The plight of homeless in a rich country like the USA

[MenInG]

For all the wealth and razzmatazz of what America offers to itself and the world, I am shocked to see the number of homeless people walking around the streets in San Francisco.

Its almost like an epidemic - they are everywhere and it seems that they are just accepted as normal part of the city's existence.

I find that shocking. Even London for all its problems, doesnt seem to have so many homeless walking around - what is the reason for this?

 

[troodon]

Most are druggies or they simply do not want to work under anyone.

I see everywhere on fast food chains doors that they need new hires to help them out. Yet none of these homeless go there to apply for jobs. I feel that homeless prefer to beg at the signals rather than work in a hot kitchen for 8 hours. Some may be genuine cases of neglect at old age.

 

[Birdman]

The kind of homeless people you are talking about are druggies or mentally unstable. In US government cannot force anyone to get mental health. There are counties in US where panhandling and giving money to panhandlers is prohibited, but those laws are hardly enforced.

There are lot of social assistance, both govt and private non profit organisations to help these homeless people, but they refuse help and choose to live this way.

The kind of homelessness that need to be addressed is the one where working class people who are made homeless due to not being able to pay their mortgage or rent due to various reason, like illness to them or family members or don't have means to get to work etc. They are the homeless that really suffer.

The homeless who are pushing shopping cart and panhandling on the street are doing that because they chose to.

 

[CricketDon]

They are drug addicts and don’t want to work. Socialism does not work. SF is a rich and prosperous city. Hence why there will be laid sod homeless looking to get easy money from generous people. Bums.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Its due to the social problems. People dont choose to homeless but are caught up in a circle of misery.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Perfect responses in this thread.

Couldn't agree more.

Some of those homeless bums should be sent to India and they will beg for mercy.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Its due to the social problems. People dont choose to homeless but are caught up in a circle of misery.

Some do.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Some do.

Why do they?

 

[Slog]

California and the liberal states in general have homelessness more than the conservative states and the colder states

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Why do they?

Easier to be homeless and not have responsibilities when others are liberal with their donations.

Some people are wired differently.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

^I mean they don't choose to be homeless as opposed to having a home. That's obvious.

But when they become homeless, they would rather stay where they are than make efforts to change their situation.

 

[KingKhanWC]

^I mean they don't choose to be homeless as opposed to having a home. That's obvious.

But when they become homeless, they would rather stay where they are than make efforts to change their situation.

Have you been homeless or have you spoken to many homeless people?

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Have you been homeless or have you spoken to many homeless people?

Heard lots of stories.

I remember an instance when Indian govt gave beggars a temporary job of laying tar roads.

They quit their jobs and returned to begging cos they didn't want to work.

 

[msaaim89]

Heard lots of stories.

I remember an instance when Indian govt gave beggars a temporary job of laying tar roads.

They quit their jobs and returned to begging cos they didn't want to work.

That's actually quite sad because it only makes it more difficult to identify those who generally require help.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Heard lots of stories.

I remember an instance when Indian govt gave beggars a temporary job of laying tar roads.

They quit their jobs and returned to begging cos they didn't want to work.

Ive spoke to a few in the UK, some were drug addicts and others just lost hope in life. Its a miserable life for them, not something they want but there isn't enough help from governments to tackle this.

 

[Pakistanian]

California and the liberal states in general have homelessness more than the conservative states and the colder states

Then you should visit downtown Houston and Dallas, lots of homelessness.

There's a lot of poverty in the rural areas of the deep south like Alabama and Mississippi

 

[Pakistanian]

There isn't a lot of compassion for the poor in America.

White/whitewashed conservatives look down on the poor as lazy.

 

[JaDed]

Then you should visit downtown Houston and Dallas, lots of homelessness.

There's a lot of poverty in the rural areas of the deep south like Alabama and Mississippi

Where in Dallas? I saw much more homeless people in Chicago (sleeping in transit) than Dallas.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Then you should visit downtown Houston and Dallas, lots of homelessness.

There's a lot of poverty in the rural areas of the deep south like Alabama and Mississippi

Why? Isn't the US the richest country in the world, they have billiions to spend on social issues.

 

[JaDed]

US spends a lot on Social issues but the country has a huge population and lets not forget they selectively killed the smartest blacks during slavery era which has created a not so great gene pool , plus violent racism and segregation was still there till 60s, its only gotten better now.

 

[KingKhanWC]

US spends a lot on Social issues but the country has a huge population and lets not forget they selectively killed the smartest blacks during slavery era which has created a not so great gene pool , plus violent racism and segregation was still there till 60s, its only gotten better now.

This is just racist. You are suggesting black people are violent because it's part of their gentic make up. Why are white people homeless and violent in the US?

 

[Pakistanian]

Why? Isn't the US the richest country in the world, they have billiions to spend on social issues.

Cause they think that helping the poor is "socialism", white conservatives would rather "donate" money cause it makes them look good, it helps their image and ego.

 

[Pakistanian]

White people introduced disease and alcoholism to the native Indians, alcoholism is one of the biggest vices plaguing Indian reservations in America and Canada. White people did the same in Australia with Aboriginals. They know alcohol is the one social vice that poison an entire community for generations.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Cause they think that helping the poor is "socialism", white conservatives would rather "donate" money cause it makes them look good, it helps their image and ego.

Sad when you have the money but wont help.

Btw who is this Candace Owens? She feels blacks who are suffering in poverty etc only have themselves to blame. I thought Sajid Javid was the biggest coconut but this woman takes the biscuit.

 

[Pakistanian]

Sad when you have the money but wont help.

Btw who is this Candace Owens? She feels blacks who are suffering in poverty etc only have themselves to blame. I thought Sajid Javid was the biggest coconut but this woman takes the biscuit.

The white establishment always finds token minorities to push their agenda, you'll find self-haters in every community and they take advantage of that.

 

[sweep_shot]

USA has a population of around 320-million. It is difficult to deal with homelessness when you have such a high population. USA also has quite a high debt.

Canada only has a population of around 36-million and our homelessness is not as bad as America's.

Bigger population will always result in higher homelessness in my opinion.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Florida city blasts Baby Shark song to drive homeless away from waterfront <a href="https://t.co/0bB7MdhiCy">https://t.co/0bB7MdhiCy</a></p>— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1151905062693871616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Pakistanian]

In a lot of countries the homeless are looked down, in urban planning they design objects in such a way to prevent homeless people from using them. Public benches are a good example.

Here's one from the UK

 

[Slog]

Then you should visit downtown Houston and Dallas, lots of homelessness.

There's a lot of poverty in the rural areas of the deep south like Alabama and Mississippi

I’m in Houston right now. Homeless here are a bit more aggressive and in your face than NYC. Also Texas is warm so there’s more homelessness here

 

[Pakistanian]

Another major cause for homelessness in north america is gentrification.
Gentrification is when rich/upper class people from the suburbs (mostly white) start buying up property in lower income neighborhoods remodeling them and opening expensive restaurants and cafes pricing out the locals who were there for the decades, this mostly affects immigrants and African-Americans.

The rich White gentrifiers have the same affect on property prices that the Chinese have in north America yet very few people complain about them.

 

[sweep_shot]

Another major cause for homelessness in north america is gentrification.
Gentrification is when rich/upper class people from the suburbs (mostly white) start buying up property in lower income neighborhoods remodeling them and opening expensive restaurants and cafes pricing out the locals who were there for the decades, this mostly affects immigrants and African-Americans.

The rich White gentrifiers have the same affect on property prices that the Chinese have in north America yet very few people complain about them.

We have this problem here in Canada. Chinese folks come here and buy properties. It raises real estate prices. Because of these Chinese investors, many people can't afford to buy houses in Toronto.

There should be laws in place against gentrification. It harms local population.

 

[Pakistanian]

We have this problem here in Canada. Chinese folks come here and buy properties. It raises real estate prices. Because of these Chinese investors, many people can't afford to buy houses in Toronto.

There should be laws in place against gentrification. It harms local population.

Uh...you misunderstood what I wrote.

I'm saying in America, White people gentrifying lower income neighborhoods (mostly ethnic or black) are pricing out the locals and pushing them onto the streets. This is a different issue from the Chinese one, which isn't even much of a threat here in America.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Ive spoke to a few in the UK, some were drug addicts and others just lost hope in life. Its a miserable life for them, not something they want but there isn't enough help from governments to tackle this.

Heart truly goes out to genuine cases wherever they may be.

In India, watching young/old/disabled beggars is so heartbreaking.

I help as much as I can but we need a real solution.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

That's actually quite sad because it only makes it more difficult to identify those who generally require help.

Indeed.

I don't know the stats as to how widespread laziness (among able bodied members) is.

But in third world countries, begging is just a brutal way of living life.

We need a proper solution.

 

[MenInG]

So last night was speaking to one of owners of a Pak eatery and asked him why all shops etc close around 10pm in SF and he told me that the homeless guys are nuisance and danger to the shops.

As we walked back to our car after our meal - I understood what he meant - we were literally chased down by these very dangerous characters and at one point had to confront one to back off

Incredible.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Heart truly goes out to genuine cases wherever they may be.

In India, watching young/old/disabled beggars is so heartbreaking.

I help as much as I can but we need a real solution.

In India begging has become a huge business. Giving money to small kids should be avoided otherwise they will be encouraged to do it again. Offering them food or cloth is better because it is of no use to their gang leaders.