The Homeless

Just wanted to remind folks again that the homeless person you see dumpster diving, sleeping in a doorway, asking for change is a real person with families who love them some don't know their where abouts but can do nothing to help even if they did.

These people are sick, just as sick as someone with cancer or other honest to god physical impairments.
Drug addicts, alcoholics, perhaps but the underlaying cause is still as real as a broken bone.
These people numb themselves to quiet the voices the visual torments that play over and over leaving no room in the mind for much else.

I hand them what I can, once theirs they can do what they want with it. I do not say, "they'll just buy booze rather then food" maybe they need it more then food. Who are we to judge if we've never been there.

Some have been through some horrific experience, like loosing their whole family in one clean sweep. Some are veterans of war who saw and did things they can't live with so their mind shuts off.

Whatever their reason, be kind, be tolerant, be generous. I plan to,
I have a son some where and pray to God people are kind, tolerant and generous to him.

Dear God protect my son.

 

I know its none of my business and of course its your choice if you want to keep it that way, but why is your son homeless? How could you possibly not know where your son is?

 

My son was in the army, then he married and raised a family. He was a good provider, worked many years in the automotive repair, would not even draw unemployment when he was out of work, it was never any length of time anyway he was certified in everything related to auto repair.
We didn't live in the same area, I have no idea if it was a slow decline or a sudden break as his wife claims.
When Ronald Reagen was governor of California he emptied all the mental intuitions and sent ill people out on the streets to suddenly fend for them selves. Human rights they refereed to it as. They have the right to live as they want.
So now days there is hardly anyplace to help these people. Rather then a mental facility when they're acting strange they are put in jail, branded as criminals. Trespassing is the main action used against them.

My son is a man, he'll be 50 in 2009, I had him when I had just turned 15. I have no rights, he has no rights. He even thinks he is someone else and I am not his mother.

 

im really sorry i asked darlene. thats definitely something i know nothing about. cant even imagine. i hope he is safe wherever he is.

 

That's fine, I prefer to tell his story for people to understand these people who are looked down on were once productive citizens.
I imagine with the recession there are going to be more and more homeless people/ families. So sad.

We should all do what we can, never know who's next.

 

Some people, for whatever reason, just don't feel comfortable giving money. I gotcha too and it's okay. No-one is judging you for this either. Maybe you experienced growing up within a home with abusive drugs/alcohol problems and just cannot bear to think of your money being spent in that way. There are many other ways you can help a homeless person. Go to the drive thru' - grab them the largest burger, fries and soda you can. It is a really humbling experience and it shows that person that people care and love them, even if they don't know them personally. Can't afford it? Go without YOUR lunch that day - they've done so plenty of times before

 

That's fine too, not all homeless are addicts or alcoholics, there are many women and children, they're just not as visible.

They have been beaten set on fire verbally abused.

There is a woman missing here right now. Her family is worried about her, putting up posters, on the news. She was last seen going through a dumpster.
Another man was on the news complaining about being arrested for dumpster diving, saying it is his only source of income.

People do what they have to to survive.

 

And even though you said that, your're.... 25
sorry to hear about this. i wish i could help you out somehow...

 

Thanks Z

 

Youre welcomee

 

Wonderful thought (as usual) from you, Darlene.

Awareness is pretty good here, with many organisations and volunteers going into "overdrive" to ensure the homeless are considered during this season.

Vinnies (ie St Vincent de Paul Society, to mention just one organisation here besides the Salvos), is busier than ever with lots happening...fun times commonly had for all too, and often volunteers include their families who become extended members to the homeless.

The hardcore alcoholics who normally are too proud to accept much less ask for help on the streets even mellow during this season and welcome volunteers around their "camp site" in the parks of an evening and enjoy the sandwiches and hot coffee/tea with a chat.

Best wishes of the Season to you Darlene and yours...and to others at MG.

Cheers

LS

 

The very Best Holiday Wishes to you LS and thank you.
That sounds very nice and bless those volunteers.
May I say if I have not, my son is not a drug addict or an alcoholic, he just became sick some how. I doubt if we will ever know the reason, I'm quite sure he will not have a brain scan since he thinks he's fine.
No one who isn't connected to one who is ill knows what happened to them.
I have heard of people loosing their whole family in one swoop and simply shut down, no reason to go on.

St Vincent de Paul Society are all over. Don't know about here in Armpit but seen them in other towns I've lived.