Interesting thread so far, its a pretty good study just in this short thread about how society views "Homeless" people. Nobody has really come up with a solution for it. There are some "hard liners" as well as some "bleeding hearts"
I am not trying to slam anybody, just showing the range of opinions. I used to live in the downtown area of Vancouver and have seen just about everything, from the drug addicts, prostitutes, the seedier criminal side as well as the "regular hard working people" as well. I have had the misfortune of seeing a 15yr old girl take a dive from a 12 story balcony, I have seen people stabbed and have been around when shots have been fired. I have seen the results after a pimp beats the crap out of a prostitute so you might think I would be jaded in some topics discussed here. I have also seen the good side of people that try to help, shelters to keep people out of the cold, some churches that feed these people on a regular basis and even kids at schools taking warm clothes to the "Street People". My living in Vancouver's downtown area was 25+ years ago. So has it changed or is it worse. After visiting it again a few months ago I would say the situation is worse, but there isn't any difference as to the reasons these people are there. Sure there are some that can and choose not to work, there are some that are mentally imbalanced and cannot work as well as the ones that the drugs and booze have affected their abilities to work. There are the success stories of the ones who kicked their habits and now function in what we call a responsible manner. Our B.C. government has just announced that they will be opening up a facility for the mentally unbalanced people although I think it will be woefully insufficient. I have a daughter who is/was addicted to "crack" and has been battling it, and has been clean for the last couple of years. I know what she has done for money and drugs and as a father if I had the opportunity to go back in time and break the guy up who got her hooked... well it would be a tempting offer..but as an adult I have
no say as to what she does, when she was arrested they wouldnt tell me what for unless she told them. She was 19yrs old then. I will also point out that she has been living with her mother off and on in Calgary for the last 7 yrs.{Not a slam on Calgary} The sad part of it all is if she was 15 she would qualify for medical help and I as her parent could have some say as to her getting help. I am talking about councilling as well as medical help, as a young adult she falls through the cracks in society.The view from the government is that as an adult you are supposedly capable of making all the decisions unless you are a danger to the public. So as a father of a daughter who has been on and off the streets I agree there should be more done. As a taxpayer I also agree that we are being taxed to death and I dont want to pay anymore tax's. I commend the people and organizations who try to help but I also agree there are some people that are beyond all help and what do you do with them? If there was a simple solution it would have been dealt with by now. It was one of the toughest things I ever had to do by telling my daughter that unless she got off the drugs and got help that I would not help her anymore.You may not agree with my methods but it started her in the right direction. "tough love"? I hope she stays clean and off the streets as I cannot monitor her
every move, so as a society we cannot monitor
every homeless person or the reasons they are there. Now before I end this little statement I will say that I have 4 children and 3 are just fine. Yes there has been some typical teen drinking and drug use that we were aware of but not to the extent of my one daughter. All are adults now and pursuing their careers and so far doing well. My daughter was never abused and came from a loving home. I am probably classed as upper middle class and as you can see it doesnt matter. My daughter was homeless because she was a young girl who made a mistake and was not mentally strong enough at the time to get out of it. She can also slip back into this as well, I know. An addict is alway an addict. I am not really pointing fingers at anyone or anything, just stating that this thread could go on for a very long time. There is NO immediate solution to the homeless issue at this point..Sad but true
