What if you gave every homeless person...

training, a temporary home and a job? What would happen?

Ok, I was waiting in the financial aide office today talking with a friend of mine. Somehow the conversation drifted to homelessness. We were just thinking of ways to help the homeless. I figured I'd post and see what you guys think:

We were thinking that if there were programs that provides training (basic math, english, computer skills, etc) and life skills (cooking, money saving and management, etc) It may even work with companies and provide some type of benefit to employers that hire people from the program. Will a program like this work? Will people even use it?

In my old neighborhood I counted 3 large abandoned apartment buildings. Together I'd say there could house maybe 100-200 people - assuming people doubled up to maybe 2-4 in one apartment. What if they were converted to a low/no -rent shelter for the homeless. It could be rented out for only a few months time - enough time to save up and establish a full time job and maybe a savings account. You had to show proof of a job every so often to keep the space or show that you are attending job training and searching for a job. What about this, would it work?


We were both sure that similar programs exist. But it doesn't seem that people are taking advantage of them. I know as I'm driving through downtown DC and even around my own neighborhood, I'll see several homeless begging with signs. A few years ago, I knew a particular store was about to open and was hiring as much help as they could. I pointed this out to one man I saw with a sign and he cursed me out for not giving him change! To make it's worst, I've had homeless people turn there noses up at extra cheeseburgers and I bought espiecally for them. I just figured they were just whinos. Of course, every homeless person you see on the street will not fall in that small catergory.

So, sometimes I wonder if this thinking is just wasted? If these programs exist (or are in the planning) will the homeless even take advantage of it?

[edit on 22-8-2005 by Shaione]

Originally posted by Shaione
training, a temporary home and a job? What would happen?

I don't know about everywhere but 90% of the homeless around here have SEVERE mental problems, Bi-Polar, Schizophrenic, etc.

I have a cousin that lives in the park and refuses treatment under any circumstances. You can no longer force a person to be hospitalized for more than a matter of days.

Reagan opened the floodgates and we are dealing with the flood today.

[edit on 22-8-2005 by Amuk]

Assuming the person is not "seriously mentally ill" as noted above and the person is motivated, a little help can go a long way. The key is you need to be willing to help yourself before anyone else can help you.

Hopefully the homeless will take advantage. But, most homeless people are mentally ill, so they might not respond the way normal people would to an oppurtunity like that

Some homeless might be well-educated and mentally sound. It's a matter of circumstance--they got laid off because of outsourcing and can't find anything.

It's hard to help someone find a job when a) they're being outsourced and b) illegal aliens are snapping up what's left, and for a discount. :bash:

A better thread would've been " What if everyone gave Lysergic one dollar, and maybe some spajetti" that would've been grand, however this is not the case.



Due to not be able to trust random strangers, let alone ones living on the streets, it'd never happen, sorry just how society is and will be.


isn't there like Hunter-Killer bums or something? Ones that go around systematically killing other bums?


who knows, I liked my dollar idea.