Re: Globalization

On Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:40:19 -0700, Islander <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On 9/2/2011 3:28 PM, Rita wrote:
On Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:42:10 -0700, Islander<nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On 9/2/2011 1:05 PM, Rita wrote:
A monetary contribution would be best made to a shelter or a soup
kitchen that feeds the homeless. We have many homeless, both men
and women who frequent the beach area I live in. Often they ride
a bike with a trailer attached and scavenge our dumpsters. The city
finally is providing beds and a plan for those who wish to take
advantage of it to get into some manner of permanent housing and
a job. A while ago someone panhandled me asking for money
to put gas in his car. I rode on my on my trike. Some will always
prefer to "live free." The clement weather helps them maintain
their lifestyle.

I tend to agree that we should not reward bad behavior and understand
that it is easy for people to be attracted to regions that have nice
weather. Better than sleeping on the grates in DC!

Still, I think that it is important to make sure that we each
individually do something to assure that we help those who are not able,
for whatever reason, to help themselves. It is good to support the
groups that care for the homeless, not just with dollars (that is too
easy) but with our volunteer hours. It is too easy to ignore those less
fortunate if they are out-of-sight.

I wonder how many of those on the political right who post here actually
volunteer?

NYC had a large homeless population and I volunteered to visit the
city's women shelters and monitor conditions there and report back
to the Coalition for the Homeless which had been entrusted with
doing just that by a state court. The population of the women's
shelters was varied -- young women out of prison on parole mixed
with mentally ill women who were very sad to see wandering about
aimlessly. The weak there often were victims of the criminal element
they shared the shelters with. Employees of one women's shelter
were found to sell food supplies on the black market. I was far
less than impressed by the management the city hired to run the
shelters -- some privately run shelters were far better places but
not nearly enough of them.

Those who exploit the less fortunate are the dregs of humanity. No
excuse for that! I hope that your report back to the Coalition was
scathing!

We shelter monitors did indeed report back and I attended a meeting
or two with city officials in charge of the shelters. They really had
deaf ears I am sorry to say. It is hard to summon up public concern
for the homeless whom most citizens just find annoying. We
sponored a day of outrage outside the worst women's shelter.
I think the shelters have improved over the years -- there have
been day care programs which if homeless people attend and
have counseling and planning offer them a room of their own
and help them find some kind of employment. The Unitarian
church I attended ran a small shelter project 6 nites a week
for homeless men over age 50. We could handle 10 to 12
at a time, they were bused there in the evening, given a
hot meal and breakfast in the morning when they were
returned to the project that sponsored them with a schedule
of things to do. We operated with two volunteers and no
security and never had a bad incident. Other churches
had similar projects. The incentive to eventually receive a
room of their own where they could share a communal
kitchen was quite a powerful one for the over 50 homeless
who often were hassled by younger guys. I was in charge
of getting church members to staff the shelter and it was
like pulling teeth -- hours on the phone but somehow we
did manage to find them Some people talk a good game
but are reluctant to give time even a night a month
sleeping over.



.

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  • Re: Globalization
    ... kitchen that feeds the homeless. ... groups that care for the homeless, not just with dollars (that is too ... city's women shelters and monitor conditions there and report back ... I agree that it is difficult to find volunteers. ...
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  • Re: Globalization
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    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Helping
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