S/o How many unhoused people have you met in person?

[Anonymous]

Quoting from the billionaire post,

“Any good stories or particular quirks? Notice any patterns?

I interacted with one recently and their lifestyle weirdly left me feeling a bit sad for them. Lonely and can't trust anyone.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quoting from the billionaire post,

“Any good stories or particular quirks? Notice any patterns?

I interacted with one recently and their lifestyle weirdly left me feeling a bit sad for them. Lonely and can't trust anyone.”

Well duh. What did you expect? When you're on the street, you are incredibly vulnerable to theft and assault. I'm surprised this is a big revelation for you, OP.

Most homeless people have mental health issues that led them to this point. Just like most jailed criminals have mental health issues that led them down that path.
We need to entirely rethink our approach to homelessness and the criminal justice system to ensure that these people can be looked after, and encouraged to lead productive lives, without hurting others. Ignoring the mental health aspect doesn't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quoting from the billionaire post,

“Any good stories or particular quirks? Notice any patterns?

I interacted with one recently and their lifestyle weirdly left me feeling a bit sad for them. Lonely and can't trust anyone.”

Well duh. What did you expect? When you're on the street, you are incredibly vulnerable to theft and assault. I'm surprised this is a big revelation for you, OP.

Most homeless people have mental health issues that led them to this point. Just like most jailed criminals have mental health issues that led them down that path.
We need to entirely rethink our approach to homelessness and the criminal justice system to ensure that these people can be looked after, and encouraged to lead productive lives, without hurting others. Ignoring the mental health aspect doesn't work.

Not OP but I think they were quoting from the billionaire post so that was from someone that met a billionaire.

[Anonymous]

A ton! I'm a lead volunteer for refugees and I work with 2-3 families at a time for several months until they get placed in temp housing and then move on to the next families that need support.

The patterns-
-They are insanely thankful for any connections and support. They go out of their way to make meals for me, make me handmade gifts, do prayers or blessings over me.
-They are so family oriented. Most are together 24/7 as they can't work right away, kids aren't enrolled in school yet, etc. They really work together and everyone pitches in to do their part.
-They abide by the rules. They will not do anything to jeopardize their chance at being here.
-They can laugh despite everything. When I'm fumbling over their language or do something that would be considered rude/improper in the culture instead of feeling embarrassed it almost always leads to a good laugh and kind course correction.

I know this post was made tongue in cheek, but I actually have met billionaires (and responded in the other thread) but I'd take the refugees any day, everyday. Just some of the most lovely human beings I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with despite cultural and language barriers.

[Anonymous]

My best friend growing up is homeless, based on multiple mutual friends seeing her panhandling in Crystal City. She was a genius in school - all As at a DC private (where we met) and she was an extremely talented musician. She was in the middle of grad school when I think she had a full mental break; schizophrenia runs in her family and I saw glimmers of it in her here and there. So yeah, mental health troubles are a precursor to homelessness.

She was the only child of an older mother (father died when she was a kid) who I imagine has passed on as well. No other family to speak of. We are in our thirties. What is society to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My best friend growing up is homeless, based on multiple mutual friends seeing her panhandling in Crystal City. She was a genius in school - all As at a DC private (where we met) and she was an extremely talented musician. She was in the middle of grad school when I think she had a full mental break; schizophrenia runs in her family and I saw glimmers of it in her here and there. So yeah, mental health troubles are a precursor to homelessness.

She was the only child of an older mother (father died when she was a kid) who I imagine has passed on as well. No other family to speak of. We are in our thirties. What is society to do?

I think bringing back institutions and making involuntary commitment easier, as CA has recently done, is the only humane answer re: both the individual and public order and safety. What we have been doing has been a disaster. Dismantle all the advocacy orgs that push Housing First and urge people to stay on the street and expand St. Es with better oversight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Quoting from the billionaire post,

“Any good stories or particular quirks? Notice any patterns?

I interacted with one recently and their lifestyle weirdly left me feeling a bit sad for them. Lonely and can't trust anyone.”

Well duh. What did you expect? When you're on the street, you are incredibly vulnerable to theft and assault. I'm surprised this is a big revelation for you, OP.

Most homeless people have mental health issues that led them to this point. Just like most jailed criminals have mental health issues that led them down that path.
We need to entirely rethink our approach to homelessness and the criminal justice system to ensure that these people can be looked after, and encouraged to lead productive lives, without hurting others. Ignoring the mental health aspect doesn't work.

Not OP but I think they were quoting from the billionaire post so that was from someone that met a billionaire.

My apologies, then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A ton! I'm a lead volunteer for refugees and I work with 2-3 families at a time for several months until they get placed in temp housing and then move on to the next families that need support.

The patterns-
-They are insanely thankful for any connections and support. They go out of their way to make meals for me, make me handmade gifts, do prayers or blessings over me.
-They are so family oriented. Most are together 24/7 as they can't work right away, kids aren't enrolled in school yet, etc. They really work together and everyone pitches in to do their part.
-They abide by the rules. They will not do anything to jeopardize their chance at being here.
-They can laugh despite everything. When I'm fumbling over their language or do something that would be considered rude/improper in the culture instead of feeling embarrassed it almost always leads to a good laugh and kind course correction.

I know this post was made tongue in cheek, but I actually have met billionaires (and responded in the other thread) but I'd take the refugees any day, everyday. Just some of the most lovely human beings I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with despite cultural and language barriers.

Thank you for this post, the work that you do and your deep empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My best friend growing up is homeless, based on multiple mutual friends seeing her panhandling in Crystal City. She was a genius in school - all As at a DC private (where we met) and she was an extremely talented musician. She was in the middle of grad school when I think she had a full mental break; schizophrenia runs in her family and I saw glimmers of it in her here and there. So yeah, mental health troubles are a precursor to homelessness.

She was the only child of an older mother (father died when she was a kid) who I imagine has passed on as well. No other family to speak of. We are in our thirties. What is society to do?

I think bringing back institutions and making involuntary commitment easier, as CA has recently done, is the only humane answer re: both the individual and public order and safety. What we have been doing has been a disaster. Dismantle all the advocacy orgs that push Housing First and urge people to stay on the street and expand St. Es with better oversight.

Yes. Housing First just causes problems for the low income people living in naturally occurring affordable housing.

[Anonymous]

yes my dad was homeless. if he found it safe someone he’d rather live on the street. his aversion to work is that strong. for the last 10 years he’d found an elderly victim to take him in.

[Anonymous]

My brother was homeless for a bit.

I worked with unaccompanied minors caring for them until they were placed with family.

[Anonymous]

In DC I have yet to meet any of the homeless families that are going through very bad times. The only homeless I have met here are the mentally ill people urinating in public, harassing anyone who walks by, or ranting about conspiracy theories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In DC I have yet to meet any of the homeless families that are going through very bad times. The only homeless I have met here are the mentally ill people urinating in public, harassing anyone who walks by, or ranting about conspiracy theories.

+1

I don’t know why this isn’t obvious to most people. It’s not rocket surgery, most homeless are nutcases who need real help.

[Anonymous]

Someone I went to school with was apparently homeless and lived in shelters/her car for a while. Quite sad but she also had clear issues, to put it politely. She hasn't worked in 20 years either. She dropped out of a full ride at an expensive LAC because of a quarrel with a professor to give you an indication as to her issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In DC I have yet to meet any of the homeless families that are going through very bad times. The only homeless I have met here are the mentally ill people urinating in public, harassing anyone who walks by, or ranting about conspiracy theories.

+1

I don’t know why this isn’t obvious to most people. It’s not rocket surgery, most homeless are nutcases who need real help.

About half of homeless people are employed. You only notice the people with mental illness and/or addiction.