Bums and how to deal with them

I have for many years thought about the political or maybe the societal way to deal with bums. It has come more into focus for me lately since the area around where I work (when I go there) is pretty bum heavy.

1st issue: Bums are human beings. They become homeless for a variety of reasons. I do not want to concentrate on that because the way to get out of homelessness is really up to the will of the individual to do so.

So many of them are drug addicts or uncontrollable alcoholics. As a functional alcoholic (for how long?) I can find empathy in that sort of dilemma. I get that some people just cannot stop drinking when they should stop drinking.

Regardless, here is my plan if I was suddenly endowed with millions of dollars. First project would be to buy the largest building in the general area that the bums congregate around. I would then rehab that building and make living quarters. The living quarters would be very simple. They would be able to be "hosed down" for cleaning. A general toilet area with showers would be built on each floor. Women and men would be separated and "locked down" apart from eachother during sleeping hours. Obviously the females would have a smaller footprint.

There would be a deal with the government to place social workers and unemployment workers on site. Probably 1 a piece. They would not be bothered until an individual showed promise and lived by the rules of the project.

Here are the rules:
1. You will be assigned 3 jobs a week - each one taking 4 hours per day. That work will more than likely be the same sort of jobs people are assigned when they get in trouble with the law. For the 12 hours of work a week that is signed off on you will be allowed to sleep in peace and you will have access to the toiletries and so on. Food will only be food that is donated. The individual will have access to that food 2 times a day. I am thinking that my idea would have to work with other organizations to assist in that to keep costs down. If you do not work 12 hours a week as assigned you will be kicked out.
2. There will be no laws governing alcohol or drug intake unless you commit a crime while under the influence. If you work with the program for a few months, and want help to stop your addiction, you will be provided that assistance.
3.If you commit any criminal infraction - even if sober - you will be removed.
4. After midnight, all individuals must be in their own cells until 6 am. After that time they are free to move about as needed. Alcohol will be allowed in your room. If you miss a work date because of alcohol then you will be removed. If you are found by the on site nurse to be unlikely to be suffering from alcohol poisoning, you will not get a "demerit".
5. After a certain amount of demerits, you will be removed from the site. You will be allowed to attempt to come back into the program - no questions asked - after 60 days have passed. In the winter (if the area has a winter) that will be shortened to 1 week. What is considered a winter will vary from area to area.

ANyway, these are my initial thoughts - maybe not the best - but I really think this is an issue that can be solved for some individuals. Say if you help 1 out of 10 out of that situation - you only end up helping society as a whole.


Mods move to another area if needed please.

Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

After midnight their in cells? Pretty tough rehab. Lol. At least ur thinking anyway

Pretty close to being called “prison”
Except you can get hammered if you so choose.

originally posted by: CX
Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

Good for YOU! what should they be called? I think all bums realize they are bums. Have you ever talked to one? I doubt it. You are not being realistic thinking a "name" would ever hurt someone in that situation.

They stand around all day trapped in their minds. Even a friendly "hello" from a stranger might lighten their day.

I am so tired of this importance of naming.

Its like you are all children that can't stand mommy and daddies judgement.

Please add something valuable to this conversation.

originally posted by: RazorV66
Pretty close to being called “prison”
Except you can get hammered if you so choose.

So should they have more posh homes? Is society going to pay for this? No, it isn't. It never has and never will.

originally posted by: CX
Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

There's a huge difference between homeless people and bums.

A bum wants to be homeless.

originally posted by: RazorV66
Pretty close to being called “prison”
Except you can get hammered if you so choose.

Also, getting hammered is the real problem. They WANT to be hammered, to forget, to lose their worries. Let them do so if they are civil and are willing to work for 12 hours a week that is not much to ask. And in the end, it will eventually help a few of them as they pick up skills and confidence.

Plus I realize that some will be doing the min to keep what they get.

But that is better than them freezing to death or starving to death.

originally posted by: projectvxn

originally posted by: CX
Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

There's a huge difference between homeless people and bums.

A bum wants to be homeless.

I disagree. What is the difference to you?

originally posted by: CX
Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

Actually bum is the correct word. Dictionary wise.


That being said it's a plan that would not work.
Most of these people are either addicts or have mental illness that wouldn't allow them to follow these rules.

originally posted by: Fools

So many of them are drug addicts or uncontrollable alcoholics. As a functional alcoholic (for how long?) I can find empathy in that sort of dilemma.

lol, 'functioning alcoholic'... I guess I'm probably one of those as well.

But really, it's just a clever little phase for a full blown addict that caught a few lucky breaks.

See, I do my 8 hours a day and even own a home, but truth is, somewhere down the line I got lucky... I'm under no delusion that I'm somehow superior to the toothless meth head begging for change outside the bottle shop.

Truth be told, every single one of us are vulnerable catching a bad run in life and ending up at rock bottom.

There's no easy solution either, or any set of rules that could solve the problem... Some people get lucky and can thrive though life, or atleast just hold it together... others just cope a really bad hand and a doomed to fail.

Such is life.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa

originally posted by: Fools

So many of them are drug addicts or uncontrollable alcoholics. As a functional alcoholic (for how long?) I can find empathy in that sort of dilemma.

lol, 'functioning alcoholic'... I guess I'm probably one of those as well.

But really, it's just a clever little phase for a full blown addict that caught a few lucky breaks.

See, I do my 8 hours a day and even own a home, but truth is, somewhere down the line I got lucky... I'm under no delusion that I'm somehow superior to the toothless meth head begging for change outside the bottle shop.

Truth be told, every single one of us are vulnerable catching a bad run in life and ending up at rock bottom.

There's no easy solution either, or any set of rules that could solve the problem... Some people get lucky and can thrive though life, or atleast just hold it together... others just cope a really bad hand and a doomed to fail.

Such is life.

"But really, it's just a clever little phase for a full blown addict that caught a few lucky breaks."

At my age and observing all that I have, I have to disagree. I have seen people with every break possible falter and destroy themselves (and sometimes their families as well). My idea is that if you give certain people baby steps to understand that work is the way to being responsible then if they take that step they might start understanding how things actually work.

I had no lucky breaks. My family was always of the opinion that I needed to pull myself up out of any miasma that I had dragged myself into. On the other hand, once I did start being responsible they did help me in little ways here and there. That might sound cruel, but now that I can look back at it all - it makes total sense. The lack of altruism is what made me realize that I needed to get ahead myself and not rely on anyone else.

However a bum is a different story, everyone they knew has given up on them. Maybe after a year or so of not freezing at night and not starving, through their own effort, they might start to see the light that work is a sort of freedom.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

I wish I didn't agree with you.

There but for the grace of God go I. I had lost hope and was prepared to die a drunk but got that lucky break you mentioned.

An interesting thought experiment:

Take your average bum. Now go back in time to before your own birth, before you were conceived, and make a few adjustments.

Instead of being born with your own DNA, you are now born with the exact same DNA as our prototypical bum. You are born to his parents, and you experience the same upbringing and all the same early experiences that he did.

Now fast forward to the present. Beginning your life with those initial conditions, how different would your life be?

Admirable to try and find a solution, but there wouldn't be many takers I think..especially in spring/summer.

I kinda like a version of this idea with a little mix of escape from NY. Let's just tear down the bridges leading to SF and then just wall off the rest of the peninsula. Then run drones and stream bumb fights!
Concept brought to you by 4 beers, 3 jack and cokes.

a reply to: Fools

Well: cheers to you for thinking about how to help others.

A couple of well-known missions, and food-kitchens around here, run on food donations and volunteer work alone.

originally posted by: CX
Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

Yeah my first thought also....

originally posted by: BiffWellington
An interesting thought experiment:

Take your average bum. Now go back in time to before your own birth, before you were conceived, and make a few adjustments.

Instead of being born with your own DNA, you are now born with the exact same DNA as our prototypical bum. You are born to his parents, and you experience the same upbringing and all the same early experiences that he did.

Now fast forward to the present. Beginning your life with those initial conditions, how different would your life be?

Agree that it could be me on those streets.
Have felt that quite a few times.

Just for fun: how do you juxtapose the concept of: 'Thought-Exercise', and the idea from the video that none of our thoughts are our own?
(PS: not looking for an argument, but friendly discussion. Thanks.)
(PPS: remember to include an on-topic comment, within your reply.)

originally posted by: Fools

originally posted by: projectvxn

originally posted by: CX
Not calling them "bums" would be a good start.

CX.

There's a huge difference between homeless people and bums.

A bum wants to be homeless.

I disagree. What is the difference to you?

I just explained that difference in the post you're quoting