RainyDay1235
charlabob – you are SO RIGHT. Mental illness cannot be underestimated. It is an epidemic. In the past three years I know someone who committed a violent crime due to mental illness, and a dear friend who lost her life to someone who was repeatedly released back into society. How we deal with mental illness in the US is embarrassing and a HUGE cause for alarm.
If people are simply homeless by choice, I admit I have little sympathy. If they were living “off the land” and not looking for a free ride, that would be one thing. But these are the same people who beg, borrow, and steal to support their unorthodox lifestyle – all within the society they supposedly reject.
Not to mention bite the hand that literally feeds them and leave their temporary homeless camps a complete mess. The SeattleTimes had a very eye-opening article about the volunteer clean-up effort after a local camp “disbanded” a few months ago. These camps are not the solution, and only encourage the renegade liftstyle.
As for the ‘hit hard times’ crowd – it can happen to anyone, and we should all have access to help every now and then. Seattle has MANY regulated job training programs, shelters, and other resources in place. I’ve volunteered at several. I also agree there should be a way to monitor who is coming, how often and what they have done to improve their situation.
The system is not perfect, but the resources ARE there for those who really want help – and it can work – as long as we focus on empowerment and self-reliance instead of handouts.
Was that too optimistic? ;)