Pacific Garden Mission "Poverty in Chicago" PBS Film

[AthensAnna]

God bless the PGM. Who wants to be there? But when you have nothing, it just may help you. It's a good thing, easy to criticize, but a blessing for the hungry. God bless you guys who run the place.

[anifbim]

If it weren't for places like this and for people who have a passion to help others, this world would be a lot more difficult for the less fortunate.

[dshpprd82]

no all homeless have mental illness i can not fide a job for 6 mo and i feld out a app for mc d' thay told me wall 6 mo with no job i dont know if i will hire u i got up at 3:30 and wint to day laber to ee if i wol work that day or not or work her ware i knowi can pay my bill

[Autocad1965]

@NolanRogers2 Well said. I love my country, don't get me wrong. But you are correct. I wish I could engage you in a sensible debate on this issue, but sadly I cannot...

[NolanRogers2]

Sad that you Yanks treat your poor citizens like this.

The USA is a disgrace. In the UK there are many programs and help that the poor can take advantage of.

In the US you just starve and die.

Sad.

[musiccalgary]

@NolanRogers2 Such a crock of shit. The UK has some ugly, ugly poverty... And a rich monarchy tiding atop it all.

You should pull your head out of your ass every once in a while just to make sure you still can... :)

[anifbim]

@NolanRogers2 Yea, have you ever came across anybody in the U.K. that was interested in your eternal Salvation? Probably Not.

[aThinkingChristian]

It always amazes me that the most critical are the ones who have the most to benefit from FREE food and shelter; FREE dental and medical!! There is never a charge to these street people. If you read between the lines of the critics, you'll find that what the homeless don't like is the preaching of the Gospel, which requires them to be accountable for their own actions, and doesn't allow for fingerpointing these people have become used to living by.

God bless the PGM.

[poop121]

@aThinkingChristian

some people just aren't into having to hear religious preaching everywhere they go. not everyone is a believer. it doesn't make them bad people morally.

[aThinkingChristian]

@poop121 If they don't want to get preached at they don't have to go to a Christian mission. The PGM is #1 an organization dedicated to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then #2 meeting the needs of the hungry and destitute. All humans have sinned against a holy God and are "bad" in his sight. "There is none good," the Bible says.

[Godzie1]

@aThinkingChristian What do you mean being accountable for their own actions? Being poor is not something that anyone bargained for in the first place? You don't have the right to judge a person for what they have in the bank. You have no right to preach to these poor people because they have been through enough in their lives. God loves them & God is none too happy w/the rich. You are not there to judge. All God wants for you to do is help & give compassion.

[anifbim]

@Godzie1 How do you know what God wants? Do you have a relationship with Him?

[Godzie1]

@anifbim Yes I do & so does every human being on this planet. Even you! (We are here for a reason..all of us.)

[mrsevans1000]

rrusilowicz why did you remove your comments? I just received them in an email. You have a right to post your feelings. Please repost. This is what he posted: Yep, even if you are Jewish,Hindu , or Muslim, you must attend their three times a day services to get a "good" bed on the 2nd floor, otherwise if you miss those services and come after they hold their last service, you sleep on a mat on the floor in the day room.

[mrsevans1000]

Why did you remove rrusilowicz comments? I received them in an email and it was just as I thought. The mission discriminates against non-Christians. And that isn't something your Jesus would approve of!

[trucker65547]

there are both positive and negatives at being at PGM. As a former guest. the do provide and meal and clean bed to sleep.

but they do not provide any help for those who are trying to improve their lives no job training nor program referrals except

their program which is just missionary work. All staff members are fromer guest who were ex gang members and dealer and still have that mentality and remain not out of service but for the free room and board and the power the can yield over guest.

[mrsevans1000]

The shelter accepts no State or Federal aid cuz if it did, it would not be legal to force the "guests" to attend religious services. I wonder how Jewish, Hindu or Muslims "guests" are treated - forced to attend Christian services anyway?

[rrusilowicz]

Yep, even if you are Jewish,Hindu , or Muslim, you must attend their three times a day services to get a "good" bed on the 2nd floor, otherwise if you miss those services and come after they hold their last service, you sleep on a mat on the floor in the day room.

[TheBigBlackNewsBlog]

5:55 is the perfect example of how misguided so-called Christians are. This man just said, with a straight face, that mental illness is caused by homelessness. Really? What about the mentally ill who have never been homeless, because the are fortunate enough to have someone take care of them? What about the people who were mentally ill before they became homeless? And if god said men who don't work shouldn't eat... did that include disabled men, stay at home dads, and the mentally ill?

[mikemanners11]

These people are doing good. What they offer is better than freezing to death on the streets. I tell you what man....if I had the choice between sleeping on a sidewalk or dumpster or sleeping in a bed in Pacific Garden.....I choose the bed man

[TheBigBlackNewsBlog]

mikemanners11, the concept of the Mission is a good one, its execution leaves much room for improvement. Some of the same people the homeless are depending on at The Mission, are cruel, angry bullies. Not to mention the unspeakable violence that takes place here. It's one thing to read a book about a war, it's another thing to live through one!

[jreamer1]

Bigots make poor Christians. Doesn't apparently stop them from joining some God forsaken church and serving in the homeless shelters.

[socike]

Most Christians are not bigots. They have had their lives transformed by Jesus Christ. Most of the work with the poor across the world is done by Christians. Jesus changed my life entirely, and I have many close friends who are poor and who have been in jail many times. When you are poor and homeless, you need a strong God. He is there and he cares!

[jreamer1]

socike: I didn't say most Christians are bigots, but I'm sorry if I somehhow implied it. Real Christians, like my mom, are warm, kind, decent people. Absolutely. And the life of Jesus, whether fact or fiction, sets a great example for all of us. But I think its time we started planting some spies in the shelters to root out the very real presence of bad apples among the staff. Sorry to admit that I'm speaking from experience. Peace.

[Socikeasbury]

jcreamer. I appreciate your kind and reasonable response. We seem to agree on the specific issues. I, too, have seen people of all kinds, including Christians, who were not always the most decent caring people. Thanks for your comments.

[jreamer1]

My pleasure.

[jreamer1]

socike: I've reread my original comment, which was written in the heat of the moment, and I am prepared to retract one part of it. For what it's worth coming from an atheist, I will say the church is not God forsaken. It's done a lot of good. It kept me alive through some tough times. Something tells me, though, that it and other hierarchical institutions also deprived me of greater success in the world. I have no argument against nice individuals like you but against illegitimate power.

[teknobeatnik]

Hey they should hook up some of the thousands of good computers headed for India for recycling and dismantling and set them up in that big room and get everyone caught up with the rest of the world. I just know they would find loads of inspiration only clicks away.

[NeoFalcon69]

How can you call for the separation of church and state when the organisation is not government funded in the first place?

However I am not into religion but if they find a way of escaping the pains of reality for a moment by praying to God or who the hell is up there let them be.

[jehovahgodjesus]

hey they help many listen to their programs and then say if you can say you haven;t been changed

[Angelone1]

it could of been better but I have had worse... it was better then sleeping outside and on top of that you got to hear the word of God and I got to go to Moody

[Angelone1]

I lived their in 04 I hated it when I was off the bible progarm and it is Hell... But God is Good

[shiroukbah]

did you hate the food and shelter they gave you??

[rensey2729]

stayed there. one of my friends said " I can now say I have visited hell. Most that live there have an evil attitude. they treat people as if they are the "greater ones". What they do is a good thing, however some "converts" are on power trips. unless the place has changed, i wonder if i would ever go back again. They would not let me give out free doughnuts when I got back on my feet (loss of control), they ran me off.

[DanLee8884]

Well, u have to see through the surface of wat they are about and where they are coming from. They can "free" them from being hungry, jobless, and being homeless but WAT IF there is a life after death..heaven/hell...wat is the point if these homeless people have money when they die when they MIGHT not be "free" from eternal suffering...and they dont "force" anything when these people come...i mean they can't sit through a sermon in order to stay warm and eat?!? I am talking about ur perspectiv

[evitindy]

So what are YOU doing for the homeless, hypocrite??

stop hating and start helping.

[owleyez86]

You're making assumptions; only fools do that. :-)

[Malteco2006]

its a CHRISTIAN MISSION! What are you expecting them to do

[evitindy]

bzzz. wrong. wise people ask questions to seek understanding. which is why I repeat: to all who are hating on this place, what are YOU doing?

So easy to point the finger, people.

Not as easy to get up and act.

[oobaaloobaa]

Do You want to hear a real Homeless Man talk about being Homeless in Chicago? GOOGLE: "dave's stories" homeless

[bball11206]

Come on man how can that shelter receive no support from the Illinois state government or the US government.....come on man theyre doing great things

[DanLee8884]

I think its because of the "religious" part of it...church and state must be seperate...

[porn1978]

as much as i would LOVE to be rich,i dont think i would remain rich cause i wouldnt have the heart to live comfortable while theres people who dont even have two m&m's to eat.i never understood how a country that prints its own money dont have enough to help those in need but waste billions on war.thats cruel and evil

[Brennafugg]

well life sucks, even out the shelter. But you take your lumps and move foreward. If I were homeless, I'd take my lumps, at least SHELTERED, and move foreward. Stop finding every little reason to complain.

[amordecock]

try walking a mile in tha shoes spoiled lil white boi --- its a documentary --- they arent complaining --- dude is asking them questions --- and they are answering them honestly --- u got nnnooooooo clue suburbanite ---

[IBMeddling]

most people are only one or two paychecks from being homeless.

[TheHungarianBrick]

Fucking missionary scumbags.

[DanLee8884]

how do u get that from this video?

[TheHungarianBrick]

Listen to what the homeless man says.

[evitindy]

hater!

What are YOU doing to help the homeless???

[cook222]

This place is run by the fundalmentalist baptist CULT. The men whojoin the program are suckers. Glad I got out!!!!!!!!!!!

[evitindy]

it was bad, huh?

But not so bad that you didn't take their food and shelter, huh?

What's up w/ that?

At least have the balls to be gracious to a host.

[GettinUp]

ive heared various other stories similar...

i live in chicago and pass the shelter practiclly everyday...

Chicago and Federal Gov. definatly do not help AT ALL....

its sad to see that just walkin around my city....

[AthensAnna]

because I think PGM is already doing a fantastic job.

because I'm not the one complaining about them.

because those don't like PGM love to throw stones, but are too lazy to do something about their objections other than gripe, which is oh-so easy.

[AthensAnna]

So don't go there! Problem solved.

[AthensAnna]

Besides, any one is free to start another shelter. How about it? A challenge: How about other people, religious or not, starting another place?

[AthensAnna]

They do not. They do make you sit through the sermon while you're hungry and tired, but afterward they feed you and give you a bed. They give you doctors and dentists, too. What are you going to do if you're homeless?

[Spoken]

the war on iraq is more important than poverty

theres no money coming back if you help a homeless person but there is money coming back to are goverment when they make a arab across the world homeless or fatherless

[MySeizures]

What makes you think Americans care to know about their own poor, disabled homeless citizens are herded to jail for loitering or dying in city parks, streets and under bridges of America? WHO's asking and why? After all, aren't those "Americans" relegated to be worthless "BUMS"? Isn't everybody for himself? Besides, Who cares for a dead fish, Isn't?

[shybear53]

I have been there and it is a great and wonderful place.

[felixn24]

This Is Felix Namts your friend, writing a review on this video clip. I think you did a very good job editing this clip and taping it, it was well done. I can't wait to see the entire movie.

[ifranqui]

Poverty is a necessary evil in a capitalistic society - EVERONE can never be middle class, have a nice house, nice car, nice clothes, etc... Poverty is partly a choice & partly an uncontrolable "problem"; the "problematic" nature of poverty, (i would say) has more to do with a lack of nutrition (especially for young children in the US) than not having money - some people are self-empoverished...

[SchoolofSoul]

If poverty is, as you say, a necessary evil in a capitalistic society, then that proves that capitalism is a flawed economic system.

Poverty is NEVER "partly a choice." Saying that proves that you've never struggled with poverty yourself.

[ifranqui]

Actually I certainly have! Social mobility requires effort to achieve - I was unemployed, used drugs, and was over-weight at one time; therefore, your usumption is unfounded.

[1derer2]

the criminal justice system needs to change in such a way that those who served time are not punished a second time by having their record open to employers. at least for non-violent offenders. maybe it should become public after the second incident to give a chance to those who want to move on.

[wvchicwv]

There is poverty All Over The USA,Why not do a report on all poverty There are children that have no food to eat,Half the men shown in this video seem able body to work. Its the children we need to worry about that go to bed with hurting tummys because they have no food.

[haroldsmalley]

Many of the men you've seen may be able bodied but all the labor and rfactory jobs have been moved to foreign lands which has caused a great loss of employment for many of these men look at the shutting down of the steel mills metal is now imported from japan. Applications are a thing of the past you must have a resume. you have to realize these men are older and use to working with there hands and not there educational levels.