Tag Cloud
Friday, February 10, 2012
Punishing the Weak?
by Alicia Hanson, published on October 14, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Storyline: Punishing Homeless
Community Tags
open2009
It’s on days like this I think of being homeless, being in the pouring rain when all of your assets consist of a tent, some clothes and a bicycle. This is one thing I will never understand about Sacramento or any other place. Everyone “tries” so hard to save our planet, but there are over 2.000 homeless people in Sacramento County including children, what are we doing to help them? I believe a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link, which doesn’t say much about our civilization if you think about it. We all have the same chance of losing our “secure” jobs and becoming homeless. How can we focus on the bigger problems when there is a problem we all see everyday, whether it’s driving down the street and seeing someone holding a cardboard sign or having your trash dug through for cans. The majority of homeless people in Sacramento are stereotyped as having some drug or alcohol habit and we chastise them for it. To be completely honest, if I lost my job and all of my security, I might start up a little habit to help myself cope with reality. We also chastise them for being on public property. THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!!! Where would you go during the day if you had no job, no money, no house, and were forced by police to pack your tent up? Who says that they don’t have the right to be on public property? People who make and fight for these laws against homelessness are obviously not homeless. What kind of society preys on the weak, and how strong do you think this society will hold up in times of war, need, or disaster? “We're fighting an unfair law and the only way to do it is a revolution. That's how our forefathers wound up in this country. They were fighting unfair laws “
(SOURCE: News 10 Sacramento)
Talking to a couple of young homeless people, I heard something I wouldn’t have even thought about before. “We’re doing what we can to fight people who think we’re just a bunch of drug addicts” I guess maybe our community doesn’t want to help out “addicts, or maybe they don’t want to face the fact that not all homeless people are drug addicts or alcoholics, and that anyone can end up in this position with a small strike of bad luck. I also talked with a young man who was 100% free of alcohol and drugs, but just lost his job due to the economy, “I feel like giving up, people stare at me and wonder how I got like this, I wonder that too sometimes” When I asked if he thought he would find a job soon, he looked at me with a tear in his eye, and said “I can only hope” .
I am so confused at why people in the community don’t stick together. When I ask myself this question, I end up with one answer: We’re all too involved with our own lives to look at the bigger picture and realize what’s going on outside of our bubbles. With enough effort, maybe we could one day have designated areas in our community with all of the necessities for people who struggle. I think that is the day we can be more proud of the people in our community.
Conversation Express your views,
debate, and be heard with those in your area closest
to the issue.
Leave a Comment
Sorry, but I do understand and have tried to help on many different levels, but the truth is many of those people don't necessarily want help for various reasons. They like the handout but not the understanding that is expected from them to continue to receive the help. You sound young, maybe after another 10 or 15 years of seeing the same situation over and over again where some homeless don't want to help themselves, your bleeding heart won't bleed so much.
As an American, I would hate to think that our only answer to someone experiencing a crisis like being homeless is, "Hey, here's the services, use them or don't." I like to think Americans are more noble and kind than that. Call me a romantic if you will.
What I get tired of are people telling others what to do and making people feel guilty but at the same time aren’t doing anything about it themselves. If Alicia feels so strongly about her convictions then she should donate her time if she doe's not want to offer money. Actions speak louder than words, so just do it.
So I will say that I make small gestures when I can. The gestures usually revolve around food. Two weeks ago I was driving through Taco Bell by Sac State and their was a homeless man sitting by the drive thru and I bought him something to eat and gave it to him on my way out. I have only done what I can. Some would say it is not much and others would say it is too much. Many people don't agree with giving the homeless anything.
I am involved and have been involved in various non profits as a volunteer and as an employee for over 10 years and so I think there is value in helping those less fortunate or poor in spirit. My mother has been an advocate for over 20 years and there is a certain amount of compassion she has instilled in me.
Not to mention that I have experienced being very poor and not having a home. What kept my mother and I from not living on the streets was our family. We did in fact receive a house from Habit for Humanity though.
I think when you have been in the position to struggle and feel hopelessness, you can appreciate what a helping hand or a smile can do.
I have struggled myself ending up on food stamps and other aid, but in the end it was me that continued to push forward demonstrating that I did not want to be in that tough spot for vary long.
In my experience, many of the homeless want help but don't do what else’s is needed of them to make their lives better. They love handouts but don't want to follow certain guidelines and rules put in place by the helping organization (staying clean) that will make the individual strong and self supporting to hold down a job. Just because a homeless person says they don't abuse drugs doe's not mean it's true. I have witnessed on many occasions where money given to homeless with the assurance it was to be used for food ended up being used on a 40oz and a lottery ticket.
I’m still waiting for the author of this story "Alicia" to say what she is doing?
Tuesday at city hall I went to speak of youth violence (yet again) but I listened to many homeless individuals speak of needed safe grounds. And my heart was touched, I lost focused of what I intended on saying and said from my heart, we are all our brothers keeper. I couldn't imagine being homeless in the winter (heck I have menopause, I need air conditioning- I couldn't imagine being homeless in Sacramento in the summer) I am not trying to make anyone feel bad. And I don't think the author was either. Personally, I think she wanted us to look at the homeless and not at ourselves. At least that's what I thought. Seems some are looking at themselves, looking at what someone else thinks they should be doing. What should people do? WHATEVER is in their heart and if it is not in their heart to do anything, then they shouldn't do anything. I see a two way street- just as someone doesn't want Alicia to tell them how they should feel- WHY then TELL Alicia how she should feel? Someone doesn't want Alicia to make them feel bad-- WHY THEN attempt to make Alicia feel bad???
If I were homeless and by the Grace of God I am not but if I were I wouldn't want anyone to do anything for me that was not in their heart to do so. Someone asks what Alicia is doing? Heck she wrote the article. A journey of a thousand miles begins with it's first steps. I've seen homeless individuals give what little they have a blanket, food.... to another homeless individual far sooner than someone who has plenty.
I've seen love in those without money, without a home and for goodness sakes I've seen love in those with plenty but what I really like is the fact when we die we can't take it with us and heaven (if you don't believe in God, I'm not here to judge, I respect you and your beliefs and ask that you respect mine- so if you don't believe in God- you still die and you still can't take it with you and cemetaries won't be divided into the have and have-nots ) heaven won't be divided by the haves and have nots. We'll all live on safe grounds, and that homeless individual despised by some may just be blessed in heaven.
Alicia, I love your story it is from your heart. Thank you for asking me (a reader) to look at the homeless and not at myself. While I have many struggles their is always someone less fortunate and we are our brothers keeper. Thank you.