off-license.
And then you get people saying, (not you, but just for argument's sake), "You can't do that! They'll spend it on booze!"
Well what did they think I was going to spend it on...

Still, you must admit, we are almost persuaded to NOT talk to the homeless. Or so I've found, at any rate.

Meh, I'd personally give my money direct to the poor guy. Let 'em spend it on what they want, I think. If they buy drugs and die of starvation or thirst, well, someone clearly made the wrong decision.

You're not biased? Wow, you make no sense at all. Until you're ready to come back without this tremendous bias don't comment or judge what you clearly haven't researched properly.

I study it actually, and having been homeless I know a fair few things.

May I ask why you were homeless?

To cut a long story short my father was an alcoholic and used to hit me. My mothers parners brother abused me and she didn't believe me- my dad kicked me out and my mother/other family didn't want me.

That sucks..
I'm sorry for what you went through, and also if I offended you at all.
Did you actually have to sleep on the street, though?

Ah no problems same to you (if I offender you). Yeh I did =/