I can’t comment with authority on the USA, but from what I read the homeless problem is worse than in Australia (we have a reasonable social benefits system) and it’s bad enough here. I’ve worked the soup kitchens and shelters and most of the people on the street have mental disease and those who don’t are so broken as human beings it’s gut wrenching. Many have no families or come from families you’d never want to have anyway. They have sunk so low they think scrounging through garbage bins is a life. Does that sound like someone who can pull himself together to get a job and communicate with average people with their judgments? And that’s not even talking about the junkies and drunks and the people who have resorted to selling ass.

It’s true you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to save themselves, but these days society is so intoxicated with the stories of life’s winners and so want to be a winner themselves, they don’t want to know about the losers. From them, we turn away.

Sorry, if I’ve got a bit intense about this but I have very strong feelings about poverty, disadvantage and mental illness in wealthy western natures like ours.

Kelly

@ Marelisa: it’s very true that there will always be those who take advantage of a strong social system. However, I still believe that a society needs to provide support to the weak and ill – even if in some cases it will encourage certain individuals to exploit the system.

@ Andre: The best way I found so far to handle this is to donate. Glad you feel the same.

@ Miranda: small town Utah… I love how the internet connects people from different places and backgrounds. I suppose homeless people choose the city because they have better chances of surviving there – better access to shelters and to more people who would give them money.

@ Suzie: this just goes to show you how sheltered my life is. I have never seen a homeless shelter.

@ Jen: “It’s difficult to see another human being reduced this way.” Exactly.

@ Belem: Thank you so much for saying that.