Who to blame?

United States
January 11, 2010 8:19am CST
This discussion is about homeless people. I live in an area where there are quite a few homeless people. When working at fast food when I was younger they would always come in asking for sandwiches. No matter where I worked it seemed my manager would give them one. We all always kind of felt bad for them. And then when working at Arbys. I had this one female manager who turned him away. Really rudely too, said a sandwich is so and so dollars, come back when you have that. I thought it was so wrong. She told us, well it's his fault he is homeless. He got himself there. So are homeless people all to blame for being homeless? What are your views on the homeless and where to place the blame?
3 people like this
18 responses
@vijayanths (7877)
• India
11 Jan 10
It is really very unfortunate that some people live with out enough food and other basic needs. We can't blame any one for that. But we can try to help them if they deserve it.
3 people like this
• United States
11 Jan 10
I feel that way too. If I have I will try to give. I feel like everyone makes mistakes. Some of these people are not in okay mental health and that is what got them there. There just isn't enough help out there for people going through rough times.
1 person likes this
@Rvd007 (95)
• India
11 Jan 10
I m agree with Vijayanths Sir becauz we help if they deserve it. If they dont then we hve to blame them for that they made that unfortune for them themself.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
11 Jan 10
If they are still young and able they should look for a job. They should not always depend on public sympathy. But most of the homeless people did not ask to be in that situation. They are just unlucky in life. The Government should look after the welfare of her citizen and give them houses. It is done in my country. The government provides free homes for people who are homeless.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Jan 10
Where do you live? That is great. I know here in America there is a lot of homeless people it would be a lot to provide homes for all of them. But they could at least provide more help for them to have clothes and food, a temporary place to sleep and assistance finding a job. If they don't have a place to shower and food in their belly then they really can't get a job. They just need to do something more.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
11 Jan 10
In the past there was a large component of the homeless who were mentally ill but non med compliant. In the 60's and 70's they shut down a lot of the community mental health facilities, so they needed to stay on their meds and get some kind of job. They cannot do this without support and supervision. Often their illness makes them not trust anyone. In our current economy there are a lot of people who are homeless who cannot help it. I think we need to quit placing blame and do something about it. I am not sure what, but community service in exchange for food and a place to stay comes to mind.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Yes that is how I feel to. A lot of these people are homeless because of their mental health and can't do a darn thing about it. I don't know why the government doesn't seem to care to do more. The homeless are obviously on the bottom of their list because they aren't paying any taxes. Anyhow, I feel really bad for these people.
1 person likes this
@chulce (1537)
• United States
11 Jan 10
I worked in a homeless shelter for many years. Each person has a unique situation in which they were involved in that unfortunately left them in the state of homelessness. But, there are also many factors that attribute to this. There could be mental conditions affecting that person, luck itself, is a condition in which people have problems bouncing back. That manager was in the wrong in my opinion. If she didn't feel comfortable in helping that person in that way, the least she could have done was tried to help him in another way by directing them to a place where they could get help. There are quite a few homeless locations in many cities. Depending on where I worked growing I always made an effort to have information for people who where down on their luck. I would research where different shelters were located. Give them the numbers for the unemployment office or the address. The shelter that I worked for, we even gave people an address so they could receive mail and help get them the much needed job. Or for that matter get them into a program to get into an apartment. The person that is in that situation also needs to have the desire to want to get off the streets and better themselves. I have seen cases where the person feels they are making more money or are doing better living on the streets. Some feel they don't want to get strapped by the government, so by living on the streets they feel they have the freedom to do what they want and not be bound by someone telling them how they should live, etc. I can recall a homeless guy or who I thought was homeless sitting on the corner with a sign. I felt really bad for him. He had a cane and a dog. I watched this guy for a little while, prepared myself to get out of my car and help him. I then watched a bit longer, he changed the way he walked with his cane, shifting so he limped with the other leg. My mouth fell open. I could not believe this guy was scamming people in this way. I drove off, a few weeks later, I came upon this guy once again. I got up my courage and asked him, why he was scamming people the way he was. He laughed looked at me and said "Lady, I make more hussling people in a day, by standing here, then I ever did in some office." I shook my head, told him that I thought he was a horrible person for doing what he did. When I walked away, he got mad, walked over and hopped into his Mercedes and drove off. Talk about the biggest hit of all to watch that guy drive off in that nice car. Seeing all these sides of homelessness, has really opened my eyes and made me aware of how unique situations can be. However, it has also opened my eyes up to watch for those who are just trying to scam people as well. You are a good person. We need more like you in our societies.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Yes I think there are good homeless people and bad ones. Some that are homeless because they were bad, some that are bad because they are so tired of being homeless. And then those that are good.
@nrn2003 (661)
• United States
11 Jan 10
I do not feel bad for homeless people. I do as well feel that they put themselves in the situation by some aspect. even if they didn't directly do it, they have the chance to try to get out of it. sitting on a street corner begging for money doesn't help. That's part of the problem. People give them money for sitting on the corner and whatnot, sot hey dont have to get a real job because people give them whatever they need for nothing. They have chances to get a job. Go to a shelter and get a shower and some clothes and apply for jobs.
• United States
12 Jan 10
Well first question for you is what about the people with mental and other disabilities who are not able to get help? What about the areas where there is no more room in the shelters? It is not like daily change is really paying for these people to live, if there was more help and more focus on getting them rehabilitated then they wouldn't be "part of the problem". By not doing anything at all you don't think we are part of the problem too?
@nrn2003 (661)
• United States
12 Jan 10
No, I don't think that I am part of the problem at all. I get up everyday and go to work and paid alot of money for my college education which no one helped me do and I pay for my own home and my own care and my own everything. We have enough government agencies to help care for people, even those that don't deserve it, that I feel that my taxes help enough for those that want the help. Even those with disabilities, have had some opportunities somewhere to get help. The main issue is everyone thinks that they can get a handout. Yeah, its not easy to make a living, and no one said it would be, so people give up. They aren't going to get anywhere without trying.
@olepmis (840)
• Philippines
11 Jan 10
No one is to blame for being homeless. No one wants to be homeless so who are we to judge the homeless people. We should be thankful to God that we are not in the shoes of the homeless.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Yes I appreciate having a roof over my head. Especially in the winter like this. It really makes you think of how much worse things could be.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Was the margin for profit at Arbys so small she couldn't afford to donate a sandwich? If I hadn't married my husband when I did, I would be a street person by now. Yet, I've done everything right. I went to college, got my degrees, had great jobs, but now I'm lucky if I get enough work to pay 1/3 of my bills, my husband has to pay the rest. I worked in a prison with a teacher whose entire family were street people. There were no jobs where they were. They came up here with the last money they had. They were illegally squatting on public land: her, her husband, and two kids. She had applied for a job in the prison system and left the name, phone #, and address of a friend. The friend drove to where they were hiding and told her that she had an interview. Her underwear was in a tree, she went to get it down and the wind took it. It flew up higher on the tree. Her husband climbed the tree to get her underwear for an interview. She got the job in October, it took until November to get paid and for them to find an appartment. Until then 4 people living out of a station wagon and eventually a tent that the friend loaned them. AFterward her husband got a job in the prison system, too. They were able to get their kids through high school. Then the prison system down-sized and they were lucky to get other jobs. That's the only trouble with two people working the same place. Many of our homeless here are out of work families or veterans. There is a shelter for families, but not for single people here. They have to give them a ticket for Vermont or downstate NY where there are single people shelters. Most people who loose their jobs and aren't homeless, it's because their families take them in or they find another job quickly. If they have neither of those things happen, then they're homeless.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Well other managers there at Arbys did give him one. I worked there for 8 months and had 3 different managers. She was a really cranky, negative person in the first place. One you didn't want to work for. And she went on talking crap about how it is homeless peoples fault. So no I don't think that was the reason. Sounds like your friend that teacher went through a lot. But she is proof that people can make it back up if they try. And yes it is great that some people are lucky enough to have family to help them. But those who don't have to be way strong to survive.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
13 Jan 10
I don't think that all people are homeless by choice. Especially because of the way that the society has been for this last couple of years. I've made friends with a wonderful lady here on mylot that was in a homeless situation this year and it was through no fault of her own. This recession means that absolutely no one is safe, who knows, my hubby could go to work tomorrow and come right back home because the company decided that they didn't need him anymore. I don't think it is going to happen, but then again, you just never know.
• United States
13 Jan 10
That is so true. You never know when you yourself might end up in the same situation. And you wouldn't want someone to be rude to you like this and people to not care enough to help.
• United States
11 Jan 10
I think that people fall hard on their luck and that is why they are homeless. Nobody wants to be homeless, but it does happen. The economy is bad and jobs are so scarce. I am a college graduate and have not been able to find work. My husband is working part-time which has not made our income any better. He is attending school, while I am waiting to hear about graduate school. The financial aid money has been helping out, but not much. I feel the economy is to blame for the homelessness.
• United States
12 Jan 10
Good job. Another place to place the blame besides them. I agree the government is not helping this situation enough for sure.
@myramae19 (667)
• Philippines
11 Jan 10
I thank God for everything , every blessings that he poured unto me and to my family.. and for not being one of the homeless out there. yes, i pity those homeless, especially the old ones, in our country there are thousands of them, living under the bridge,streets or even at parks., its so sad to see those homeless people. big companies like fast food chain should organize a feeding program for them some times, yes your manager seem to be very heartless..she shouldn't do that.anyway, we can not please everybody. We can not blame homeless people for being misfortune.,but they can not also depend on another person to get them on top,or out of poverty..they should work themselves.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Yes but there should be more help to get them a shower and clean pair of clothes to go and look for that job.
• Philippines
11 Jan 10
yes you have a point
• China
12 Jan 10
There are so many homeless people every where in the world,in my mind a homeless guy always seemed pity in face,but we don't know whom he truely is,there are always alot of tricksters too.so to that promblem I think that a homeless man must have some resons for himself,we needn't to discuss much about that.but if a man truely need help,we should give more love for the sociaty.
• United States
12 Jan 10
Yes the few homeless people acting worse off then they are to get more give the others bad names. It isn't fair.
@Rvd007 (95)
• India
11 Jan 10
Hello, Actually We cant blame any one unless and untill we dont know how they are got this i agreed with vijaynanths that we have to help them if they deserv it but better we would help them in manners like it would make income for them like u can get them for a job in this way they can get earn for them self....i think this better way to help them and yes if they dont deserve just leav it and blame e.g. i saw some ppls who dont even have basic needs which is house food and shelter still they have attitude like hell so dont help such ppl becauz they deserve it.......Hope u clear with my stuff...regards,
• United States
11 Jan 10
Yes I think the most important thing is to try to rehabilitate these people and help them to get a job.
@Rvd007 (95)
• India
11 Jan 10
yes but they are sometimes not qualified in this matter we have to give them job related to itand the those who are working in there learning age we have to take them in school which made by goverment were no fees are allowed specially those kid who comes to beg population of such children are really very much just wanted to do something for them but for those ho did work from there heart not for those who shows attitude and using such a bad words in public :(..............so wat your opinion on this............regards,
@Rvd007 (95)
• India
11 Jan 10
In above situation we can blame our curropted Goverment (I am from india) that's why :D
@junrapmian (2169)
• Philippines
12 Jan 10
Well, it happened everywhere. I also live in a country where there are homeless people, sleeping in the side streets or in wooden carts or in vacant lots near the rail roads, oh! they're everywhere! They just put together scraps of galvanized iron, woods, old tarpoline or anything, and presto! they got roofs to shield them. their children are everywhere asking for alms, left-over foods, used clothing, etc. You might think that they are eye sores but as you said, who's to blame? The government here in our country see them but why is it they're still like that? The rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer and poorer. Corruption, maybe? If I have the resources I'd be willing to help them.
• United States
12 Jan 10
Yes I am sure there are places like that here in America too. It is sad that the law shoos them away in a lot of places also. The people who do have the resources need to start helping. I have barely anything and still manage to give them a sandwich or some change or whatever I got. But they need help finding jobs. They need help being clean so the can get a job. The real help, there just isn't enough out there.
• China
12 Jan 10
When I see the people homeless work or sit in the street, I will feel sad, just try my best to help them. Much more than this, I think to solve this problem completly, more people and the society want to think the way to help the homeless. The world will be better.
• United States
12 Jan 10
Yes I think real everyday, good hearted people do feel bad for these people and want to help. But the government, I don't think they care much at all. I think they look at it as let the weak die off or something. It's so wrong.
@libr16 (40)
• India
11 Jan 10
u cant blame anyone in this.I also try to help people in my own way.rather lending money to them i prefer to give food and clothes to them because i have seen that some people use that money in a wrong way.i am sure not all of them are like that.. there is a saying that "god only help to those who help themselves".i know its a harsh line but till some extent its true..if i can see that sumbody is really working hard but did not have luck then i would really like to help those persons.
@tap0991 (2766)
• United States
11 Jan 10
You cant put all the blame on one person for this but you can say that homeless person bares responsibility for being homeless and everyone else bares some responsibility to try and help person if possible.
• United States
12 Jan 10
Yes as long as they don't have and disabilities some of the responsibility does lie on them too.
@stand87 (664)
• Bulgaria
11 Jan 10
Even if a homeless man is guilty for his destiny, I think, we should try to be more nice with them. Well most of them maybe deserve to be homeless because of stupid actions in life. But there are people who have been cheated in life somehow. And yes, you can lose everything in minute! Just like that... It's not fair. That's why we should try to understand. My mom says " Don't have mercy on them, because you'll became one of them! " But I don't think she's right at all. Maybe she's just scared of what these people look like.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Yes if they can just get some help to get back on their feet they have probably learned a lot of lessons from being homeless.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Well, in your opinion, and your observation. Are those homeless are capable to work? If they are handicap, no one would be blamed. If they are perfect fine with their limbs, and they are able to work, they are the one should be blamed. No one get them to be homeless, if they want food, they can work just like you in the fast food joint. Why beg.
• United States
12 Jan 10
What if they have no shelter, no clean clothes and no one to help even with that little. You can't very well work on an empty stomach either. I think it is wrong to judge people unless you have been there yourself. And every story is different. Did you read the elderly womans reply on the first page, do you think it was her fault. If it was your grandma out there homeless or your self, would you want someone to just say oh it's your own fault, or her own fault and not help you guys?