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An ex of mine worked with the homeless through a training program attached to a shelter. Maybe 2 or 3 out of 10 took the training seriously and were stable enou

An ex of mine worked with the homeless through a training program attached to a shelter. Maybe 2 or 3 out of 10 took the training seriously and were stable enough to actually put it to any use. The rest were just there for free bus passes and meals, or were too unstable to hold even an unskilled job for a month. The hardest part was that those who needed help the most could have gotten it through the program, but were so untrusting of seeing a doctor that they flat out refused- most thought they would be locked up in a ward or some similar conspiracy fear. Winter around here is no joke, and it is hard to see them and not want to help, but the truth is that the visibly homeless don't want it enough to change. The invisible homeless- the people who don't look like a living stereotype- usually make it out because they still have hope.

DenisM 6y ago
People who are seriously helped by the program will not return, but those who were not helped will come back. Over the long run the program will be full of people who cannot be helped and a small number who will do well. So seeing 2 out of 10 doing well does not shed light on the program's success.
ditonal 6y ago
As someone who had the unfortunate experience of being locked in a psych ward, there’s nothing “conspiracy” related about the fear of being involuntary committed, where you get stripped of all basic rights with no trial.
- Aerroon 6y ago
  And there's usually no legal recourse either. It has to be some extreme abuse for the possibility to sue successfully.
Aerroon 6y ago
>most thought they would be locked up in a ward or some similar conspiracy fear. This fear is quite legitimate though. Search around online forums for involuntary commitment and you'll see lots of horror stories. There are even news articles about it.[0] If a homeless person can get back on their feet, then they are a full member of society with all the same rights as everyone else. If they get institutionalized, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then that'll be a mark that follows them around. They will be denied some rights.[1] A patient at such a facility often has fewer rights than even people in prison. At least in prison if your time is up then you'll be released. The problems don't stop there either. Misdiagnoses are common. Even when they aren't, it's likely that the treatment they offer has no or minimal effect. It's also possible that the trauma of being in such a facility causes issues of its own. I can completely understand why people would prefer to struggle with their problems as homeless, but free, rather than go to such a facility. [0] https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/public-crisis-private-toll-free-to-check-in-but-not-to-leave-washington-mental-health-care/ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/pub... [1] https://reason.com/volokh/2020/09/10/the-second-amendment-and-people-who-had-been-involuntarily-committed-20-years-ago/ https://reason.com/volokh/2020/09/10/the-second-amendment-an...

DenisM 6y ago

People who are seriously helped by the program will not return, but those who were not helped will come back. Over the long run the program will be full of people who cannot be helped and a small number who will do well. So seeing 2 out of 10 doing well does not shed light on the program's success.

ditonal 6y ago

As someone who had the unfortunate experience of being locked in a psych ward, there’s nothing “conspiracy” related about the fear of being involuntary committed, where you get stripped of all basic rights with no trial.

Aerroon 6y ago
And there's usually no legal recourse either. It has to be some extreme abuse for the possibility to sue successfully.

Aerroon 6y ago

>most thought they would be locked up in a ward or some similar conspiracy fear. This fear is quite legitimate though. Search around online forums for involuntary commitment and you'll see lots of horror stories. There are even news articles about it.[0] If a homeless person can get back on their feet, then they are a full member of society with all the same rights as everyone else. If they get institutionalized, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then that'll be a mark that follows them around. They will be denied some rights.[1] A patient at such a facility often has fewer rights than even people in prison. At least in prison if your time is up then you'll be released. The problems don't stop there either. Misdiagnoses are common. Even when they aren't, it's likely that the treatment they offer has no or minimal effect. It's also possible that the trauma of being in such a facility causes issues of its own. I can completely understand why people would prefer to struggle with their problems as homeless, but free, rather than go to such a facility. [0] https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/public-crisis-private-toll-free-to-check-in-but-not-to-leave-washington-mental-health-care/ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/pub... [1] https://reason.com/volokh/2020/09/10/the-second-amendment-and-people-who-had-been-involuntarily-committed-20-years-ago/ https://reason.com/volokh/2020/09/10/the-second-amendment-an...