Re: Stuck abroad with expired passport!
- From: Sapphyre <sapphyre_66@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:23:06 -0700
On Oct 6, 2:50 am, "Alun L. Palmer" <elekt...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Around where I work there are a lot of homeless people, and I hand out
change to many of them. One of them spoke about getiing the train to NY
(from DC) and says he even made a trip to Europe recently. It made me stop
and think about whether I should be giving him money.
I generally don't... welfare benefits where I live aren't great, but
for people on assistance, there are lots of avenues of help, including
shelters, rooming houses, etc. I don't think most of the bums where I
live are making trips anywhere, considering many of them are mentally
ill. But disability pays around $930 or so per month to these people
who are too far gone mentally and socially to seek work. (Minimum wage
work is not hard to find here, if you are well-kept with good hygiene,
but for these guys... they are considered unhireable by most
employers).
Think about it, though. He pays no mortgage or rent, he's sleeping in a
shelter, and a return ticket to London is less than he would pay for a
month's rent in DC. I don't exactly imagine he stays in hotels there
either. God only knows what he says to immigration if they ask him
questions.
For one, European immigration doesn't tend to be strict in who they
admit provided the person seeking entry doesn't appear to be a vagrant
on sight, not to mention they have correct travel documents. It's
partly a matter of which country you seek entry, but let's just say
there are tons of bums in London sleeping on the streets, and being a
bum there is a much better deal than Canada (and the northern US)
because there is not as much cold, although they do get winter.
Further, there are public restrooms around central London, lots of
restaurants and tourists, and if you have any talent, you can use that
towards getting some chump change down by the river.
I know he doesn't work, but he may be getting social security and/or
disability. I don't know where he would have cheques sent, or what he would
use for an address on a passport form.- Hide quoted text -
My experience doesn't really count... but back when I was younger and
not really wanting to "live" anywhere specific, I had an apartment
storing all my belongings, and was my permanent residence even though
I sometimes spent more time away than there... Not that I expect a
homeless person to be paying for an apartment and travelling all over,
but some shelters allow homeless to receive benefits/mail there. I
know someone who works with the system in California, and he's told me
all about "Human Concerns Office" and other agencies that give help to
people who need it. One service offered is mail service. Oh, and don't
forget, you can have things delivered General Delivery in the US (or
rent a PO Box if you can afford it). In the state of Oregon, you don't
need to have a civic address to get a driver's license, just a
physical description of your abode and mailing address.
It's up to you whether or not to give money to homeless, but I find
there are so many avenues that help them, and not so many that help
the working poor, that I feel my money is better spent elsewhere.
S.
.
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