Why do homeless people decide to be homeless?!


Question: uh, excuse me, but as one with the experience of running a homeless shelter for several years (in addition to a sexual violence program) might it make any difference to you if you knew that 88% of ALL families in the US are 3 months away from being homeless?

That is the only statistic i will bore you with, but basically it means that for the vast majority of us, if one or more breadwinner in the family loses a job, within three months, they are out. i am among them and i suspect that you either are, or are one who is living off your parents who are.

There is a small fraction of "system users" out there, but it is SMALL... it's just that SOME of us tend to judge ALL on those that get the most attention, which is usually those who are behaving negatively.

The majority of people i came into contact with who were homeless had either some misfortune, or yes, they made some choices that assisted them in becoming homeless, but not because they CHOSE it. And most were back in a good situation within 30 days.

If you have ever lived in a shelter, tho they do very some in comfort, most are NOT anyplace you would be proud to live, are NOT comfortable and not without extreme disadvantages.

i have seen professional people with degrees who are homeless living right alongside the alcoholic guy who won't quit drinking long enough to go to a job interview, but since most shelters have strict rules about such things, THOSE guys (women too) more often than not end up on the street.

Being homeless in America happens at one time or another to far more people than you might imagine. i have owned 5 homes, held professional jobs, employed housekeepers, owned new cars, have a professional degree and i have also spent 2 years living on the generosity of friends and 2 weeks sleeping in my car once when everything fell apart.

i do hope you will not be judged as you judge... if so i do hope that you never make a "mistake", that all is perfect in your life and you never have a problem without an obvious answer.

gentle thoughts...


Answers: uh, excuse me, but as one with the experience of running a homeless shelter for several years (in addition to a sexual violence program) might it make any difference to you if you knew that 88% of ALL families in the US are 3 months away from being homeless?

That is the only statistic i will bore you with, but basically it means that for the vast majority of us, if one or more breadwinner in the family loses a job, within three months, they are out. i am among them and i suspect that you either are, or are one who is living off your parents who are.

There is a small fraction of "system users" out there, but it is SMALL... it's just that SOME of us tend to judge ALL on those that get the most attention, which is usually those who are behaving negatively.

The majority of people i came into contact with who were homeless had either some misfortune, or yes, they made some choices that assisted them in becoming homeless, but not because they CHOSE it. And most were back in a good situation within 30 days.

If you have ever lived in a shelter, tho they do very some in comfort, most are NOT anyplace you would be proud to live, are NOT comfortable and not without extreme disadvantages.

i have seen professional people with degrees who are homeless living right alongside the alcoholic guy who won't quit drinking long enough to go to a job interview, but since most shelters have strict rules about such things, THOSE guys (women too) more often than not end up on the street.

Being homeless in America happens at one time or another to far more people than you might imagine. i have owned 5 homes, held professional jobs, employed housekeepers, owned new cars, have a professional degree and i have also spent 2 years living on the generosity of friends and 2 weeks sleeping in my car once when everything fell apart.

i do hope you will not be judged as you judge... if so i do hope that you never make a "mistake", that all is perfect in your life and you never have a problem without an obvious answer.

gentle thoughts...

Some of them have no familys and see it as the only option. Some let depression get the best of them. Others are just bums and are too lazy to work or try to get help.

They don't like responsibility. Being homeless creates NO responsibilities whatsoever.

i dont think they decide to. maybe they dont have much chose.
but that dont mean that decide to live rough on some bench somwhere. =|
that was a stupid question.
Nickie xx

i dont know they think there are better people out that desrvie better

Yeah like they DECIDE to be homeless

"Oh hey guess what? Today, I'll decide to be homeless! Yeah! That is going to be grrrrrrrreat!" (-_-)

I dont think they chose to be homeless. they just went the wrong way and thats how they ended up. why would anyone want to live on the streets? no one choses to live that way, the have to.

guess they love that "new box smell"

Some do some don't some poor people are mentally unstable and can not help it I did know 1 guy that chose to be homeless he died now poor guy.

Everyone has a different story. Some enjoy the lifestyle even if they come from money. Some have addictions, mental illness, can't get employment due to felonies.Some are just lazy and want an easy way out. Some are drifters, the list can go on.

no money, no job, no education, no way to support yourself

Not many DO decide... The decision is made for them... They make the decision to stay that way...

No family
No money

A lot of them don't decide, it's put upon them for one reason or another..the mentally ill, don't know any better, so refuse help...I suppose after awhile, they give up all hope so accept it.

'Lucky Lady' stated it perfectly!

Some are just out casts others just dont want to work and live like normal people because they are bums,OTHERS RATHER HAVE NO RESPONSEBILITY AND PREFER LIVING ROGH OFF THE STATE AND LET THE WORKING MAN KEEP THEM.

homeless people dont decide to be homeless its not a lifestyle choice anymore then you are thick stupid for asking this question if you had choice bet you wouldn't have chosen to be as dumb as you are!!!!

Some by chance others don't have a choice some find it easy to give up the statues quo.

They just decide to do what it takes to be homeless.
(Little/no education, no job, etc.)

There have always been the homeless to some degree, however, it wasn't until Ronnie Reagan shut down all of the mental hospitals and went after the disabled and elderly (who he called welfare frauds...how does one lie about being elderly? ...or having cerebal palsey?) that we began to see the hordes of homeless people. Many of the people who are now in jails used to be in mental hospitals receiving medication to help them...but Ronnie just had to have more money...and, now you know where he got it. (A true Republican...steal from the poor to give to the rich).

People don't just wake up one day and decide "hey I think I'll be homeless from now on". They've pretty much lost everything at that point.

most are mentally ill and they closed down most state hospitals that used to house them, so most have nothing else.

They may be at fault but it surely was not a conscious decision on their part. Around here the decision would be to stay that way....the reasoning is simple agencies that give the best hand up...won't tolerate booze or drug...those are the decision makers now aren't they?

Sometimes circumstances befall them that they really can't control, therefore leaving them homeless. Some people don't have a plan or the means to achieve a place to live, others are just plain trifling and don't care. They would rather spend their money on drugs and booze than a comfortable place to lay their heads.

some don't have a choice..like runaways from abusive families...they don't leave home for no reason....some make a choice and become homeless because they just like to sponge off of others...some peoples marriages break down...some people may be on the run...there's lots of reasons...but i would not like to be one of them....

Well, I'd say that the majority of them aren't choosing to be homeless. Would you hire someone if they didn't even have an address to send a check to? Some have mental problems, and can't take care of themselves. Others are roped into sexual slavery, or have horrible drug addictions.

Now, for the ones who DO choose to be homeless.. some are hobos, or travelers. They hop trains and travel the country without settling down, see the world, that whole bit. They're actually fascinating people if you ever get a chance to meet one. Some people just don't want a job, or make better money being homeless. (Some can make up to 400$ a day in busy areas.. thats alot more then I make!) Some enjoy the freedom of it. Some are honestly lazy, and know that others will feed them, clothe them, and give them places to sleep if they don't bother doing it for themselves. There are many reasons!

I think, they were succesful at one time and things went bad for them and now it is just way to hard for them to get what they had back and they give up.



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