Homeless people

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by plett22@Sep 8 2004, 10:23 AM

I thought something might of happened like that. All of a sudden you didn't see him around anymore.

I heard loads of rumours about that guy: that he wasn't actually homeless, that he lived with a wife nearby, that he had tons of disability money, that he gave somebody his purple heart from the war, etc etc. I always thought he was kinda funny, especially with the ladies. "Hey you!! Reach down and touch your toes.....I'll show you where the warm wind blows!!" Followed by a cackle and a dance, then a stagger to go yell at someone else.

His funeral was actually on the news because he had become such a fixture down there.

Most of those rumors were in fact just rumors. He was most definitely homeless and he did not have tonnes of disability money. He had been succesful in the oil business (maybe an engineer in fact) back in the day but his son was killed in an accident and he went hard to the bottle and it cost him the rest of his family (or at least his wife).

[CaramonLS]

The "New" Thing to do I've been seeing recently is standing on the corner beside McLeod or Chinook Holding a sign saying "I'm stuck in Calgary, I have no food or money... any help is needed".

I've seen about 5 different people doing that in the last few months, fairly often too.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by fotze+Sep 8 2004, 10:52 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (fotze @ Sep 8 2004, 10:52 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-RougeUnderoos@Sep 8 2004, 10:47 AM
He had been succesful in the oil business (maybe an engineer in fact) back in the day but his son was killed in an accident and he went hard to the bottle and it cost him the rest of his family (or at least his wife).

Your not mixing him up with that other semi-famous Calgary bum, Ron Beard, I think, who was a geologist that CBC did a documentary on? Anyone have Cal's last name? [/b][/quote]
I don't think so. Some friends of mine helped Cal out quite a bit for a couple years and that story about his former life came right from the Crazy Horse's mouth.

[Frank the Tank]

I have never had the time for homeless people. I know, its very cynical, but I've travelled all over the world and I have seen real poverty with my own two eyes. There is just no excuse to not have a job and contribute to society in Canada. We are given way too many opportunities to let it get to the point of homelessness. Plus, drug addiction and alcoholism are no excuse in my books.

Last year on the news City TV followed a "homeless" woman around as an expose piece and discovered she was in fact not homeless at all and pulled in something like 100K a year in unclaimed income. She was the shaky lady or something because she pretended to have Parkinsons. It was sickening.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos+Sep 8 2004, 11:02 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (RougeUnderoos @ Sep 8 2004, 11:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Your not mixing him up with that other semi-famous Calgary bum, Ron Beard, I think, who was a geologist that CBC did a documentary on? Anyone have Cal's last name?

I don't think so. Some friends of mine helped Cal out quite a bit for a couple years and that story about his former life came right from the Crazy Horse's mouth. [/b][/quote]
Ron I believe is a guy that lost both of his legs due to frost bite while on the streets. Sadly he passed away a couple years ago I believe.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally posted by peter12+Sep 8 2004, 08:30 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (peter12 @ Sep 8 2004, 08:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Again many people on the streets do have jobs but its not enough to pay for an apartment.

Could you live on $5.80 per hour? Could save money for a damage deposit and the first and last months of rent with that wage?

Excellent point Jaybo about AISH - its unreal that they expect people to live on about $800 per month. And if those folks actually take the initiative to try and work then they get their AISH cheque cut. Its a messed up system.

So if they have a job why are they out begging?? I give money to the elderly and the disabled, though later you will find out that alot of the disabled are really faking it.

I give to the mentally handicapped as well.

Tons of these young guys are just lazy, construction crews do hire street labour and pay them 10 bucks an hour. You CAN live on 10 bucks an hour. [/b][/quote]
Many of them have only part-time jobs so they beg as a means to get additional income. Also, many companies demand that you have a residence and phone number to get a position. This is the case for many construction positions. So we are back to the vicious circle. Need a good paying job to get a place, need a place to get a good paying job.

Hey – I realize there are some people on the street that are there to take advantage of the generosity of people, and there are some young kids who go out begging only to return to their family homes at night.

But, I think these are exceptions. All I’m trying to do is encourage people to take a closer look and put yourself in some of these poor soul’s shoes. Its not nearly as black and white and it some people see it.

[CaramonLS]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina+Sep 8 2004, 05:34 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JiriHrdina @ Sep 8 2004, 05:34 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

So if they have a job why are they out begging?? I give money to the elderly and the disabled, though later you will find out that alot of the disabled are really faking it.

I give to the mentally handicapped as well.

Tons of these young guys are just lazy, construction crews do hire street labour and pay them 10 bucks an hour. You CAN live on 10 bucks an hour.

Many of them have only part-time jobs so they beg as a means to get additional income. Also, many companies demand that you have a residence and phone number to get a position. This is the case for many construction positions. So we are back to the vicious circle. Need a good paying job to get a place, need a place to get a good paying job.

Hey – I realize there are some people on the street that are there to take advantage of the generosity of people, and there are some young kids who go out begging only to return to their family homes at night.

But, I think these are exceptions. All I’m trying to do is encourage people to take a closer look and put yourself in some of these poor soul’s shoes. Its not nearly as black and white and it some people see it. [/b][/quote]
Actually the homeless shelter can be used as a place of residence now to get a job.

[Reaper]

Originally posted by SuperNilson@Sep 8 2004, 12:54 AM
I only help those who are physically unable to work.. If I see a elderly homeless man i'll take the initiative and go up to them give them a couple of bucks.

But if you can physically work, you aren't getting a penny from me... this is Calgary not New York City... there are plenty of jobs in this city.

So, physical ability is the only criteria you go by?

What about those that are homeless or unemployed due to mental illness?

A large percentage of the homeless population have psychiatric disorders or conditions and these things lead to them being on the street.

Some of the most disabling conditions known to mankind are the ones that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

[Reaper]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina@Sep 8 2004, 08:25 AM
Excellent point Jaybo about AISH - its unreal that they expect people to live on about $800 per month. And if those folks actually take the initiative to try and work then they get their AISH cheque cut. Its a messed up system.

As someone who works with a person dependent on AISH for their income I will have to chime in on this one as well.

If everyone can write on their Alberta Government Survey that AISH should be raised due to the higher cost of living in this province it would certainly help those who need it.

Since I moved to Alberta in 1996, AISH has gone from $828 to $855 per month.

This is only a 3% increase in 8 years!

I don't know about you guys but my cost of living has increased by way more than 3% over the past 8 years.

$855 is unreasonably low for a province that has recorded a record surplus this year.

[Regulator75]

I used to give lots of change away to the guys/gals selling the magazine (The Voice, I think) I would sometimes chat them up a bit. Offer them a granola bar from my lunch or whatever.

After living downtown for 4 years I have many many stories of people asking me for change or smokes (when I did smoke). These are a few.

This one woman was asking for change for food - outside of Denny/Sandman and all I had was my debit and credit cards. I said that I have no money, but I could buy her some take out or I could pre-pay her dinner from Denny's she didn't like this idea. She said, well to tell you the truth I don't need food I need money. I said "oh, you just asked for change for food". I gave her a funny look and walked away.

I used to do this one quite often, they ask for change for the bus. I would offer them a transit ticket and they would say no thanks. Like seriously don't lie to me you stinking drunks. I am not stupid nor will I fall for your little tricks.

During the summer months, when all the young kids "RUN AWAY FROM HOME, LMAO" they would always ask me for smokes down at the C-train station and I would take a drag from my smoke and say, "sorry, don't smoke" they would look at me stunnned and say oh, ok man. I loved doing this one.

Now that I live far from downtown and don't really visit it quite often,when I do I still give a bit of change to the guys selling the magazine, as for the homeless that harrass people, I just keep walking.

Oh yea, three weeks ago when I turned a guy down for change, he had the balls to ask me for my water!!! I said, nahhhh dude I'm thirsty.

[CaptainCrunch]

I was in Vancouver for training once a few years ago and we went out to a Canucks Oilers game (bleh) then went to a bar for a couple of dozen drinks (ended up drinking with some of the Oilers who came by after the game). We decided to find an afterhours club to continue this party, but had no clue as to where one was.

So we asked this homeless guy and he told us he would take us to one for $10 bucks. Sure we're drunk and all so we took him up on the offer.

Anyways he leads us to hell and back and we finally get to an afterhours club. I pay this guy the $10.00 and throw in another $5.00 to be cool.

And

get this

He turns around and looks at us all with the old hairy eyeball and asks us if we have any spare change.

We just gave him $15.00

We laughed and loaded him up with as much change as we could find. Hey it was the ultimate sales job

[Tron_fdc]

Originally posted by CaptainCrunch@Sep 8 2004, 07:48 PM


He turns around and looks at us all with the old hairy eyeball and asks us if we have any spare change.

We just gave him $15.00

We laughed and loaded him up with as much change as we could find. Hey it was the ultimate sales job

He must have graduated from the Harry Friedman school of retail!!!

You got upsold byatch!!!

[Krackt420]

I guess you could call me a typical bleeding heart type. I’ll almost always toss em’ some change. I know damn well what they’re probably going to use it for, and that my charity isn’t going to get them off the streets, off the drugs and into an apartment or a new job, but I just don’t see how my refusing them a measly buck is going to change very much.

In my humble opinion, people are going to do what they’re going to do. If I don’t toss em’ a buck, someone else will eventually. If they spend that on booze and drugs instead of food or something else useful, than that’s beyond my control or concern.

I made the choice to spare some change, on the off chance that it might put some food in their belly. They do with it what they will. Barring a severe mental disability, everyone, even heavy addicts, has the ability to make choices.

I’m not so naïve that I think that many people on the streets will make the choices that might turn their lives around with a cup full of quarters, I am however, also not so naïve that I think I have any idea what life on the streets must be like…what circumstances and experiences lead up to these people sitting, shaking on street corners begging complete strangers for pocket change…the sort of life that strips you of all your dignity as a person. Homeless people have none…they don’t have time to be ashamed.

I won’t lie. Many homeless people make me uncomfortable. It’s not how they look…or even smell. I’m human. And for some reason, it’s difficult for us to look complete degradation in the face without averting our eyes in discomfort. It scares me a little, as well, that the possibility of wearing their shoes one day is never an impossibility. Life hands you a sh*tty deal sometime. I got a fairly decent one in comparison.

It’s only a buck.


Sorry…..rant over.


On a sort of related not....has anyone ever seen Mr. Whistle (my name for him). He can whistle anything. He's really good....but he gets really loud and angry if you don't give him money sometimes.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally posted by CaramonLS+Sep 8 2004, 12:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (CaramonLS @ Sep 8 2004, 12:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Many of them have only part-time jobs so they beg as a means to get additional income. Also, many companies demand that you have a residence and phone number to get a position. This is the case for many construction positions. So we are back to the vicious circle. Need a good paying job to get a place, need a place to get a good paying job.

Hey – I realize there are some people on the street that are there to take advantage of the generosity of people, and there are some young kids who go out begging only to return to their family homes at night.

But, I think these are exceptions. All I’m trying to do is encourage people to take a closer look and put yourself in some of these poor soul’s shoes. Its not nearly as black and white and it some people see it.

Actually the homeless shelter can be used as a place of residence now to get a job. [/b][/quote]
Would you hire someone that listed "The Mustard Seed" as their residence. A lot of employers won't.

[CaramonLS]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina+Sep 8 2004, 10:49 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JiriHrdina @ Sep 8 2004, 10:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Actually the homeless shelter can be used as a place of residence now to get a job.

Would you hire someone that listed "The Mustard Seed" as their residence. A lot of employers won't. [/b][/quote]
Well you are supposed to use the technical exact address XXXX XAve.

Most employers wouldn't know the difference.

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by kermitology@Sep 8 2004, 05:54 AM
I became quite, uh, I don't know what word to use, I guess.. ignorant of the plight of the homeless when I lived in Victoria. I used to see kids out on the street panhandling, and making you feel sorry for them. Then you realize that these kids are packing up at the end of the day and heading back to their Oak Bay mansions with their family who just "doesn't understand them."

I got to the point where if I feel that I'm going to give change to someone they should be doing something to earn it, like the guy who plays his sax outside the C-Train platform after Flames games, or I'll specifically ask if they'll use it for drugs or alcohol. If they say no, then I won't give it to them on the basis that I will only reward honesty.

Im not sure that the sax player out sid ethe Flames games (he is also there after the Stamps games) is homeless. He wears some good clothes some times. I think he may be a musician that just likes to make extra cash. As for me, if I have some change in my pocket I will give someone some if they are the only one around.

[Looger]

calgary's quite a different situation for the homeles than other big cities i have visited.

there's quite a bit of help here, but a run of bad luck can still put some people on the street.

guys that lose their jobs because the ex-wife sends them to 'maintenance' and they lose their driver's license, a screwed up situation with people they live with, you name it there are many circumstances where a guy making $10/hour simply cannot make it in calgary.

i was just living there at 10 bucks an hour while searching for real work and it was literally not feasible. no way jose.

in 95 when i moved there i lived on like $600 per month - rent was way cheaper. the cheap rent has completely disappeared, the only decent situations are by knowing someone with a house and living in a non-zoned basement. technically illegal...

i'd say bad-luck situations contribute to less than 5% of the homeless however.

was working downtown at a crappy night job while going to school, $8 per hour, basically $50 a shift, and the same guy asked me for change three days in a row while waiting for the train. i vented on him pretty bad because i had a crappy job but was still making it, somehow. he was early-twenties, able-bodied, backpacker-type, i just can't see helping out people like that much because he's capable of picking up those free workboots and waiting at the one corner with the other day workers.

it ain't glamourous but it's enough to get fed and maybe explore more options.

there are people in this world that simply start from zero and don't have the parents etc. to help, but the majority of homeless people in calgary are on the streets because of poverty _plus_ some other reason.

[Ozy_Flame]

My tax dollars are affording these people an opportunity to get off the streets and get their lives back on track. No free-loading bum is going to get change off of me! Most of the time they'll use it for something I don't approve of.

You know how to help people who ask for change? You ask them what they want, and if they want a drink or a bus ticket, then you buy them a drink or bus ticket! If you're generous enough to give more of your hard-earned money to homeless people, then make the effort to give them what they say, rather than give them what they want. At least you know your money is being well-spent.

[Resolute 14]

I never give money to people begging for it on the street.

First, I have no idea if they are truely in need, or con artists. As an example, the guys who are occiasionally parked on Glenmore at 5th and Memorial at 36th have been "stranded" for at least five months now. Those losers are counting on a middle class guilt trip to get them some free money.

Second, I dont trust many of those people to spend any money I give them on anything but booze and drugs.

If you are on a "rich man's guilt trip" give some money to the homeless shelter, womans shelter, the mustard seed, CUPS, etc. Your money will be far better spent there than on a bum on 7th avenue.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I just save up my change now and give it to the Salvation Army, when you give to those guys, you know all that money is going to where it is needed.

I beleive my last change jar had roughly 300 bucks in it.