4 ms·

I am currently homeless in Washington state (disabled with Schizoaffective Disorder) and for them to be surprised that “most people want housing” is pretty obvi

I am currently homeless in Washington state (disabled with Schizoaffective Disorder) and for them to be surprised that “most people want housing” is pretty obvious. I know my illness is made worse by the stress of living in a minivan, but no one cares. I am nearing 60 as well. Being mentally ill and white is a death sentence in “the richest country in the world”.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
> Being mentally ill and white is a death sentence in “the richest country in the world”. How would it be better if you weren't white? Is there some racism going on in social services provided? Also, this isn't really the richest country in the world on a per-capita basis. Switzerland, for example, is a lot richer than America.
- bombcar 3y ago
  There is definitely sexism. There’s an entire program named “women, infants, and children”. A completely competent person would have difficulty navigating the Byzantine and Kafkaesque world of government and social services help. I don’t see an easy path for someone with difficulties.
  - ryan_lane 3y ago
    WIC is for nutrition for children. It includes women, but ones that are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum, as they're providing nutrition to children. Men can use this program with their infants and children as well. I'm not saying that social programs are easy to navigate, but saying that the game is rigged against white men is absurd.
    - worik 3y ago
      > but saying that the game is rigged against white men is absurd. Yes. But for an individual white man with no family nor means, it does not look like that The real absurdity is the avarice, bigotry, and prejudice that bought us here
- FollowingTheDao 3y ago
  > How would it be better if you weren't white? It is my experience, so I am not saying this is statistical proof, but many of the lower income areas are African American and the services run by the same group. And by that community I am seen to have some kind of advantage because I am white that never appears for me. And I was literally told I would not want to work with a group because it would put me in a densely African American apartment complex. I am not claiming "reverse racism" or anything, that would be stupid. Just saying how it is for me. People claiming that white people have it easy are projecting the same stereotypes or people living with mental illness.
- swearwolf 3y ago
  I live in Portland, and I have some friends who work in homeless services. They follow an equity model, which places those with the highest level of intersectional need first, particularly BIPOC people. White, cisgender men are thought to have the least intersectional need, and therefore they receive the least support. In practical, day-to-day terms, this means that BIPOC with marginal housing are given priority over non-BIPOC with no housing at all.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

> Being mentally ill and white is a death sentence in “the richest country in the world”. How would it be better if you weren't white? Is there some racism going on in social services provided? Also, this isn't really the richest country in the world on a per-capita basis. Switzerland, for example, is a lot richer than America.

bombcar 3y ago
There is definitely sexism. There’s an entire program named “women, infants, and children”. A completely competent person would have difficulty navigating the Byzantine and Kafkaesque world of government and social services help. I don’t see an easy path for someone with difficulties.
- ryan_lane 3y ago
  WIC is for nutrition for children. It includes women, but ones that are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum, as they're providing nutrition to children. Men can use this program with their infants and children as well. I'm not saying that social programs are easy to navigate, but saying that the game is rigged against white men is absurd.
  - worik 3y ago
    > but saying that the game is rigged against white men is absurd. Yes. But for an individual white man with no family nor means, it does not look like that The real absurdity is the avarice, bigotry, and prejudice that bought us here
FollowingTheDao 3y ago
> How would it be better if you weren't white? It is my experience, so I am not saying this is statistical proof, but many of the lower income areas are African American and the services run by the same group. And by that community I am seen to have some kind of advantage because I am white that never appears for me. And I was literally told I would not want to work with a group because it would put me in a densely African American apartment complex. I am not claiming "reverse racism" or anything, that would be stupid. Just saying how it is for me. People claiming that white people have it easy are projecting the same stereotypes or people living with mental illness.
swearwolf 3y ago
I live in Portland, and I have some friends who work in homeless services. They follow an equity model, which places those with the highest level of intersectional need first, particularly BIPOC people. White, cisgender men are thought to have the least intersectional need, and therefore they receive the least support. In practical, day-to-day terms, this means that BIPOC with marginal housing are given priority over non-BIPOC with no housing at all.