Homeless person living behind my apartments...my heart hurts for him.

by FreedomFrog 22 Replies latest jw friends

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  Tyrone van leyen

  Very good point Mrs. Mc D. I just wanted to define homelessness and the streets a little further. When I say " On the Steeets" that can mean many different things as there are many levels of street life. It can literally mean living there as many actually do with no home. I knew a fellow named animal, that was like that. He came from a menonite community and literally lived on the street. That is extremely harsh. They pan handle and try to get little extras. You can see them at missions for food but they do not choose to sleep there. Most of the time a lot of these folks can pick up a street allowance from welfare unless they have abused the system. I have been homeless a couple of times and been ouside but I could not live that way for long. I have pan handled and slept at missions many times but didn't want it as a life style. If you live at the YMCA you are considered homelss in the eyes of the government.

  As far as street life goes well there's those who hang out, those who cause trouble, those who deal drugs, those who work as prostitutes, male and female on the strip. They have homes or places to go to but they spend most of there time on the streets. Thats what I mean when I say I was a street person. I met all kinds in my travels. One fellow I met was an Xjw that did chalk drawings on the side walk. He did 10 years in kingston Penn for bank robbery. I knew another felow xjw that was a male prostitute. I've met xjw strippers before too. This is an element a lot of people on this board may not be as familiar with. I do not feel sorry for all homeless people some of them want to be there.

  I did know a very nice guy that was actually homeless for 10 years. He was an ex mormon. He was the kindest fellow I ever knew. He wore the same clothes year after year sewing them and carried all his possessions in a bag. He was a great looking guy but something I beleive was troubling him deeply and his teeth and everthing else were starting to deteriorate. I always used to bring him to my little apt. when I saw him. He is an artist but a drifter and he will probably die in the very hole he dug in the ground for his shelter which he covers with a board. This post is for you Jeff.I will post a pic of me with my freind Scott Marshall when we was buds. He since moved to New Zealand and I hope his life has gotten better. I hope I can find it.
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  greendawn

  You have a big heart given your attitude towards the down and out, who knows why this person became homeless what sort of a problem caused it? I can't see a JW having that kind of attitude.
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  Tyrone van leyen

  I hope this works. I havn't used photo bucket in a while. This is me and my xjw freind Scott Marshall

  
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  Tyrone van leyen

  Ya Gd everyone has a staory and as was mentioned above, I myself have the same moto of " There before the grace of God go I". It could be anyone of us. I also agree that I don't think the witnesses give a ratrs ass to this as they are the ones who send a lot of people on this road.
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  TopHat

  Yes, Same here Freedom Frog, I haven't seen them but have read a few news stories of the homeless making a home in the woods and near the train stations...mostly they are illegal aliens...How they survive the NY winters is beyond me!
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  Elsewhere

  A few years ago I got a job in the downtown area of Dallas. At first I felt for all of the homeless guys down there and would give them a dollar when they asked.

  Over time I started to realize that I was seeing the same guys all the time. Year after year it's the same ones! They obviously are not in a "hard time". Instead they appear to have chosen being a "homeless" person as a career.

  • In the morning I get up and go to a building where I toil away in front of a computer, then I go home with the money I earned.
  • The "homeless" guys get up in the morning, walk around downtown asking for money, then they return to wherever they come from with the money they got.

  If someone was to experience a hard time where they temporarily needed help, I'd help them. However, when I see a person make a career of begging, I have to stop and ask myself if I'm being conned.

  For all of those who also don't like to give these career beggars money, here is a tip: No one likes to reply "I don't have any money". This is mainly because the bum will become agitated and accuse you of lying and then become hostile. Instead of saying you don't have any money, I have figured out that saying "Not today man." while I pass will totally disarm them. Its a new response they have not heard and don't know how to respond, so they leave you alone.
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  Highlander

  For all of those who also don't like to give these career beggars money, here is a tip: No one likes to reply "I don't have any money". This is mainly because the bum will become agitated and accuse you of lying and then become hostile. Instead of saying you don't have any money, I have figured out that saying "Not today man." while I pass will totally disarm them. Its a new response they have not heard and don't know how to respond, so they leave you alone.

  I tell them that I only have credit cards,, no cash.
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  delilah

  Freedom, and the others who have posted here.........you are wonderful examples of people with heart, and empathy. It's so nice to see this, especially after coming from an organization, where most would look the other way, or leave them a WT or an Awake, instead of offering them breakfast, or a coffee. I too, have known a homeless person. He was a friend of my dad's, many years ago.

  He was once married, had children, a good job, and did painting, on the side. He was a remarkably talented man. He began to drink heavily, and it cost him his job, his wife, and eventually his kids. He lived on the streets, until another caring person, offered him shelter, in the back of his barn. This barn, was downtown, behind a municipal parking lot, and he lived there with his dog, until the dog died, and the town had the barn torn down, and paved the property.

  I haven't seen him since. I often think of him.....he was a gentle soul, kind....could tell stories, some true, some made up. He was terribly lonesome. I remember thinking, yes, he created his own "hell", if-you-will, but he's still human...we would take food around for him, blankets, clothes, gently worn pairs of shoes and boots. And every time we saw him, he would thank us profusely.....with tears in his eyes. I remember thinking, if this were me, would anybody care?

  There are many different reasons, people live in the streets, but every once in awhile, there is one, whose story just touches your heart, and you just can't turn your back on them. It's at times like this, when I am reminded, of how lucky I am, to have a roof over my head, a job, food, a car, and everything else that makes my life just a little more worthwhile living.

  God bless you all.
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  MsMcDucket

  I took care of a young veteran once. He was an alcoholic and homeless. He was eligible for VA care/assistance, but refused it. He was showing signs of cirrhosis. He told me that he was a drifter and would find bridges to live under. He didn't want any help. He signed himself out AMA (against medical advice) and left. I know that he was less than 40 years old.
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  FreedomFrog

  At first I felt for all of the homeless guys down there and would give them a dollar when they asked.

  Over time I started to realize that I was seeing the same guys all the time. Year after year it's the same ones! They obviously are not in a "hard time". Instead they appear to have chosen being a "homeless" person as a career.

  I can see why you wouldn't want to help these people especially since they are choosing to live that way. My concern would be passing someone up that (with no fault of their own) needs a bit of love shown to them. After reading all the posts, I'm more set on leaving canned goods and a blanket or two.

  I think the guy I passed on the trail is the dweller of the make-shift tent. He didn't even ask for any kind of help other than how to get across the road to the other trail in the direction of the "home" spot. What impressed me the most about this guy is he's smart enough to catch his own food. He's taken some sticks to build him a "tent"...and he wasn't on the street (that I've seen anyway) begging for money.

  He was eligible for VA care/assistance, but refused it.

  What was the reasons he refused VA care? If it was because he was made to do things in a curtain way (like hospitals do), I feel that it would be like living in prison. I've heard many horror stories of people going to shelters only to be told when to eat/sleep/and live. I guess I'd check it out first before I'd toss shelters out the door but if it really is that case, I'd rather live in a make-shift tent than to be controlled that way.