So They Say

[Heavensresources]

i have a ministry in Ft Worth that helps the unsheltered homeless. A very small percentage of them are drunks or drug addicts. There are educated and uneducated, sane and insane, handicapped and able bodied people on the streets. There are so many reasons given by the homeless that I can't list them all here. With the poor economy and budget cut backs more Americans will be homeless. Most families are so far in debt that it would'nt take much for them to loose thier home.

[tickyul]

@Heavensresources Well, if most of your clients are not addicts or drunks....they must be crazy....because that is the majority of homeless.

[PaleRider626]

Not ignored...more like Created by 

[cheapcape]

Congress is just a self-serving bunch of cultists! They ignore many issues that don't benefit their elitist body. It's time people realized how two-faced politicians really are. If you want to help people in need, you need to stop listening to what these demagogues say and start making a difference on your own! No one should be homeless in America!

[infamousbcg]

Very heart breaking story. Lets help America! take a sacrifice for the homeless people! give homeless people and families your last dollar or cheeseburger! Its what Jesus would do!!

[tickyul]

@infamousbcg a lot of your good intentions are just enabling addicts to continue with their lifestyle. The money you give is likely being spent on drugs/alcohol. The bums/hobos prefer cash because they have food coming out of their ears...thanks to all of the shelters and do gooders.

[infamousbcg]

@tickyul What goes around comes around Ticky!! Your comment might just bite you in the ass one day whenever your homeless and under the bridge!!!

[tickyul]

@infamousbcg Not for long. These people are living a lifesyle of their own choosing for the most part. I have worked at total crap jobs to put a roof over my head and buy food. Unloaded truck for 4.25 and hour....real hard work because I wanted to have a roof over my head. Day labor when needed....not sitting on a corner begging for dope money. People who fall on hard times pick themselves up, usually in short order.....if they have the will.

[GenWhyMovie]

Keep it up...

-The Gen Why Team

[sandmanhopes]

22 % of our nations children will go to bed hungry By Christmas of this year if we do not do something and by the way I do not think these children are druggies nor asked for this in one way at all also might want to watch motel children of orange county one of our wealthy areas of this nation they work 40 hour weeks yet still going through hell and soup lines.

[tickyul]

@sandmanhopes Bull.......22%........where did you get that phony stat from???

Most of the so-called poor in the United States Of Ameritard, including the kids, are porkers.

[faithhopelovebranson]

I am a "Motel Bandit" with 2 babies (4 and 1). We sure didn't choose to be here. Economics, legalities, mother nature and a return from war forced us into Motel living. We don't live in a Big City either (we live in a Seasonal Ozarks Tourist Town called Branson, MO). It is hard to save money to get out when you spend more on feeding a family of 4 than what most families of 6 spend (due to limited storage space and cooking area). Also, with no public transit you kind of get stuck!

[itsbull1]

@faithhopelovebranson I know where you are comming from. You work, so you don't qualify for assiatance. Your wages get garnished for student loans. The disability from the VA doesn't even come close to covering the medications and copays for specialist visits to treat problems caused from being in war in the first place.

[peacemtn]

They need more prevention programs.

[stercus2759]

It makes me so mad when people say such ignorant things about the poor and homeless, and act hysterical when you mention wealth disparity, and then start yelling communist or socialist. The wealth disparity in this country is just about at the same levels if not higher before the great depression. The rich aren't creating the jobs, and that is why most of the educated people in the country are mad at the extremely wealthy and wall street. There is no reason these kids should go through this.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 Really? I see the homeless where I live laying on the sidewalk drinking beer and smoking pot. There is a point when you have to evaluate what you are saying, sometimes it is really far from the truth. I live in an area with tons of these, er, uh...."homeless", many of them are just bums, want to lay around and panhandle so they can feed their addictions.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul Did you ever think that you are overgeneralizing? There are some who don't want to work, some give up, some are veterans, and some have mental disorders. If they are addicts they need help. I have known some homeless in my life and it isn't always as simple as some would have it sound. I guess you would have veterans homeless after their sacrifice to the country and more than most will ever have to sacrifice. You need some compassion.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 I stated in my original post that I was referring to the two most common causes of Homelessness.......addiction and mental illness. A lot of addicts refuse help because they DO NOT WANT TO STOP ABUSING THEIR DRUG OF CHOICE. As for Homeless Vets, they are just like everyone else, need to take responsibility for their decisions. These people are a real blight on the city I live in, I do not feel compassion for them, they piss and crap on the sidewalks.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul I don't know what else to say to you to convince you. You are quite adamant. I usually respect adamant people cause everyone has a right to an opinion, and no one should be deprived of that. So I respectfully say that I agree to disagree.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 I guess you do not know how to pick apart my argument with facts. I made a very clear post that in my opinion is very accurate. You respond with blather. When people keep repeating conventional wisdom over and over it is soo tiring. What about my right to a decent living environment without the hassles of filthy bums all over the place. Encourage the behavior and you can expect more and more of it.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul I don't encourage the behavior. I guess I don't know how to pick apart your argument with facts. I will continue to help my fellow veterans who suffer from ptsd and keep them from becoming homeless. I am a veteran myself and they are my priority.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul One more thing. You don't have the right to a decent living area. Nothing guarantees that in this country.  If you don't like the "bums" in your area you can pack up and move to a different area.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 Yeah, that's right, I am a productive member of my community, yet you would rather I leave. I pay rent, buy groceries, utilize services that I pay for, shop. Well, I am sure that you have a really great time encouraging your stinky friends to invade peoples neighborhoods. Bums piss and crap on the sidewalks, wow, that is really great for society.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul You can do what you want. What would you have society do with them? What is your solution? Do you realize because of the recession homelessness is on the rise? People just like you who were working hard are now finding themselves without work. This is not blather this is a fact. I'm really interested to see what your solution is.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 Uh, a solution. It really does not matter what I think, insane people run this city and many like it. The truth is a lot of these bums realize that the welcome mat is rolled out for them, more and more come to this city, just makes the problem worse. Many of these people are young men who just want to live a free lifestyle on the city streets for a couple of years, drinkin, druggin and crapin on the sidewalk. Creepy politicians have no will to make changes, they think just like you.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul Have you talked to these young men or are you just making accusations? You have no solution? I thought we were a country of thinkers not complainers. If you have no solution then why are you complaining? You want government to do the thinking for you? Insulting me will get you nowhere.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul Did I call you a troll? Sorry I have short term memory loss and don't remember. You overgeneralize and that is a fallacy in arguing. You are grouping all the homeless into a category of addicts and mental illness. You may have said among other things, but you still group them all into one category because of what the ones near you do. Have you ever heard of the fallacy of arguments? Since you're so smart.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 You must not have the ability to understand the written word, I have said in this thread a couple of times THAT THE MAIN CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS ARE ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS, THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY CAUSES. Do you ignore what people write or is it just that you cannot comprehend ideas in the written form. Where I live there are an estimated 8500 BUMS in the downtown areas, a true blight on the community. A lot of them are young men living it up on the streets abusing drugs-booze.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul i scored way above average on reading comprehension thank you very much. You started this argument and expect me to go way back through the thread. I even tried to agree to disagree, but you like to argue about things you know very little about.  The recession is getting worse and when you find yourself on the street you will get no compassion from me, and those who give you compassion I wish they knew your attitude before you were homeless.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 First, you cannot pick up on the jist of my post......NOW, you are playing Yuri Geller...able to see into the future. So what date am I going to end up on the street Yuri? I mean, if you cannot win an argument on the subject just start throwing out a bunch of crap. WOW!

[stercus2759]

@tickyul There is no winning the argument with you. Arguing with you is like arguing with a jackass. You can poke fun at my predictions, but I have been right about many things in the past. I'll prolly be homeless too especially if the tea baggers come to power. I am no longer responding to you.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul one more thing. This video is about homeless children and you spout ur crap how it is their fault. So are the children to blame? You keep contradicting urself. you give all the reasons for homelessness and then you go right back to the drugs and alcohol. And anyone that wants to help the homeless are horrible creeps. Whatever im finished with you so you can go do your victory dance and feel proud that you won the argument.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 It is a problem with the structure of the family. So many worthless baby moma depending on the government for life support. Homeless kids are being raised by a really trouble parent, if you cannot raise the damn kid you should lose custody. I have never contradicted myself, let me state again, "the main causes of homelessness are drug/alcohol addiction and mental illness". There, is that clear, I did not say the only cause, can't you read english?

[brendaw61]

@tickyul The main cause of homelessness is poverty.

[tickyul]

@brendaw61 Not likely, I see tons of people living on the street daily. Many of these people are plain crazy, many of them are addicted to drugs/alcohol.....that covers the MAJORITY of the homeless. If you wind up on the streets and are half way intelligent....your stay will be short.

[cheapcape]

@tickyul That is not the main cause at all. The main cause is mental illness and lack of opportunity because of discrimination. They turn to drugs after they discover employers won't hire them. You sir, are an idiot.

[brendaw61]

@tickyul I have worked with the homeless for the past three years. I have not met one that was living it up on the streets. In the past two years I have met many first time homeless. The cause for the most part is they are poor. While some suffer from mental illness or additction, these people can be helped as well. I have been able to help some of these people, however I had to do it on my own time. The mentally ill and addicts don't qualify for the program I work for.

[tickyul]

@brendaw61 Well, the fact is a lot of these people need to be involuntarily committed. The laws for putting someone away against their will are pretty strict, if they are not a danger to themselves or others you can usually only put them in for a short stay. There is also a big percentage THAT ARE POOR AND BROKE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALMOST HOPELESSLY ADDICTED AND WILL NOT GIVE UP WHAT IS RUINING THEM.

[brendaw61]

@tickyul Who will decide if they are crazy? Addicts need treatment, not someone telling them to stop what they are doing. The people with mental illness need housing not someone to put them in an institution and forget about them. People need to stop thinking that being poor is something that people choose and that if they want they can stop being poor. These people need jobs, education, and affordable housing. All of these people can be helped and are worth helping.

[boy18inva]

I worked with the homeless programs in two cities in my state for five years, and the homeless problem is not as black and white as is presented in this and other videos. Like you say, I found a LARGE percentage are mentally ill but refuse to take treatment. Many addicts also. They should be commited but the ACLU and others raise a hue and cry about "personal freedom". And moms not yet 25 but already have 6 kids from 4 different dads?Not as rare as people think. I dealt with many of them.

[tickyul]

@boy18inva Yes, I see it every day right outside of my window. There are tons of people who have addictions they will not give up, it drives them to live insane lives, a lot of the times on the streets. Rulings from both the state and federal courts make it very hard to institutionalize noncriminals.

[recyclecongress]

@tickyul Just another reason why 'some' drugs should just be LEGALIZED. Like weed and prescription NARCOTICS. People are going to get them anyways....they're ADDICTS! And it would eliminate a lot of the issues like drug wars, overcrowded courts & prisons, etc! Addicts aren't just going to QUIT, they CANT...they're ADDICTED! Addiction is a DISEASE and should be treated as such, but not IMPRISONED!

[StandUpForKids1]

Check out our new video about homeless youth in Orange County, CA.

[recyclecongress]

People, there are more homeless than just the overly stereo-typed groups of the lazy, the addicts, and the mental! Anybody that makes that excuse is just plain cold hearted! Of COURSE there are the homeless drunks/druggies/mental groups, but joining them are those that suddenly lost their HOMES because of the economy and the sub prime rate increases.... the tremendous MANY thats income just could not keep up with the ever increasing COST OF LIVING....those that lost their JOBS...etc!

[tickyul]

@recyclecongress Most of them are addicts and nutcases. The average person who falls down can get up and running pretty quickly if they do not have the problems of addiction or mental illness.

[Art4TheHomeless]

Can not do anything about the homeless because a large percentage have damaged their brains with alcohol or drugs?!?!?!

Dude open your eyes---the LARGER percentage are the CHILDREN who probably TURNED TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL in order to find relief.

WAKE UP AMERICA! the average age of a homeless American is 9 years old.

[tickyul]

@Art4TheHomeless Uh, ok. If the Tarded parents cannot take care of their kids they should lose custody. I live in a downtown area where there are about 1000-1200 homeless, I do not think I have seen many children among them.

[tickyul]

Cannot really do anything truly meaningful about the homeless. A large percentage have damaged their brains through drug/alcohol abuse, they are now incapable and/or unwilling to quit. The other group that makes up a large percentage of the homeless is the mentally ill. Some of these people refuse treatment and cannot or will not take medication on a regular schedule. Rulings at both the federal and state levels make it very hard to involuntarily commit someone, for more than a few days.

[hearus1]

Sure wish you knew more about this issue before mis-stating "facts."

Such confusing adds to the problem instead of helping. How far are you from homelessness? Are you sure?

[tickyul]

@hearus1: I'm nowhere near being homeless. Just takes a tiny bit of discipline/common sense to save up 6 months of living expenses, not rocket science. My post covered 2 different categories of of homeless, I did not say that these two groups made up ALL HOMELESS. Drug/alcohol addicts and mentally ill, from what I have read are the major groups of homeless, sure there are others, that was not the thrust of my post. I live in an area heavily populated with homeless, step out my door into them.

[hearus1]

I'm sorry for the people living in your area who are homeless. Big city I would guess.

Preventing homelessness is not just a matter of having a pile of money saved. That's a good thing, but can you guarantee you won't suffer a physical/mental illness? Is your safety net 100% guaranteed?

You can read my book, Crossing the Line: Taking Steps to End Homelessness, to learn more. Your urban experience doesn't apply to non-metro areas. And families...what about them?

[tickyul]

@hearus: Well, you ripped my original post, now pick out what I said that was sooooo WRONG! Is my safety net 100% gauranteed? Come on that is a red herring, nothing is 100%. I can tell you, I would take a job licking dogs balls if I saw my financial situation getting dire. Again let me repeat what I said about my original post "I KNOW MY DESCRIPTION (ADDICTS/MENTALLY ILL) OF THE HOMELESS DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL HOMELESS. Your ideology keeps you from listening to other points of view, KNOW IT ALL!

[ultimatesaged]

@hearus1 Great, more bullshit.

[sawa1sy]

@tickyul No, More then half are children, elders, and women. The men you see on the street are just extra, they may even have a wife and small children living in a shelter some where as they try to find a job.

[tickyul]

@sawa1sy: Really, I have lived near areas with lots of homeless most of my life. I see they laying on the sidewalk drinking and smoking pot in San Diego. Lazy and addicted to drugs is a lot of the problem.

[astaroth333777]

these poeple dont understand that anyone can become homless against your will thats what ahppend to me.

[itsbull1]

@hearus1it is a lot easier to become homeless than a lot of people think! Some of us have jobs. Some of us have college degrees. Lots of us do not use drugs or alcohol. Lots of us are not mentally ill. Some of us have to spend half of our paychecks to cover the cost of medications. Lots of us have to spend a good part of our checks on food and medical bills. There is not enough left for rent, not to mention other bills! Do not judge people until you really know their situation.

[stercus2759]

@tickyul overgeneralizing is a fallacy of argument. He is nothing but a troll.

[tickyul]

@stercus2759 I guess you have a problem with reading comprehension. I clearly stated in my original post that addiction and mental illness were the two MAJOR causes of homelessness, not the only causes. I see these people every day, sitting on the sidewalk smoking pot, drinking beer, crapping in the planters. So, if I am a troll, what does that make you with such a simplistic post....Einstein?

[Coolaid9876543210]

@tickyul so are you saying that we shouldn't help other people who are suffering?  even if it seems impossible, should we not try? In history, it is always those who attempt the impossible that make an impact in the world. If your grandparents were mentally ill, would you refuse to help them?

[tickyul]

@Coolaid9876543210 One persons help is another persons hurt. What about the damage you cause by enabling addiction, that is what a lot of the do-gooders fail to see. That bums already has plenty of food sources, feeding programs in every city in this country. So, when you hand them money.....uh, what do you thiink they buy....ciggies, drugs, booze. Baby momma payments encourage women to get preggers...so they can go on the dole, how is that a good thing, generational poverty.

[Coolaid9876543210]

@tickyul so stereotypes are in? rather than looking at that crap, what about seeing the number of deaths related to poverty around the world? I bet you wouldn't give a crap about them if it was your own family, right? If people have enough food, why are there so many people dying of hunger around the world? And as for the people taking drugs and whatnot, you can't just dehumanize them. they've got feelings, too. they need more than just money, can't you see that?

[Coolaid9876543210]

@tickyul of course they aren't gonna get better if you don't address the right needs. you talk a whole bunch about help being bad, but sometimes not doing anything for a guy hurting just hurts even more. if i needed help, would i love seeing guys passing me daily on the street or spitting on me cuz i'm helpless? you try asking yourself that.

[tickyul]

@Coolaid9876543210 A lot of times people really are not helping these people, they are just helping them to continue living their lives of addiction.....it is called enabling. The bums in most major cities have plenty to eat, the money they panhandle gets spent on........well you can figure out what it gets spent on if you have half a brain.

[brendaw61]

@tickyul i found a homeless man living under an abandoned building. His feet were amputated from the gangrene that set in when he got frost bite. I gave him food, clothing and money for the month it took me to get him a disability check started. I'm sure he spent some of the money I gave him on alcohol, but I really didn't care what he spent it on. I will always be grateful to him for allowing me to help him. You should try it, it's the best feeling I've ever felt!

[brendaw61]

@tickyul That is the stupidest thing I've read in a long time. 

[brendaw61]

@tickyul You sound like your brain might have a little damage.

[tickyul]

@brendaw61 Your emotions are guiding you, that is usually a very poor thing when you are trying to solve problems. You see, I am unemotional when I try to think about things, use logic to guide my ways. The truth is addiction and mental illness are factors that need to be addressed throught policy changes, throwing money or food at these people enables them to exist in their addictions or insanity........is that good???

[Vortexghost]

Washington WOrships Money and reaps an empire thats failing, falling and fleeting.

[nigooch]

I can relate my friend.  I had no family and ons stepped in and made the difference. Now I can help these kids be heard and strive to have EVERY CHILD in a home with food, healthcare, education and ALL THE LOVE and ENCOURAGEMENT we possibly give them! All of them!

[ANGELBLU2042]

Very, very sad.

[hearus1]

Frustration is justified! We have a lot of work to do to change things. I'll do whatever I can. You are not a joke--you are a valuable human being, more important to me than those with big bucks and no morality (that's where I get frustrated!).

[Everydayconservative]

How can you disparage the people with big bucks who are looking to higher a hard working individual? Why are the wealthy at fault? I feel for the children, who have parents teaching a generational mentality of poor habits. My goal is to change the way my kids look at life, fix the issue on day one of a childs life. Work ethics, faith, frugality, I can attitude, and the sense that education is the most important thing. Last, if you cant afford to have children dont have them.

[hearus1]

My goal, or hope, would be to help you understand that your premises--of generational mentality of poor habits, reasons why women have children, etc.--are not always correct, nor are they helpful in addressing surging problems of poverty and homelessness.

[hearus1]

It is horribly wrong of society to ignore/abuse and degrade people who are homeless (not necessarily MI), invisible-- child or adult.

I've spent years working with adults and kids without homes. Now I'm focusing on kids. But I still care about you and your brothers and sisters of the street. Sorry you were offended, none intended.

[smallpuple1234567890]

dosent touch my heart... but i would LOVE 2 helpz yew :)

[azmuth]

while i do agree that this needs to be addressed, i dont believe it should be solely by our government. this is america, we are one of the richest societies on the planet, why cant we the people of these united states gather some of our extra money into a large pool of funds, and use it to build buildings to house these people?

it's unfortunate that there aren't many people out there willing to give up a dollar to help out those around them.

and trust me, i only mean those that deserve it...

[hearus1]

Well, seeing that over 1.5 million CHILDREN are homeless in our country, we're going to need to figure out something better than ignoring the issue.

The "deserving" children, hmmm, how to determine....?

[wcody100]

Out of all the videos I coment on this one touches my heart the most N 1987 my three sons & I were homeless We lived N a smallroom N a hotel N Texas I was not on welfare I worked everyday cleaning houses for some of the wealthest people N Texas I tried all my heart but I could not make enough money 2 get out of that motel iI ended up getting burned 9o% because of the STRESS PLEASE PRAY 4 our NATION PRAY 4 ALL the INNOCENT CHILDREN living on the streets of AMERICA GOD HAVE MERCY ON US

[wcody100]

As usally I have 2 go back and show everyone there is HOPE. That hope is n JESUS CHRIST HE TOOK ME FROM BEING HOMELESS BURNED 90% 2nd & 3rd degree Discarded Given no hope 2 SURVIVE the Burns Branded a failure by society BUT LOVED BY GOD Jesus Is the only answer 4 ALL the problems N our nation Not only did I survive GOD HEALED me SENT ME 2 SCHOOL Actually STILL N school GETTING MASTERS N PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING Will one day B able 2 HELP RESCUE CHILDREN off STREETS OF this OUR AMERICA

[hearus1]

Thanks for sharing your story and for your comments. This issue touches many people, and lots of good folks are willing to help.

[sarahwillman3]

feelin humble

[shurlocksam86]

One out of 50—or about 1.5 million—American children are homeless each year, according to a 2009 study by the National Center on Family Homelessness.

[comcfi]

how is homelessness the governments responsibility

[hearus1]

Government needs to share in the responsibility, especially because government housing dollars for the poor have been slashed over the last 25 years...and affordable housing has all but disappeared.

[desertrat014]

Because for the general welfare of our people our government exists for. Did you ever read the Constitution? Our economy is not the fault of homelessness, its the excessive greed allowed. Capitalism is not a form of government, but today they ask when you want to become a citizen, if you accept CAPITALISM, not our REPUBLIC? Why? Controlled markets, controlled media, controlled money supply, give a lot of drugs, make wars everywhere, steel peoples land and wealth everywhere, just make slaves.

[ANGELBLU2042]

You have George Bush to thank for that. We look forward to Obama fixing that. We also need our jobs back, the foreign aliens not here working when 30% of our population is unemployed...yes 30%. The media has been told to keep the figures down, to not freak people out.

[ibmforce]

You look forward to Obama fixing that?!?!?! He'll fix it ok . . . yeah right . . .

[tickyul]

@ANGELBLU2042 Hehe, Bamster has been in for a while now, I see more BUMS now then ever before.

[versandra]

The shelter saved my life and now my life saves others. If you really want to help the homeless, take 5 hrs out of each week for 6 weeks and teach a mother or father how to be self-sufficient. It could be picking up cans, passing out flyers for small business owners or even cleaning offices. Learning to do whatever your skill level allows with integrity, excellence and gratitude will automatically yield elevation. I promise. It's the law!

[aosrick]

Americans dont care as long as there bellys are full and there wallet has money in it. If every one cared about each other noone would be homeless

[chiawoo]

Very nicely done

[hurchel]

all the politicians do are use the kids issue to get more funding. the kids never benefit.

[MzNeMoney]

I have seen homeless children prosper in Omaha,NE--with our street school it it a promising place where these kids get help with education and ha accomplished. . The community came together and yes the politicians need to step in they keep saying 'no child let behind'. . . .