Home-Le$$-Ness

Good Morning Fortunate Ones!

If you're reading this, you're probably pretty fortunate...

Think about it. You're educated enough to read, you have access to a computer, and better yet, the internet....and I'm willing to bet you even have a place to live and perhaps a job.... (well, except Leslie...jk) I guess we may sometimes forget, or blatantly don't give a shit, that we are more fortunate than others.

If you live near or in a city, you've probably been introduced to the homeless. Homeless people are a diverse bunch, that for one dozen reasons or another, can't afford a place to live, don't have a source of income other than pan-handling, and usually have a strange pungent odor.

Two major factors that I think contribute to homelessness:

1. Mental Illness - ever wonder why that homeless guy down the street is mumbling to himself, twitches, and has emotional outbursts followed by periods of silently staring into space? Well, one of the largest contributors to homelessness is the closing of mental facilities or releasing of patients due to budgetary reasons; FYI: most released/kicked out mentally ill patients don't get their engineering or MBA degrees and then contribute to the corporate infrastructure, nor have they developed the skills to adapt to that environment; thus business people who have the money to help, don't give a shit about them.

2. Poor Shitty Family: Perhaps homeless Tom grew up in poverty. Mommy & daddy were stupid losers, which further explained why they would give birth to a child given their financial & social situation, as well as not providing that child the stability and education they needed to adapt to the outside world. The child grew up with the wrong crowd without education or guidance, and then found that they could not make it in the workplace because of emotional, disciplinary, or education-related reasons.

It seems as though people have a problem with homelessness and choose to ignore it or just feed a bum some change when they are bothered. Out of sight, out of mind; just don't bother me while I'm drinking my caramel non-fat Machiato...

As a capitalistic society, we pretty much say "tough luck, get a job, and fuck off". However, this contradicts our silly "Christian-based" and socialist inspired "everyone should be happy" ideals. Should we give a shit? Should we give help? Should we give money?

I believe that you are a selfish prick if you give a homeless person ANY money.

You're not helping; you're just buying your way out of an uncomfortable situation and/or guilt, in efforts to feel like you're Mother Theresa. If you really wanted to make an impact, you'd give him an education.... you'd give him clothing... you'd give him something to eat or nourishment.... you'd give him a job... or you'd give the money to somebody who could provide him with those things...

Now I'm not saying there's an answer for homelessness, because there isn't an answer. But we can change our actions and perceptions of what is "help" to a homeless person.

By giving money to the homeless are we really helping them, or are we helping ourselves to feel better about their homelessness?

Do you think a society-wide attitudinal change could spur the fortunate to help those in need through education, training, and opportunity, or at least donate money to people who would be able to organize such an edeavor?

Give us your thoughts....

Don's thoughts right now: "I love coffee....."