The other day I was in the 24 hr access foyer of my bank where the auto-tellers are and there was a rough looking kid in his twenties lying asleep off to one side. This isn't a town where this is a common sight but homelessness and it's accompanying tribulations have been on the rise these past few years.

The bank itself was closed otherwise I expect he wouldn't have been there. I could hear him slowly and rhythmically breathe but he didn't stir so I continued with my banking. I was far up the block when I thought to myself I should have left something for him. A ten or twenty would have been ok...or would it? I didn't want to wake the guy for several reasons and I didn't want to just leave a bill next to him. Bothered me that I didn't have a satisfactory answer to what I could do. Was substance abuse a factor in his life? I thought after about getting a prepaid lunch card of some sort and leaving it tucked under him somehow but I didn't.

I think maybe I should keep a couple of prepaids in my wallet. That event bothered me and still does. Christ for all I know he was od-ing or really sick. I didn't want to rouse him in case he was unreasonable. Right? I don't know. Not used to seeing this. Small city 40,000 pop.

[mote.of.soul]

That prepaid lunch card is a very good idea, mar dhea. I think you did well under the circumstances. There is danger in towns and cities but also just plane misfortune. It's a funny place for a person to shelter but I have a feeling he was maybe inebriated and/or waiting for money to be directed into his bank account, that's why he was there.

No, you did fine. There are people out there, anywhere, who might not be so considerate of a down and out stranger. 'There but for the grace of God go I.'🙏

Many more homeless everywhere from what I read. No easy fixes and the health and welfare systems everywhere are pretty stretched. Very sobering when I realize that whole families are in this situation. I'm told our town has taken to housing homeless families in motels and such. I heard something about that a while ago but didn't really understand what it was all about. Someone else told me a homeless woman suffered serious burns from a lamp fire in a tent behind one of the factories here.

Are we doing enough? What are the long term plans? Grassroots rumblings exist I'm sure but definitive action [it seems] is rare even in better times. I'm talking here about the problem in bigger cities over the years. Seems everyone acknowledges the problem but the practical answers are scarce. I realize it's not easy but it's pretty bad seeing people marginalized like this.

The problem is money I suppose. Times are tough all over. For government coffers as well. No easy solutions. The current state of the economy world wide is poor. It will take time before definitive effective action is possible. In the meantime small programs will have to do what they can. For many it'll continue to be rough for some time. Pardon the note. Just thinking out loud. Still a bit shocked after reading up on the local situation.

[splitimage]

I think your idea of a prepaid card is good.

I live in a "bad" part of my city, lots of drug addiction, prostitution and homeless as we have several large shelters in my neighbourhood, so what you describe is an everyday occurrence around here.

The cost of housing is impossible; even bachelor apartments are over 1000, and provincial disability payments are max 1200.. And so many jobs are low wage that housing insecurity is a real issue, I fell extremely lucky to have got into a subsidized boarding house that's run by a Catholic charity. dd Otherwise I don't know where I'd be.

Originally Posted by splitimage

I think your idea of a prepaid card is good.

I live in a "bad" part of my city, lots of drug addiction, prostitution and homeless as we have several large shelters in my neighbourhood, so what you describe is an everyday occurrence around here.

The cost of housing is impossible; even bachelor apartments are over 1000, and provincial disability payments are max 1200.. And so many jobs are low wage that housing insecurity is a real issue, I fell extremely lucky to have got into a subsidized boarding house that's run by a Catholic charity. dd Otherwise I don't know where I'd be.

The more I hear about the growing state of things and realize that there are no easy solutions the more I want to suggest that government re-prioritize their budgets. Not that money alone will fix much. The state of things in the homeless sector is undeniably worsening. If plans don't start seriously addressing longer term fixes, the problem will just grow and even the money needed to keep various stop-gap measures alive will begin drying up.

The next 20 years [at least] in North America are very likely going to be difficult because of the growing political upheaval. If the US DOES collapse into strife the resulting economic fallout will be felt by all who trade and do business with her. It can easily evolve into a hell of a mess with repercussions felt world-wide. Not a good scenario for anyone. Countries with no qualms about abusing business ethics or much concern about human rights will gladly step in and begin business where America no longer has the strength, capability or influence. To the detriment of many, China and Russia will slowly begin replacing the US as one of the dominant world powers.

Ok. ok...I'm getting a little off the tracks by looking at a possible bigger picture but the thing is it's all pretty connected. A stable home economy gives us the money to better help people and infrastructure. I fear for the future and those who already have little heading into it. The homeless, chronically impoverished and sick are at the very bottom of society. Sorry. I'll clue it up here. Tough to contemplate is all. Thanks for your insight. Glad to hear your own situation is good. I'm subsidized as well and consider myself fortunate for that. Take care

[nonightowl]

I agree, Mar Dhea. The US has a poor safety net and is stretched even thinner now. The poor even live in hotter places, as poor neighborhoods have less shade in general and they can't afford a/c.

My thought is that both the government and private sector (with the deep pockets of companies like Amazon, whom I hate) have to team up and address not only a solution to the current homeless, BUT PREVENTION. They are completely turning a blind eye to stuff like rent increases, low wages, weak protections for tenants, not enough "affordable" housing (that word is different to different people, depending on who you ask).

I saw a sign on a post saying the US, like the mighty Roman empire, needs to fall and rebuild: The whole capitalistic system and unequal distribution of wealth. And the government seems to see the homeless as either drug addicts or mentally ill. It's not that simple! In this country, anybody can become homeless. What if someone loses their job, doesn't qualify for any kind of help (or the wait list is 8 years long), and has no family or friends to give a $hit???? We have income restrictions, age restrictions, etc. for any kind of "help". And they demand so much proof, assuming you're a fraud and trying to scam the system. The poor are assumed to be either stupid or dishonest.

I'm off on my rant, as I just feel so strongly about it like you do. That was kind of you to think of helping him, but also at the same time of your safety. He could have been dangerous, but not all homeless are dangerous. There are housed, dangerous people too......

If EVERYBODY earned enough to feed, clothe, house themselves and had medical coverage too, there would be no need for government benefits...which are hard to qualify for and cumbersome to apply to. And the mindset of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" here HAS to go. In the US, if $hit happens, it's your fault. You made poor choices or judgments. Individual responsibility on everything. How often do you hear "What YOU can do". If your house burns down, it's your fault. If you get mugged, your fault. If you end up homeless, it's your fault. There are even people who work full-time that are homeless. A disgrace! Anyone working full-time should definitely be housed.

Like you I fear for this country, for years now. Like SplitImage I see homeless everywhere. They aren't just in camps that get the media attention.

I can run into someone in random places, like you did. More and more so-called "housing" is going up around me, but they are luxury high rises that only the rich can afford. Often there are tents in front of this new construction or across the street. It's ironic, as if to make a statement.

It doesn't help that we criminalized homelessness for decades, and since it has been around that long, fixing it will be an uphill battle.

The US is no longer the dominant or SuperPower it was. Honestly it's embarrassing to be in this country now. Our allies and enemies are watching the decline as well. In my opinion, the decline started many years ago, and I wonder if we'd exist for another 20 years.

In sci-fi or dystopia, it's ALWAYS the US that falls. Not Russia, China, Canada, Sweden, Italy, Brazil, etc. (Just random countries I picked) I feel strongly about this so can't help my rants. I'll stop now.

I just have to thank you for your that and I think we're on the same page. I'll post a thought or two later.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by mar dhea

I just have to thank you for your that and I think we're on the same page. I'll post a thought or two later.

I so rarely get heard or validated on my theories.

[lizardlady]

Mar deha, I like your idea of food cards.

I'm not going to touch the topic of homelessness in this country for fear I will wander into politics and violate community rules. Okay, going to briefly discuss it. Plans were approved last year to build low cost housing nearby. The area desperately needs it. As far as I know nothing has been done since the approval. Meanwhile, a couple of miles away from there, a developer received permission to put in a development of 1,800 houses starting at half a mil. It burns my backside.