Homeless

[Dobick]

The cold front blew in early and I froze my butt off walking from class to my car. As I was driving away I passed an empty commercial bldg where some homeless people had taken up shelter.

Normally I can be a judgmental prick and think that folks should seek out help if they need it but...

In this case with the weather forecast to get close to zero for three nights in a row this is no time for judgement. This seems it could be a life and death situation.

Does any one know how to ensure that protective shelter is available and is there some sort of official county/city response and what org is available to help in times like this.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Local Red Cross

[hue-e]

homeless people know here to find shelter, and resources to stay warm. I recommend finding a place to drop off blankets, coats, hats, gloves, money, etc... that's probably the best way to help out.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

If small town maybe try the local churches.
If actually known to be trespassing you can call the police and they will at least have a warm place to stay the night.

[Dobick]

I should correct my original post to say that they were on the outside of the empty commercial bldg, meaning near the entrance and under the entrance stairs.

I expect that most know where to find shelter, but kinda fear for those few that do not... or for those few that may not know how severe the forecast is.

I have thought very seriously about calling the police to hopefully arrest them or give them transportation to shelter.

Mainly I am worried about someone dieing when I could have done something that would have prevented it.

[Some Idiot]

We had several homeless people die here when the temperature dropped to below freezing, So a new "charity" I guess you can call it was started... local businesses and churches open there doors to the homeless if the temperature falls below a certain º , maybe you have the same thing in your area? Check with churches for sure

[brewercm]

Unfortunately many of these people will not give up the drugs they have in order to go into a warm place to stay which is many times the only requirement. I feel sorry for them and know that it doesn't make it right, just wish they'd be willing to kick the habit just long enough to survive the weather that will soon go away.

[texxter]

Originally Posted by brewercm

Unfortunately many of these people will not give up the drugs they have in order to go into a warm place to stay which is many times the only requirement. I feel sorry for them and know that it doesn't make it right, just wish they'd be willing to kick the habit just long enough to survive the weather that will soon go away.

Homeless does not mean drug addict. The San Antonio Mayor's Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness reported that 49% were families with children, 13% single women, 10% children without family and 28% single men. 37% of the homeless population in San Antonio are children. Only 20% of the San Antonio homeless population are substance abusers.

Even as agencies in San Antonio continue to add shelters, 28% of those surveyed by a 2003 census indicated that they had been turned away from a shelter because the shelter was full.

These numbers are not recent, but I don't believe they are that far off.

It's bad enough for a person to have the misfortune to be without a home; it's worse when the general population think of them as being drug addicts unwilling to stop to get into a shelter. I don't think this characterization is fair.

[z-monster]

Originally Posted by texxter

Homeless does not mean drug addict.

Bravo...bravo!

[danchez]

Originally Posted by michaelbird

the term "amaruk" being the inuktitut (language of the inuit people) word for wolf, it is no surprise that amaruk airplanes display the picture of a wolf on their tail.

spammer!!!!!!

[Hanky]

Show them mercy.

[brewercm]

That wasn't my intent, and as I stated "many" and 20 percent would qualify as many. Not a characterization just fact about what happens with a certain population of the homeless.

Regardgless I wish there were places where we could get them all off the streets and functioning in society all the time not just thought about when the weather gets to this point. During these conditions there are places that weren't previously open to the homeless that try to get them in and off the streets. I just wish this effort was put forth all the time and not just during a natural event like freezing, huricanes, flooding, name your disaster.

Sorry if it sounded like I was making a general characterization.

Show them mercy.

BTW, I did this once and almost lost damn near everything I had for it. So until you are willing to walk the walk, talk is cheap.