| Misconceptions About the Homeless |
I often hear or read statements about the homeless that are, at best,
misleading and often outrageous nonsense. These are some of them.
misleading and often outrageous nonsense. These are some of them.
Panhandlers Are Homeless
It's a common conception that if you see someone panhandling (begging) that they must be
homeless. Actually, most panhandlers are not homeless. For many it's just an easy way to get
money, possibly for drugs. Most panhandlers have somewhere to live, and some live very well.
Of the homeless I have been familiar with, very few will panhandle regularly. Some will when
they haven't been able to make any money on day-labor jobs for a while, and then just to get
a few bucks. There are those who panhandle as a profession, making over a hundred dollars
a day, and therefore don't have to live on the street.
I saw one article that stated that 90% of the homeless [in that city] panhandled. That's an
easy conclusion if you make the assumption that all the panhandlers you see are homeless. I
may see two panhandlers a day, while there are thousands of homeless in the area where I
live. Most homeless people don't degrade themselves by begging.
It's a common conception that if you see someone panhandling (begging) that they must be
homeless. Actually, most panhandlers are not homeless. For many it's just an easy way to get
money, possibly for drugs. Most panhandlers have somewhere to live, and some live very well.
Of the homeless I have been familiar with, very few will panhandle regularly. Some will when
they haven't been able to make any money on day-labor jobs for a while, and then just to get
a few bucks. There are those who panhandle as a profession, making over a hundred dollars
a day, and therefore don't have to live on the street.
I saw one article that stated that 90% of the homeless [in that city] panhandled. That's an
easy conclusion if you make the assumption that all the panhandlers you see are homeless. I
may see two panhandlers a day, while there are thousands of homeless in the area where I
live. Most homeless people don't degrade themselves by begging.
The Government or Charitable Organizations will help them if they only ask.
Government funding is limited, and that is even more true with private organizations.
Donations for private organizations that try to help the homeless has been spread out even
thinner in recent years. With people losing their homes from hurricanes and floods, and the
current economy, an increasing number of people are homeless.
Charities have been having to turn away more people in recent years. Where I live there isn't
shelter space for even 10% of those in need. Simply getting shoes to wear is difficult.
It' not unusual either for local city governments to come up with new restrictions aimed at
closing down soup-kitchens and other assistance specifically to run the homeless out of town
(and into someone elses jurisdiction).
Government funding is limited, and that is even more true with private organizations.
Donations for private organizations that try to help the homeless has been spread out even
thinner in recent years. With people losing their homes from hurricanes and floods, and the
current economy, an increasing number of people are homeless.
Charities have been having to turn away more people in recent years. Where I live there isn't
shelter space for even 10% of those in need. Simply getting shoes to wear is difficult.
It' not unusual either for local city governments to come up with new restrictions aimed at
closing down soup-kitchens and other assistance specifically to run the homeless out of town
(and into someone elses jurisdiction).
They should be put in Mental Institutions.
It's true that perhaps a third of homeless people have some type of mental problems, some
significant enough to prevent them from maintaining jobs or dealing with life situations. Many
do get help on an outpatient basis but still can't afford housing or maintain work.
Legally, only those who are a threat to themselves or others can be forced into mental care
institutions. The days when anyone acting strange was locked up are long over.
It's true that perhaps a third of homeless people have some type of mental problems, some
significant enough to prevent them from maintaining jobs or dealing with life situations. Many
do get help on an outpatient basis but still can't afford housing or maintain work.
Legally, only those who are a threat to themselves or others can be forced into mental care
institutions. The days when anyone acting strange was locked up are long over.
They're living on Welfare.
Nationally, only about 20% of the homeless get some government payments. With the
exception of women with children there is very little aid available where I live (Florida), aside
from food stamps (which you must qualify for by seeking work and doing public service). If a
person works even part-time it may disqualify them from any assistance, even though they still
can't even afford a rental room.
Many homeless who have significant physical or mental problems still get nothing in
government assistance. Many have been turned down so many times that they have given up
all hope.
Nationally, only about 20% of the homeless get some government payments. With the
exception of women with children there is very little aid available where I live (Florida), aside
from food stamps (which you must qualify for by seeking work and doing public service). If a
person works even part-time it may disqualify them from any assistance, even though they still
can't even afford a rental room.
Many homeless who have significant physical or mental problems still get nothing in
government assistance. Many have been turned down so many times that they have given up
all hope.
It's their own fault.
It's true that many people are homeless as a result of making wrong choices in life, but many
have problems, such as with health, that they did not cause. How many people choose to get
cancer or arthritis?
A substantial percentage of the working U.S. population is only a couple paychecks away
from being homeless, and that percentage is increasing. How many people make a deliberate
choice to be homeless?
It's true that many people are homeless as a result of making wrong choices in life, but many
have problems, such as with health, that they did not cause. How many people choose to get
cancer or arthritis?
A substantial percentage of the working U.S. population is only a couple paychecks away
from being homeless, and that percentage is increasing. How many people make a deliberate
choice to be homeless?
Homeless people are criminals.
The rate of serious crime by the homeless is not much different than the general population.
It's true that many homeless frequently face time in the county jail due to minor violations such
as open-intoxicants, trespassing, and so on. Most serious drug addicts have money and
homes. Do you really think the multi-billion dollar drug trade in the U.S. is funded by homeless
people?
If the media covers a crime and the accused is homeless, they make sure to point that out in
the headlines. When a homeless person is assaulted, even to the point of having to be
hospitalized, and robbed it usually doesn't even get a paragraph in the paper.
The rate of serious crime by the homeless is not much different than the general population.
It's true that many homeless frequently face time in the county jail due to minor violations such
as open-intoxicants, trespassing, and so on. Most serious drug addicts have money and
homes. Do you really think the multi-billion dollar drug trade in the U.S. is funded by homeless
people?
If the media covers a crime and the accused is homeless, they make sure to point that out in
the headlines. When a homeless person is assaulted, even to the point of having to be
hospitalized, and robbed it usually doesn't even get a paragraph in the paper.
All they need to do is get a job.
Just getting a job won't get anyone off the street. Maintaining a job that pays enough to
afford housing and other living expenses is what is necessary. Being without housing, clean
clothes, transportation, food, and other necessities makes it nearly impossible to become
established long enough to maintain any kind of meaningful work.
Just getting a job won't get anyone off the street. Maintaining a job that pays enough to
afford housing and other living expenses is what is necessary. Being without housing, clean
clothes, transportation, food, and other necessities makes it nearly impossible to become
established long enough to maintain any kind of meaningful work.
Homeless people steal shopping carts.
I ocassionally see a homeless person on the street with a shopping cart, and some of these
are old rusty ones from stores that don't exist anymore. Most of the time it's lazy people
taking their groceries home, after which they abandon the cart. When you see shopping carts
left in front of homes and apartments it's not the homeless. It's just irresponsible people that
don't care. I saw dozens of carts abandoned at one expensive apartment complex.
I ocassionally see a homeless person on the street with a shopping cart, and some of these
are old rusty ones from stores that don't exist anymore. Most of the time it's lazy people
taking their groceries home, after which they abandon the cart. When you see shopping carts
left in front of homes and apartments it's not the homeless. It's just irresponsible people that
don't care. I saw dozens of carts abandoned at one expensive apartment complex.
Homeless people get all their medical care for free.
I'ts true that if anyone who goes into an emergency room with a potentially life-threatening
problem, they will get medical attention. It doesn't matter if they are homeless or wealthy, a
tax-paying citizen or illegal alien. There are some local government agencies that provide
limited medical assistance for those who can clearly not afford it. This is for low income as
well as homeless people.
If a person has a problem such as partial paralysis or severe back pain which prevents
them from working they are unlikely to get anything more than some cheap over-the-counter
pain pills. Even if surgery could correct the problem for a few thousand dollars, there is no
assistance. The person may eventually be able to get on disability, but nothing to correct the
problem. The government would rather pay out hundreds of thousands in disability checks
than correct the problem for a few thousand and have the person go back to work.
I'ts true that if anyone who goes into an emergency room with a potentially life-threatening
problem, they will get medical attention. It doesn't matter if they are homeless or wealthy, a
tax-paying citizen or illegal alien. There are some local government agencies that provide
limited medical assistance for those who can clearly not afford it. This is for low income as
well as homeless people.
If a person has a problem such as partial paralysis or severe back pain which prevents
them from working they are unlikely to get anything more than some cheap over-the-counter
pain pills. Even if surgery could correct the problem for a few thousand dollars, there is no
assistance. The person may eventually be able to get on disability, but nothing to correct the
problem. The government would rather pay out hundreds of thousands in disability checks
than correct the problem for a few thousand and have the person go back to work.
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