The homeless

[Rachael]

1. What do you think of the homeless?  Do you feel sorry for them?  Do you want to help them?  Do you think, for the most part, they got themselves into the situation, or do you think they were victims of unfortunate circumstances?  Or do you think it's split 50-50?

2. What is your opinion on federally-funded programs to help the homeless?  Does it provide a necessary "safety net" for those less fortunate, or does it simply give people an incentive not to work?

My answers:

1. I recently learned that the average age of a homeless person in my city is nine years old.  This made me realize that the stereotype of homeless people being middle-aged drunks who want a free ride is a myth.  I do feel sorry for people without homes--as pretentious as that sounds--and I'm currently looking into volunteer work I can do.  But I doubt it's out of an altruistic desire.  I'm sick of feeling useless--I've never done actual volunteer work--and I want to feel good about myself.

2. I think federally-funded programs are generally good.  I know some privately-funded ones do things like make people who stay attend church services, or say grace before eating.  It bothers me, although if they're privately funded, I don't think the right to make the rules should be taken away.  But sometimes charity work isn't enough, and even if 99 people out of 100 abuse the system, I think it should exist for that 1% that really needs it.  And I think far fewer than 99% are abusing the system.

I hope my questions and answers made sense.  This is something I've been thinking about for a while now.

[Josh - Otokonoko Inu]

a lot of the homless that are of an older age used to be military also. i do know that quite a few of them around where i worked in boston were vets. i know of one that after driving his car drunk with his family and crashing killing them while he survived he just gave up and left quite a big house and moved on the street. he still has money he just gave up everything after killing them. i think he may still be around andover ma. the small school paper did an atricle about him.

most of the time the soup kitchens that i have seen/helped in were around the boston area. they actually just gave food and would recomend nearby shelters for sleep. they didn't make much in the way of rules. they just asked that any fights would be left outside of the kitchens. so yes the ones that i have seen do work its just they always run short of volunteers to run them, and ofcourse sometimes even food to slim funding.

[scooter]

1. I recently learned that the average age of a homeless person in my city is nine years old. 

Where in Alaska do you live?  Where did you get this statistic?  The average age, according to the state, is 35.2 for Alaska and 34.4 for Anchorage.  Someone is manipulating the numbers on you, out of about 1650 homeless in Alaska about 200 are under 18, so just under 10%, so 9 cannot be the average age.  The report I got this from is a few years old, but I cannot imagine it has changed so drasticly.

[Oni]

Defending the elderly there Scooter? LOL.

[scooter]

Defending the elderly there Scooter? LOL.

haha, no, just know what I see on the streets, and I don't see a whole lot of 9 year olds out there.  I wonder if they consider foster kids 'homeless'?

[Oni]

I think they do cause they are techicaly not in a "stable" home.

[scooter]

I hate it when people manipulate statistics so the numbers show what their cause needs them to show...  It's never a lie, it's a cleverly hidden truth...

[Im1ru1]

This is a tough subject for me, because I have done a little bit of work on outreach to the homeless veteran population here in AK, through the Stand Down program.  The difficulty here in Anchorage at least is that there are EXCELLENT avenues for those who are homeless and a veteran to move themselves into a better situation, and they are being UNDER-utilized.  It is my understanding that the PRIMARY reason for Homeless Veterans to not take advantage of these services is that they require sobriety and drug-free, and many individuals who would otherwise qualify for treatment cannot maintain those standards.  I do not know how they became homeless, and I really don't think it's necessarily relevant.  What is relevant is are they working to better themselves, or are they simply continuing themselves into the spiral of homelessness and alcoholism?   

As for the idea that it's a good idea to keep the system in place even if 99% of the people who use it are abusing it, that's where this whole country gets it wrong...instead of KEEPING a system that's rife with abuse, why not create a better system that puts the available money into the hands of those who need it not those who dont?

Scooter is correct though that the average age of homeless in Anchorage is 42, this comes from the Winter 2007 Statewide survey, link is here:
http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/grants/hmls2007w.pdf

[alaskawolf]

you really dont see many homeless people in my area for some reason

[Oni]

Though I would say that there are a fair amount of homeless teens here in Anchorage. Though from what I understand about most of them. It's by choice cause they don't want to deal with responsibility of growing up. And notice I said MOST. This is just my personal observation. But most of the teen homeless issue in AK could be taken care of if the teens stoped whining about how mommy wont let them stay out past 11pm and do drugs, and go home to parents that love them and are trying to guide them in a good life.

[Im1ru1]

I did alot of thinking about this subject, after I posted my first reply, and I guess there's one other thing that I want to put in...
Not only do I think that government should make sure that there isn't abuse of the system, government has a RESPONSIBILITY, to you and to me, to do so.  Here's why:
I work 3.5 months EVERY YEAR to give the government money...that's right, at the end of the year when I figure my taxes, 3.5 months worth of my TOTAL income has gone to the government.  So this isn't the Government's money it's spending it's MINE (and yours of course too).  Add to that the fact that I didn't give this money WILLINGLY, and it helps make my point.  Government takes MY money and your money by FORCE, and spends it.  Therefore, it has a DUTY to me and to you to spend it wisely, and to spend as little of it as possible, and to return the surplus to the people.  Of course, that will never happen, because with government, surplus just means more money to waste.  Prime example is the fact that local govermnent agencies like Municipal Light and Power donate money to charities...and their excuse is that not donating that money would only decrease rates by about $0.12 a month per household...is that really a good argument?  Let me walk around town and put a gun to every person I encounter's head, and MAKE them give me 12 cents...would it matter that I'm going to take all of that money and give it to charity?
Bottom line...IT"S MY MONEY THAT GOVERNMENT WASTES...it's time we put a stop to it.

Herman

[Rachael]

Well, it was my sociology teacher who told me the average age is nine. :p I'll bring this up in class tomorrow.

It should be noted, though, that obviously you don't see very many children at intersections with cardboard signs, or sleeping in the parks.  Most of them are living in homeless shelters.  Same with the women who are the mothers of those children.  You can be homeless and still have a place to stay for the night.

Oni--do you really know if that's the case with the homeless teens?  You said "from what I understand."  Have you spoken to them?  Or is it all hearsay?  A lot of people make assumptions about those living in poverty without actually meeting them or knowing the story behind their situation.

imIru1 - While I do agree that there are some people who abuse the system, that is inevitable.  I do not think most of the homeless are trying to abuse the system.  Being homeless--hell, even being poor--carries with it a certain stigma.  Whether we realize it or not, we all make assumptions about people who are worse off than ourselves.  After all, we've made it so far.  Why shouldn't they? 

The fact of the matter is, there are many people who are struggling just to stay above the poverty line.  All it would take is an operation they cannot pay for, or the loss of a job, or another birth, and suddenly, they've fallen under.

And when it comes right down to it, even if it were the case where 99% of the people abuse the system, I would rather pay 12 cents for that 1% that desperately need it, than let that 1% die on the streets.

[Rachael]

Also, Oni, I meant to add--if you actually have met with many homeless teens and have come to that conclusion through your own experiences, then I'll shut up on that matter.

[Oni]

Also, Oni, I meant to add--if you actually have met with many homeless teens and have come to that conclusion through your own experiences, then I'll shut up on that matter.

I have spoken, and meet many homeless teens. Hence I speak from experiences of my own.

[scooter]

Scooter is correct though that the average age of homeless in Anchorage is 42, this comes from the Winter 2007 Statewide survey, link is here:
http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/iceimages/grants/hmls2007w.pdf

Dammit, I was looking for something more current and couldn't find it, I was even on AHFC's website... at least the more current one didn't turn me into a liar :-P