[Wants2Fly]

I become very upset and concerned when I hear of some of our members being homeless. There is so much sadness in the world.

I wish I could do something to help, but I don't know what it could be.

If you or anyone else can figure that out, let me know cause I'm in on helping.

Ry

[inkblot]

Thanks, you guys are sweet. {{{{{{{{{{{{Wants and Ry}}}}}}}}}}}}}

if i can help in any way, i'm ready....xoxo pat

[jmo531]

This concerns me a great deal. Maybe there is some type of fund we could start or try to find assistance in the cities or towns in which services are needed. I am ready to help in anyway I can.

Maybe Doc could help with this one. Like helping us organize some kind of legit fund as Jen suggested (good one btw).

Ry

[jmo531]

Thanks RY!!!. I know that alot of homeless services in many areas are full to capacity. This is were we must pitch in. Hey DOC J, isnt there anyway you can help us out with this one? Any idea's? I'm thinking a fund is a perfect place to start.

[Raynaadi]

I know that DocJohn can set up a paypal account that we could all donate to. Then he would just forward the money on. Question would be if we would donate to one account and then disperse the funds to the members, or have individual accounts for the members. I know it's possible though! John could help us organize it.

[CedarS]

One of many ideas would be to organize support for homeless folks in running the obstacle race for help, assisting them with enduring the forms and phone calls, helping them problem solve.

Paper work, research, telephone calls, long waits on the phone and in waiting rooms, telling -another- person our story.......it can all feel too stressful and overwhelming. Support with this could help folks out lots.

[Wants2Fly]

I like both these ideas. I, too, have wondered if we could start a fund, but I had no idea about the mechanics. Nor whether Dr. John wants to be in the position of dispensing such funds. There is the issue of charital donation-tax deductibility to consider, too.

Also -- many of us are not in great shape financially. We struggle with the high cost of medications and not being able to work at all or work f/t. How much in resources can we realistically marshall? And after initial enthusiasm, can we sustain it? There is a fairly high turnover of those who come here troubled, stay for a few months, and leave. That leaves a core group that would be asked to give and give again and again.

Also, how to organize help managing resources wherever the members might be.

[TgrsPurr]

Good Lord, do I feel like an insensitive ***. I had no idea some of our members are homeless, it never even occured to me to wonder about it. Geez, I guess I'm pretty self-absorbed much of the time with my own "stuff". For this, I apologize, and if ever I responded to someone out of ignorance, not knowing the situation, I apologize. I will be more sensitive to this issue from now on. And I, too, would like to help in ANY way I can. You can count on me to contribute either financially, emotionally, with my time and energy. I do wish to be supportive. I've been close to homeless before in my life, fortunately always had a friend willing to put me up for a while. It's a scary place to be, homeless. My heart goes to all those who are homeless. TgrsPurr, xo.

[jennie]

Back in 1997 when I chatted at Psych Central on WBS, I offered to help a fellow chatter and invited her to live with me. At the time, it was probably not the best thing for me to do given my instability at the time. But, it certaintly felt like the best thing to do.

She had been struggling emotionally with certain family issues and could not live with them anymore. She had been living in a motel and ran out of money due to unemployment. She only lived with me a short-time and no personal problems ever arose between us. She currently lives on her own now.

With that experience, I will tell you I have so many mixed feelings about giving shelter to someone you have only met online.

Some considerations:

* Shelters - there are several types depending on the need. Many provide psychological, spiritual, and medical assistance, too. Most educate and assist by helping the member to provide for themselves and get a job and residence. Some shelters recognize the person is unemployable and find other ways to accommodate their needs through referrals of various sorts.

** When a person is homeless, he or she is usually willing to move to another city to find help. Helping the person locate a city that has the facilities (SHELTER) he or she needs, then helping that person get to that facility is probably the BEST thing you can do for that person. Research online, call, find out specific needs (such as meds, counseling resources, etc.)

*** Do a lot of self-reflection before making a decision on taking a stranger into your home. Make sure you are not an enabler, by helping the person not get better. Make sure you are not offering help because you are searching for something you lack inside of you or an issue you didn't receive as a child still present in your adulthood (abandonment issues, etc.)

I could probably go on . . . but people do what they want to do anyways.

[Myzen]

Hi folks,

Wants - An important thread!

I recently attended a talk by a guy from the Salvation Army, which is a social services provider here in the UK. It's second only to the government. He gave us some chilling statistics.

He said that 50% of the homeless people they dealt with were not there because of drink or drugs. He said that relationship breakdowns and money problems were the main reasons. He also said that often professional people would be among the homeless coming to their shelters including even qualified doctors. I guess lightning can strike anywhere.

Here in the UK we have a newspaper called the 'Big Issue'. Homeless people can sell the paper and keep some of the money for themselves. They do this on street corners and are licensed. It keeps the issue in the public eye and gives the homeless vendors a kind of a job. It's hard work for them.

Tonight I'm going to read a couple of poems at an inner city venue, and I guess this issue will come up at some point in the evening. My feeling is that it's good to get involved if we have the energy, and do something hands on. It's a complicated thing, which I certainly don't understand. Some of the homeless guys I have known have wanted to be out there. I have a poem about an old friend who used to sleep out in the woods and maybe I'll paste it into the creative thread if I can hack the technology.

Again - an important thread.

Cheers, Myzen.

PS - Of course illness puts some people out there, including (God forbid) some of our members. This is dreadful, but it's all linked in, illness, relationship breakdown, money problems. It's all in the story.

[inkblot]

You all share excellent ideas. Being in the position I am, I can tell you what the suburban Chicago shelter system is like (but I don't want to depress anyone). The overnight shelters close at the end of this month, so only nine more days until I start sleeping in my car again. Things will be a little harder and a bit more lonely then. It will be a little like camping, but without the campfire, and my "tent" will be my car. The day office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours from 9am-4pm, so I can have a hot lunch there.

Being homeless means having a caseworker at the day office and *hoping* that you get help. Like in my case, I also have other caseworkers with different agencies, like for food stamps and things. One caseworker with the Department of Rehab Services is almost a flake and hasn't reopened my file yet, so yes extra support is always welcome in putting up with beaurocratic BS! She was supposed to help get me into housing. It can be hard to get the right support from anywhere. Having these forums at least helps for some venting. Love ya guys!

[jennie]

Inkblot, would you be willing to move to another city? There are several Christian organizations that help persons with mental illness by providing safe houses for them to live and get medical needs. Usually they target specific populations (runaway teens, drug/alcohol users, history child abuse, etc.) Have you tried asking any church group if they have referrals for safe houses?

[wisewoman]

I have felt sad for inky on many occasions yet she seems so incredibly brave and determined. I would do anything to help you my friend. I can't imagine not having a regular place to lay my head. I am more broke then broke but anything I can do I will. Remember I have relatives in the highland park area. I wish you peace.

[inkblot]

The homeless can be anyone, from any status or occupation. It doesn't exlude anyone. You would be surprised by the people it happens to. Some do make a "career" at being homeless, but for most it is just temporary.

i have just spent the last 5 days homeless on the streets of london (sat to thursday) i had no option i had to be there to get my visitation with my son and my offer of accomadation had fallen threw, i spent 5 years living on the streets down there before i got married, when the marraige broke down i was back on the streets again, i have 2 months left at my present accomadation then i will be homeless again and living in my car, i have been refused houseing in several differant boroughs (towns) as i dont class high enough on the list to qualify for preferential treatment even with my mental health problems and medication i dont have enough points so i will end up living in my car again. but has they say ***** happens, you just have to try and deal with the hand that you are dealt, i got real upset on sunday night when i was sat down in a doorway eating my dinner when i was approached by a tourist who tryed to give me money to and i quote" get something to eat", i probably had more money in my pocket than them, i hate it when people make the general assumption that if you are homeless you are going to ask for money, sorry i am starting to rant now, i have never felt sorry for myself whilst being homeless i just get on with it, and the quicker people realise that we have feeling to, the better.

[Wants2Fly]

Hello Mellors --

I apologize if you have interpreted concern as insulting. I spent most of 2004 moving from place to place. I have run up deep debts trying to keep a roof over my head, and my credit is about tapped out, and I don't know how to pay the bills.

Your email is a reminder that we call cope differently. Being homeless is one of the worst outcomes I can think of for myself. I don't know if I could cope with it. I pray that I don't have to. Best wishes for finding a place to live.

sorry i think i may have missconstrude what you were saying i was not insulted far from it, i just went off an tagent, for that i appologise, i understand that everyone has there own ways of dealing with homelessness be it there own or other peoples and did not mean to cause offence to anybody with my post, maybe i could have worded it differantly, looking back and rereading it i think i should have.

[vacantangel]

wants2 - It's a horrible feeling not knowing how you are going to pay all of your bills. I've been there more than once due to out of control hypomanic spending sprees. I was extremely fortunate that my family came to my rescue and have now taken steps to ensure I can never do that again. I think my meds also help with those urges. I hope you find some resolution to your situation really soon as I know the stress that comes along with it.

((((((((((((((((( wants2)))))))))))))))

inky / mellors - My heart goes out to both of you. I can't even phathom being in the situation that you both find yourselves in. As you said, this can happen to anyone from any walk of life. It does not discriminate. You are both very strong and brave.

((((((((((((((((( inky ))))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((((( mellors )))))))))))))

You are all in my thoughts and prayers. May God help you all to deal with the cards that life has dealt you. I hope that something can happen for all of you that could improve your current situations. Please be safe.

[Wants2Fly]

No problem. Just wanted you to no that I wasn't being patronizing.

[inkblot]

Thank you, Angel, and all the rest of you for your kindness and support. I do appreciate being able to read these things and it touches my heart more than you probably know.

[vacantangel]

Inky, you have always had a special place in my heart. I hope that doesn't offend you.

[inkblot]

How could that offend me? I love knowing that!