Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
Sorry not at all. The problems facing homeless people are much more complex than just "pullin' up your boot straps and gettin' to work" with a "can-do attitude". Those are just words but if it was that easy, then why isn't it happening? Surely these people aren't happy are they?
The line between having the lives most of us enjoy and ending up on the streets is in my opinion much thinner than we all like to think it is.
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I think the biggest problem is that for an individual who is homeless, the task of getting himself out of the situation seems to be enourmous, so it's too tough to try. As opposed to trying the small steps that are required to get themselves out. I've seen ads on buses that mention that there is some gov't organization that will give people a 0% interest loan towards their first month's rent and security deposit. There are still places for rent in this city that you can get into for $700 or less for your first month's rent and security deposit. (I found 19 on
http://www.lowcostrent.org/ )
That's for the working poor. But what if you are unemployed and on the street? Well, you need a job. How do you get one without an address or a phone? You go into Social Services, tell them you are trying to find a job, and you need $50 to get a
pre-paid cell phone so employers can call you. Also ask Social Services to help you do up your resume, and to print off a whack of copies for you. Give those out to temp agencies. Ask Social Services to give you a clothing voucher to get some decent work clothes.
All I'm saying is that it can be done; and we have agencies that we all pay for to help these people. If you walk into Social Services with a plan, or at the very least a serious desire; they can help you. But a person has to decide they want to take that first step. And that can be difficult, because people tend to fixate on end goals rather than individual steps. And perhaps seeing as the people being sued in the article haven't gone about getting the help that is available, the shop owner; while his motives are likely self serving, may actually be pushing these people to take that first step in finding help.