Quote Originally Posted by bckrazy
In my experience, I have known kids who ran away and were homeless for a short while. This could be completely different in other cities, but in almost any big city in Cali, there are tons of homeless shelters. They feed them, clothe them, set them up for job interviews, etc.. and not in ratty clothing, in nice clothing!

I think it's just as sad to think of homeless people as hopeless as it is to think of them as lazy.

I know from personal experience with really close friends, that there IS a system to fall back on in this country (in most areas). It isn't perfect. But much of the time the fact is, it's easier to sit around and ask for money than it is to get up and get clothing & food, become free of drugs, and add to society. I really feel for people who are briefly in a bad time in their lives, and I understand that. But to actually LIVE for an extended period of time on the street, means something to me. It means this person either needs mental help, or is doing drugs/alcohol, because shelters do not tolerate druggies and won't hand out money.
bc...
you speak from "your experience" which is certainly valuable. But you should also consider that at the tender age of 18, your experience is often somewhat limited. And yes, society often reaches out and makes a greater effort to turn around the lives of our young people who have gone astray. It only makes sense... for many reasons. First off, they haven't strayed too far from beaten path for too long to be considered "a lost cause". Secondly, it is in society's interest to correct a rightable wrong, given that a lifelong investment in social welfare and perhaps incarceration (jail) is far more expensive than wayward youth programs and job training.

But a middle aged man/woman, or a family displaced, dysfunctional and uneducated is another matter! And yes... oftentimes they "are mentally impaired as well" - this only makes matters worse and even less appealing to the established existing programs. I used to wish that "somebody" would take care of these people. I mean GOD, they are just difficult to even "see" let alone interact with. Then I grew older and saw more of life and realized "I am 'somebody'".