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Long standing issue of Homelessness in America (and the world)

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  • 21-08-2009 12:56am
    #1
    Overheal
    Registered Users Posts: 83,313 ✭✭✭✭


    Following on from this thread, before it goes entirely down AH's left tit:

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=61716352

    A point is made here. America is a World Leader. Imagine if we could create the new world model for defeating the homeless problem.

    We have a huge issue there. Like I say in the thread, Tent Cities are not new. They are a cute cover word for Shanties. And homeless Americans (and illegals granted, that are there to start their own american dream, just like Scarface) are forced to live in them, or find shelter on the streets.

    Put down healthcare for a moment: whats happening with these tent cities? Is it just a reflection on typical homeless percentages scaled up due to american population and city density? is there a binding social factor that can be addressed? Assuming there will always be a certain % of deadbeats addicts and lowlifes that will always be doomed to homelessness, which ones can we save? Should they be saved? Or should we simply give them the means to earn what they put their effort into?

    Im in favor, a bit, of giving the minimum. The Sense of Entitlement of most people, is just sickening. I mean in Ireland, the average dole seeker doesnt see it as a priveledge to get enough money every week to keep their couch. They feel they are owed it, no matter what. But thats a whole other kettle of fish: I think more/some of it it should be given out as food stamps and rent vouchers; not cash in hand.

    On the other hand, some of the greatest american success stories started at the very bottom in these slums. The greatest people in the country started from rags to riches, literally. Its how we got coined The American Dream. Would we complety destroy the average man's sense of ambition if we constantly followed them around and said Its OK to Do nothing, because you'll always have a couch.


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    #2
    worldrepublic
    Closed Accounts Posts: 227 ✭✭worldrepublic


    As long as they are government regulated tents everyone can rest easy...


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    #3
    Black Swan
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,258 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    Overheal wrote: »
    Assuming there will always be a certain % of deadbeats addicts and lowlifes that will always be doomed to homelessness, which ones can we save? Should they be saved?
    Ran across a book when wandering about the stacks at the UCI main library by Joan Petersilia, a prof that researches and teaches in their highly ranked criminal/social justice programme. After wading through piles of statistics that go back decades in the USA, she drew some interesting conclusions about these "lowlifes" that are released from the nation's prisons.

    Most wanted this American Dream you referenced, and were hoping for a fresh start upon release, but the stigma, discrimination in employment, poverty, and lack of basic job skills contributed to their failure to adjust and become contributing members of American society. If they didn't return to crime (two-thirds do within the first three years), many ended up homeless in these tent cities you referenced. Only a small percentage survived to somehow overcome the barriers and succeed as law abiding citizens.

    She concluded that, like it or not, the reality was that law abiding society could pay now, or pay later. Pay now by providing job skills and transitional help for these newly released prisoners, or pay later by becoming future victims of crime, as well as the associated costs of criminal justice (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment).

    Of course, you can lock them up and throw away the key, but in California they are now having budgetry problems just housing well over hundred thousand prisoners at about $26,000 each per year. And guess what, Governator Arnie is planning to release thousands of these convicted criminals early, in a budget cutting measure. Not because they are ready to become productive citizens and pursue the American Dream, but because California is billions over budget and is close to being bankrupt.

    So what's going to happen to many of these "lowlife" prisoners when suddenly released upon society without money, job skills, or transitional help of some sort? The California law abiding citizens will be lucky if these people somehow survive without resorting to crime in the many growing tent cities?


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