.

Yah, scary shite. That dude freaks me out.

I hate when I have to work downtown. I also hate 17th Ave and the uninvited window washers. I like blasting on the horn just before they touch down, when you have already said no.

I hate the downtown parkades with elevators that have crap and blood on the walls.

I pretty much think we all have a right to feel safe.

My brother did some computer help work at the Mustard Seed, there are some who want to get past their current dilemma for sure.

However, I wouldn't want this in my neighborhood either.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMA...calgary.ctv.ca

The problem is that most people only think about when it inconveniences them. Or when they feel threatened because someone's sleeping in a stairwell, etc.

There's a difference between crime and homelessness. There's also a difference between annoying people on the street....and homelessness.

I just recently read a province-wide study that was conducted over 4 years, and surveyed young men living on the street, who used prostitution/sexual exploitation as a means for survival. Almost 86% of them left home because of abuse. Most of them started trading sex for shelter, food or clothes. Drugs sometimes became an issue, sometimes did not. Did they CHOOSE to leave home and make their way on the streets? Yes. Sure....if you call that a choice. Did they CHOOSE to have abusive families? No. Did they CHOOSE to do something about it and leave? Does that show a hidden resilience? A strength?

YES.

So that's where I'm coming from. Find that hidden resilience/strength as a starting point. Criticizing and making idiotic generalizations is not only pointless, but insulting.

And maybe I feel particularly passionate about this, because I've devoted the last half decade to it. I can tell a new story every single day....and to hear it wrapped up tidily in such superficial ways is insane to me!

Personally, I would like to see the homeless have more public toilets made available. I think this could be a good thing.

This way, I don't have to see some woman squat down to have a crap when I am taking my grandchildren to the zoo.

Nor would I have to walk through it in high heels from a parking lot in Inglewood.

I feel the compassion....for your high heels.

OMG what is wrong with this. It is a subsidized housing complex? Everyone wants them off the street but they don't want them in there neighbourhood. Its the vicious circle...we want them off the street,but they can't get off the street without affordable housing,so we set up affordable housing but we don't want it in our neighbourhood.Where are they supposed to live in the booneys?

Subsidized housing means a few different things. They are either employed and just need some help when it comes to rent(gee do you think in Alberta) Or they have a physical or mental health issue and they are on a program like AISH.

I agree with the fact that people who moved to Alberta to enjoy the "boom" Should have researched alot more before they came. BUT they do not deserve to live on the streets with there families. And what about the people who were born and raised Albertans that have been pushed out of there homes by over bearing and money hungry lanlords that thought it would be okay to raise the rent 1000.00 at a time. What about them???

I can tell you about them...They are the casulties of our "BOOM" They are the ones that have gotten lost in our system. And they are the ones who will suffer the consequences in more ways then everyone thinks. Then starts in the severe deppression as they have nothing. Then regular run of the mill people like you and i have mental health issues. And it just spirals from there.

Like really people we all want to point a finger but no one wants to do anything about it but whine and complain.Do what ever you need to do but don't bring it to my back yard?How is that a solution to the problem.

I've been working in the downtown core for the past decade. After all this time I see the same people on the same corners begging for money after ll these years. The current system is not working, but I don't have the answers on how to fix it.

I really don't think Broncos plan of giving them all a place to live is going to make a difference.

I agree that there are a lot of mental health issues in the homeless community.

Speaking of walking the plus 15's I assume you are talking about the one dude that wears the brown work overalls and jacket? That guy is lucky to be alive as during the summer he tends to walk in traffic, last summer he came within literally 2" of being a splatter on my bush guard.. scared the crap out of me!!

Sometimes persisted substance addiction is not choice. When an individual attempts to quit, they normally lapse into what is known as a withdrawl phase.

During this phase of abstinence, they experience a variety of symptoms both somatic and psychological and as a result, they regain substance use to take away these symptoms.

This is why addictions are hard to dissolve; you always have to consider the negative feedback that occurs. So for those that only talk about addiction superficially, albeit shallowly accurate, you guys need to learn more about it before presuming what addiction really is.

An example of a family member is not proof, it's an illustration.

There are actually a few that I see - one talks to himself constantly, another almost giggles constantly, and then there's a really sad looking young man dressed all in black - one look in his eyes and you know he's really not there. It breaks my heart, because this is someone's child. And he needs to be institutionalized. I can't imagine he ever showers, and I can't imagine where he sleeps or obtains food.

I also see the 'regulars' who sit on the corners and panhandle. They are usually clean, and appear to be well fed. Instead of dropping money in their hats, I am a monthly contributor to the United Way - half my contribution goes to shelters, the other half to addiction programs.

For anyone who hasn't seen it - there is a couple from Vancouver who put together a Homeless Wish List for Christmas. It was a fantastic idea - they obtained personal stories from each individual, along with their 'wish list'. Many of them simply wanted a clean pair of socks, or bus tickets. By reading their stories, you realize that these are individuals, and they ended up where they are from a wide variety of causes. I was especially saddened by the number of men who ended up on the street because they could not get past a divorce, the loss of their family, their home, etc. Our own coping skills are not something we should ever take for granted...

There were also many cases of mental illness, such as schizophrenia. Please don't tell me someone CHOSE to be born with that.

Every individual case of homelessness is just that....some are similiar....some arent even close....some make a bad choice and some are dealt it....but either way we arent going to do anything here except argue over each others individual opinions which really....we are all right.....no buddy's opinion is better then anyone elses......some are harsh...some are more sympathetic.....some deal with it and some avoid and ignore it....we could pick pretty much any topic and argue over it because we will all have a different opinion on it....and it will get heated and then it all starts.....

I dont know what the answer is for homelessness.....but from most of the homelessness that I have seen....somewhere along their life path....a bad decision was made and it all spirals out of control from there.....can they make it back?...Im sure some can....but Im also sure some dont want to....not saying they chose to be homeless...but some chose not to work...and sorry...homeless comes with that...

Part of that reason is because there are:

1. Ignorants that think they know about the topic.

2. Mildly informed people that have preconceptions about the topic.

3. Not necessarily educated people that work in the "industry," but have done sufficient research to understand many dimensions of the topic.

Unfortunately, a large part of well-meaning, mature adults fit into the 2nd category. Most have not bothered to go beyond their personal experiences and what the media broadasts. Furthermore, they can only make superficially accurate assumptions based on the aforementioned items.

I mean, man, when you read scholarly journals as well and statistical results regarding deviance and social reintegration, you'll lose alot of preconceptions that you might have had prior.

It's not about blaming fault on those that don't spend hours reading peer reviewed journal articles, but that's just the fact of the matter when it comes to analyzing what most people know in regards to things we see everyday.