Homeless, Drugs, and Alcohol.
Every time homeless people are mentioned, in regards to pan handling or giving them money, someone always has to say "They're just gonna spend it on drugs or alcohol!"
So fucking what!
I know this isn't a popular opinion, but once I give a homeless guy some money, it's his. He/she can spend it on whatever they want. This includes drugs or alcohol.
And you know what?
I don't care.
And I don't blame them.
If I was stuck on the street every night in filthy clothes, begging for a few bucks to get a meal, your damn fucking right I would spend a few bucks every once in a while on something to numb my senses, or take a bit of the pain away.
Humans are emotional creatures. You think they can deal with the hardship of their life every day, without something, anything, to take just a bit of it away? You think you can judge them from your high and mighty space, with a roof over your head, and food in your belly? We all have hard lives, sure, but imagine if you had no one to lean on during your worst times. Wouldn't it be you on the side of the road?
So, I don't blame them if they wanna take a sip or two of alcohol. I'd hope they don't do anything harder, but I know it's not my choice.
If people really cared, they'd support efforts to get them off the streets, or in mental health facilities if they need it, or homeless feeding programs.
So, maybe it's a little judgy of me to say, but if you really care, and aren't just saying bullshit as an excuse to not help people who have fallen on hard times, take an effort to do something that really helps. If you actually worry about them spending your money on drugs, then donate to a food shelter. Support efforts to repeal laws that make it illegal to feed the homeless. Rally against assholes in government putting up cement spikes so homeless can't sleep under bridges.
Hell, be a fucking friend.
Many people are out on the streets because they didn't have a support structure.
If you cared, you'd do more than just say bullshit about someone in pain taking the easiest medication they can get their hands on.
(source)
Most people have no clue about the needs of rough sleepers. Most people fail to see that what they lack most is a structure in life. Something like... a job.
A regular pattern. A place to return to every day. A place to have a recurring meal every day.
There are several charities who are active in that niche, the largest is probably Emmaus (International), which has more than hundred communities in France. Working communities active in the second hand shop sector. All groups have a no alcohol/drugs on the premises rule and no being under the influence in communal areas. It works.
Why? Because the people have a structure. They have a room, a daily activity, and... friends.
Take a homeless guy for a coffee. Or a sandwich. Make it a regular thing (don’t drop the ball, you will become an important recurring event in their life!) and watch how quick they integrate zthat regular meet in their life.
It's a very fine line to walk. Sure, it's easy to say that once you give money to someone, it's no matter to you what they do with it. I have much personal experience from within my own family -- sometimes, people will continue to spend every single penny they have on booze until they damn near drink themselves to death. And often, the only reason they're alive is because they've run out of money.
That's not to say that you shouldn't toss anyone your change, or you should leave people alone. I very much agree with you that people need to be kind hearted and lend a hand to those that need it. And your point about "you're damn right that I'd have a drink to numb my sense" is completely valid. I take the edge off when I come home from work every day. But it's at best, a bandaid.
Generally, what these people are numbing themselves from is the uncertainty and stress that comes with being homeless. Numerous studies have shown that one of the best things that can be done regarding the epidemic of homelessness is to, obviously, give people a home.
At the end of the day, a dollar here or a dollar there isn't going to help these people. Looping it all back to cryptos -- these individuals have no savings, no vehicle for savings, no bank account (I'm sure they'd get destroyed with fees, etc...), no secure place to store funds (I would imagine they lose money / get robbed all the time), and no way to interact with societies economic infrastructure on a fair level.
We're rapidly approaching a plausible infrastructure where we could disrupt the power dynamic of currency creating & distribution that would take the power from those that are traditionally at the top of the economic, social, political, and general power food chains.
Personally, I'm extremely excited about the potential that many of the crypto-currency based Universal Basic Income projects have. I believe they're going to catch on, and change the world from a trickle-down economic system, to a trickle-up system.
A home, or even just somewhere to stay, is definitely one of the main things that they need. In my experience, the first step was getting just a tiny bit of support where they could start working towards that.
I'm not sure it's the first thing that they need, because they might still struggle without people there to help them beyond just a place to stay, but I think it makes things a lot easier.
There's efforts in various places to give the homeless tiny homes. In cali someone was building these tiny portable homes on castors, and the city tried to steal them and take them away, because often they were just parked on sidewalks, and rich thought it was unsightly. But it's a far cry better than a tent.
I think that even if we had public housing that anyone could stay in if they needed to, they'd still need a bit of support beyond that, but at least it would be better than the streets.
I think it's about time we start working towards a society that helps people up when they fall.
Interesting viewpoint. I've always been on the side where if I give them money, they should spend it on food, clothes, or other necessities and not drugs which only makes them numb temporarily before reality hits again. It's a fair point because if they're already at such a low point in life, why not accumulate what they get from panhandling and do something that could at least get them off the streets first? Yes, their life is harder than I could ever imagine so a drink or two once in a while is perfectly fine. I think most people dislike that idea because we seem to think that's what they do with ALL the money they earn which tells us that they're not making ANY effort to get their life back together.
This is strictly my opinion and I have no idea what they actually do so I may be biased. That's why I said you raised an interesting point here. Just thought I'd share why I think what I think!
It takes a lot to get off the street. If they have the drive, maybe they could do it eventually, but being the emotional creatures that we are, we often need support to get us through the days. Without it, we turn to drugs, whether or not we're homeless. When you feel like there's no one there for you, you get depressed.
Every one of my friends that has been homeless that made it off the streets did so because of the support of someone else. Even if it was just emotional support. One got a couch to stay on. Another had friends, and a girlfriend around, to support him, and push him to get a job and an apartment.
They don't need to be judged, they need people to give a damn enough to just be their friends, and society to care enough that they don't have to sleep outside.
I agree with you that support, even just emotional, goes a long way. I agree there is not a lot of options given to homeless people to get them on their feet again. I agree that a dollar here and there isn't going to get them a new apartment. I guess what bothers me is that the little help that I could afford to give is going to drugs. I'm also not sure what else I can do other than offer money or food.
I'd definitely help out someone I know if they were ever at that point because I know them and can trust them to have in my apartment if it were to be that case. I'd do anything I could to make sure they at least have a place to stay and food to eat. I'd push them to seek jobs. However, I feel like supporting someone you know is different than running into a homeless person walking down the street on the way to class and trying to offer them more than money or food..
If you just run into them on the way to work, there's often little you can do, other than treating them like a human. Sometimes society treats them like the unclean. They're afraid to look at them, and run away.
I think the best anyone can do is to try to support legislation to improve things, and let their representatives know how they feel when they hear about a law that makes things better or worse. Because we can spend our money or our time as individuals, and it will make a big difference to a few, but unless we start pushing for better laws, they're still going to suffer. We need basic services to make sure those that go homeless don't stay homeless.
Keeping a "care package" in the trunk of my car with some basic items and $20 bill is what I do to help out.
I always help street people in winter to give old winter clothes....
Great post for a relevant cause that is sadly overlooked. It’s sad that people judge the homeless and look down on them. People of less fortunate circumstance are still people at the end of the day. Who are we to judge??
I am one of those few who agrees with your viewpoint of giving money regardless of what they may do with it. At the end of the day an act of kindness can go a long way. Loving your posts and following you 😉
the democrats should be happy
they forced ronald reagan to empty the mental health institutes
and put them on the street.
the democrats got what they wanted.
pawns and political footballs.
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