5 ms·

What is sad, a lot of homeless have serious mental health issues, anecdotal evidence, I seem to see a lot of former military.

malkia 11y ago
Same here, I often talk to them, give them money (you can't give them food, so sometimes if they are nearby fast-food place or some store take them with you and buy the things they need). There was a guy years ago that lived outside a store across West-side Pavillion (near Pico & Overland). He talked to me that he was stationed in Germany long time ago, then came back here, something happened, lost all of his documents, but something was going to happen for him, and he really liked going back to Germany. Years before this, somewhere on Ocean Park Blvd, across the Activision HQ, there were these two homeless old dudes, drunk and barely walking - and we said that we are programmers - and he asked as about "C" and that he worked at AT&T long time ago with Denis Richie, Ken Thompson, etc... and I don't know whether to believe him or not, but I doubt many people would know about the founders of the "C" language.
- morgante 11y ago
  > you can't give them food Why can't you give them food?
  - malkia 11y ago
    Law forbids it. If you are concerned that they might spent their money of drugs/alcohol, then you should invite them with you to the store/restaurant and buy them what they want. We were with my family at a very cool Greek Restaurant (Papa Cristo's in Los Angeles), and I went outside and saw someone without shoes with hat, that looked he walked quite the distance - not homeless, but more looked like recent immigrant, barely spoke english - so I invited him in, and let him and helped him order what he wanted, then asked him does he has place to stay, and he said that he's walking to his sister. I didn't asked anymore as that was not my point. The thing is, it's very easy to help someone, and we do it, or at least I, because my central nervous system feels good after that - I'm atheist, don't believe in karma, but I like this feeling. I'm actually being egoist about it. Not sure how we as humans developed it, and recently read some articles that dog might exhibit the same behavior, but definitely I don't see the point of not helping someone, if you can. Humans have been helping each other not only recently (as in thousands of years), but there are fossil records of our ancestor helping their own, where people clearly with disabilities (born, or later broken arm, teeth, etc.) were being helped, as the findings show that they were able to live much longer compared to if they were not helped. And sometimes I won't help them. There is a guy, that had a very exciting story of him finding a new job and wife, and I always helped him, but then understood it's a lie. I'm a bit of a introvert when comes to such situations, and instead of confronting him, I just decide to avoid. I just don't know how to judge people fallen into such situations.
    - dostick 11y ago
      That's a myth. You absolutely can donate food and there's no any law forbidding or giving you any legal consequences. Stupid myth that gets tons of food wasted every day. Check out the recent John Oliver piece about it, http://youtu.be/i8xwLWb0lLY http://youtu.be/i8xwLWb0lLY
    - morgante 11y ago
      > Law forbids it. If you're going to cite "the law" I'd ask you to point to a specific law. I did a quick Google search and apparently some smaller municipalities have bans on feeding the homeless, but those bans seem to be targeted primarily at unlicensed soup kitchens and such. I'm not sure how you would even devise a law which makes it possible to forbid giving the homeless your leftovers while not simultaneously making it illegal to share a candy bar with a friend. Until you present some actual evidence of this supposed law, I'll continue to feed the homeless.
    - hackuser 11y ago
      > Law forbids it. I believe some cities do have ordinances against giving food to the homeless. I'd be very surprised if they are enforced. Even if they are, here's a simple solution: How do you know who is homeless? Simply don't ask about their living accomodations.
    - jmspring 11y ago
      You will quickly learn that many of those panhandling in urban areas will not take you up on the offer for a mean. They want the dollars for their habit. Happens all the time here in Santa Cruz. Offer leftovers, no. Offer to buy food, no. In the discussion around homelessness, there are individuals that are on a self-destructive path involving drugs and until they want to change, they won't. The catalyst will vary, but often requires hitting rock bottom.
      - hackuser 11y ago
        I hear this story a lot but it has never been my experience; I've provided many meals to people who've wanted them (I can't say they were homeless, but it looked that way), and I've been asked for more. Could you provide any data or research to back it up? I'm concerned because so many myths, such as the 'welfare queen', are spread to undermine social welfare programs and, at the same time, cynically denigrate the weakest in our society. (I understand that might not be your intent, and you could simply be reporting what you've seen.)
- marincounty 11y ago
  Going from employed to homeless can happen pretty quick--to most professions. For some reason, I know too many homeless people who were former Programmers? The stories are varied. One guy was screwed out of his contribution to Word Star--I think? Another fell behind on his programming skills. The two are trying to make the best of it, but will never be employable again. I have seen them get jobs, but are fired after the first day. It seems like after you have been homeless for a period of time, a suit from Goodwill and good intentions are not enough? People see these guys and ask the rude questions, like "Hay, I hear Google is a great place to work!". They are well meaning, but don't have a clue to what a winter homeless can do to a person. The guys on the streets say around the one year mark of being homeless, your personality changes. The stress of being homeless takes its toll. Being harassed by Cops, daily, plays on your mind. Not having a safe, secure, legal spot to make camp becomes very stressful. They all can't find a place to use the restroom. If they happen to find a outhouse, you would think they found gold. The homeless guys, I know, just want a place to sleep that isn't illegial, and a outhouse. They don't want much. I think what too many people, in charge, don't realize is once you go homeless, it practically impossible to be that rent paying, employee again? People/Politicians mouth the words of help, but it's just words. Politicians just want to rid their town of the homeless. I guess it's denial?
  - malkia 11y ago
    Actually I started working at Google (Los Angeles) almost a year ago, and our office in Venice is full with homeless, but I haven't approached anyone yet. I'll be there all the time, and I feel that awkward situations might arise. I don't know how to help them really. There are tons of organizations supposedly dealing and helping, but I don't know what really goes on. (I've been "homeless" by my choice early in my student years, but it was more of a "beta" test done for fun and "education" - I was no longer eligible for the dormitory, back in Bulgaria - that would be one of the 40-50 high-rise buildings, and I slept in the "library" room for about a year, but lots of friends lived in the same building and I've used bathroom, even good bed, etc.). It was easy, as I was careless, hadn't been in the army (which made me a bit better in that respect), and lied to my family about my situation (they were still sending money). So clearly not really homeless, and on my own, but was able to touch little of the issues these people might hit, though very little.

malkia 11y ago

Same here, I often talk to them, give them money (you can't give them food, so sometimes if they are nearby fast-food place or some store take them with you and buy the things they need). There was a guy years ago that lived outside a store across West-side Pavillion (near Pico & Overland). He talked to me that he was stationed in Germany long time ago, then came back here, something happened, lost all of his documents, but something was going to happen for him, and he really liked going back to Germany. Years before this, somewhere on Ocean Park Blvd, across the Activision HQ, there were these two homeless old dudes, drunk and barely walking - and we said that we are programmers - and he asked as about "C" and that he worked at AT&T long time ago with Denis Richie, Ken Thompson, etc... and I don't know whether to believe him or not, but I doubt many people would know about the founders of the "C" language.

morgante 11y ago
> you can't give them food Why can't you give them food?
- malkia 11y ago
  Law forbids it. If you are concerned that they might spent their money of drugs/alcohol, then you should invite them with you to the store/restaurant and buy them what they want. We were with my family at a very cool Greek Restaurant (Papa Cristo's in Los Angeles), and I went outside and saw someone without shoes with hat, that looked he walked quite the distance - not homeless, but more looked like recent immigrant, barely spoke english - so I invited him in, and let him and helped him order what he wanted, then asked him does he has place to stay, and he said that he's walking to his sister. I didn't asked anymore as that was not my point. The thing is, it's very easy to help someone, and we do it, or at least I, because my central nervous system feels good after that - I'm atheist, don't believe in karma, but I like this feeling. I'm actually being egoist about it. Not sure how we as humans developed it, and recently read some articles that dog might exhibit the same behavior, but definitely I don't see the point of not helping someone, if you can. Humans have been helping each other not only recently (as in thousands of years), but there are fossil records of our ancestor helping their own, where people clearly with disabilities (born, or later broken arm, teeth, etc.) were being helped, as the findings show that they were able to live much longer compared to if they were not helped. And sometimes I won't help them. There is a guy, that had a very exciting story of him finding a new job and wife, and I always helped him, but then understood it's a lie. I'm a bit of a introvert when comes to such situations, and instead of confronting him, I just decide to avoid. I just don't know how to judge people fallen into such situations.
  - dostick 11y ago
    That's a myth. You absolutely can donate food and there's no any law forbidding or giving you any legal consequences. Stupid myth that gets tons of food wasted every day. Check out the recent John Oliver piece about it, http://youtu.be/i8xwLWb0lLY http://youtu.be/i8xwLWb0lLY
  - morgante 11y ago
    > Law forbids it. If you're going to cite "the law" I'd ask you to point to a specific law. I did a quick Google search and apparently some smaller municipalities have bans on feeding the homeless, but those bans seem to be targeted primarily at unlicensed soup kitchens and such. I'm not sure how you would even devise a law which makes it possible to forbid giving the homeless your leftovers while not simultaneously making it illegal to share a candy bar with a friend. Until you present some actual evidence of this supposed law, I'll continue to feed the homeless.
  - hackuser 11y ago
    > Law forbids it. I believe some cities do have ordinances against giving food to the homeless. I'd be very surprised if they are enforced. Even if they are, here's a simple solution: How do you know who is homeless? Simply don't ask about their living accomodations.
  - jmspring 11y ago
    You will quickly learn that many of those panhandling in urban areas will not take you up on the offer for a mean. They want the dollars for their habit. Happens all the time here in Santa Cruz. Offer leftovers, no. Offer to buy food, no. In the discussion around homelessness, there are individuals that are on a self-destructive path involving drugs and until they want to change, they won't. The catalyst will vary, but often requires hitting rock bottom.
    - hackuser 11y ago
      I hear this story a lot but it has never been my experience; I've provided many meals to people who've wanted them (I can't say they were homeless, but it looked that way), and I've been asked for more. Could you provide any data or research to back it up? I'm concerned because so many myths, such as the 'welfare queen', are spread to undermine social welfare programs and, at the same time, cynically denigrate the weakest in our society. (I understand that might not be your intent, and you could simply be reporting what you've seen.)
marincounty 11y ago
Going from employed to homeless can happen pretty quick--to most professions. For some reason, I know too many homeless people who were former Programmers? The stories are varied. One guy was screwed out of his contribution to Word Star--I think? Another fell behind on his programming skills. The two are trying to make the best of it, but will never be employable again. I have seen them get jobs, but are fired after the first day. It seems like after you have been homeless for a period of time, a suit from Goodwill and good intentions are not enough? People see these guys and ask the rude questions, like "Hay, I hear Google is a great place to work!". They are well meaning, but don't have a clue to what a winter homeless can do to a person. The guys on the streets say around the one year mark of being homeless, your personality changes. The stress of being homeless takes its toll. Being harassed by Cops, daily, plays on your mind. Not having a safe, secure, legal spot to make camp becomes very stressful. They all can't find a place to use the restroom. If they happen to find a outhouse, you would think they found gold. The homeless guys, I know, just want a place to sleep that isn't illegial, and a outhouse. They don't want much. I think what too many people, in charge, don't realize is once you go homeless, it practically impossible to be that rent paying, employee again? People/Politicians mouth the words of help, but it's just words. Politicians just want to rid their town of the homeless. I guess it's denial?
- malkia 11y ago
  Actually I started working at Google (Los Angeles) almost a year ago, and our office in Venice is full with homeless, but I haven't approached anyone yet. I'll be there all the time, and I feel that awkward situations might arise. I don't know how to help them really. There are tons of organizations supposedly dealing and helping, but I don't know what really goes on. (I've been "homeless" by my choice early in my student years, but it was more of a "beta" test done for fun and "education" - I was no longer eligible for the dormitory, back in Bulgaria - that would be one of the 40-50 high-rise buildings, and I slept in the "library" room for about a year, but lots of friends lived in the same building and I've used bathroom, even good bed, etc.). It was easy, as I was careless, hadn't been in the army (which made me a bit better in that respect), and lied to my family about my situation (they were still sending money). So clearly not really homeless, and on my own, but was able to touch little of the issues these people might hit, though very little.