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Do you want to do something about the homeless people you see?
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View this Thread in Original format
| arek |
Do you get tired of being asked for money every time you pass a homeless person? Do you get tired of being asked for change on your way to dinner at your favourite restaurant? Or on your way home?
I ask these questions because homeless people are people. They shouldn’t be ignored. We don’t know how they got on the streets nor can we generalize or become desensitized to them. Many of them do not want to remain there. They want the same things you do -- the things you already have: a home, three square meals a day, a job, a bed to sleep on, a chance to eat at a restaurant now and then. Even the simple things we take for granted like getting a haircut or a hot shower.
I am a volunteer for a group named Humanize Toronto (www.humanizetoronto.org). We’re organizing a “Sleep-out in Solidarity” at City Hall on November 19, 2005 from 9 pm to 9 am.
Now before you start to protest or think it’s far too cold to stay outside from 9 pm to 9 am on a November night, think about where you’ve slept the other 364 days. In a warm bed, I’m sure. Okay, maybe some of you roughed it and went camping for a few days earlier this year. However, you chose to do this.
Most homeless people do not choose to be there. They don’t choose to run away from abusive parents. They don’t choose to be kicked out of psychiatric wards and hospitals shut down by the Tories and Liberals. They don’t choose to squeeze the last of their RRSPs to pay this month’s rent because they lost their job and can’t find another.
My point is there are so many factors that lead to the number of people we see on the streets.
Well, I’m not asking for your money. Just your time. I’m asking for you to sleep somewhere else for one night out of 364 on Saturday November 19, 2005. We’ve stayed out partying, raving, having sex, etc., so it’s not like we can’t do this…together.
I’m inviting you to come out for one night, to bring a sleeping bag, a toque, mittens, some snacks, an instrument if you want (or cards and friends) and some resilience. We’re providing hot coffee, a bite to eat, music and chance to do something about a problem we see everyday but feel powerless (or maybe apathetic) about changing. You might be too busy to do it – but even if you come for a few hours it’ll help.
We’re doing this to get (and hold) the mayor’s attention. We just want the mayor and city council to cement a plan with an actual timeline (because they have made empty promises and created "plans" that haven't come to fruition). The only way to get an actual (accountable) plan in place is to get a significant number of people to show some solidarity by sleeping out on Saturday November 19 at 9 pm at City Hall because I do believe there’s a grain of truth to the adage, Strength in numbers.
(For more information, please visit www.humanizetoronto.org.) |
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| VERTiG0 |
I thought we had a natural defence against the homeless...
Winter. |
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| cyper |
| quote: | Originally posted by VERTiG0
I thought we had a natural defence against the homeless...
Winter. |
HAHAH!
We are going straight to hell! |
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| VERTiG0 |
| quote: | Originally posted by cyper
HAHAH!
We are going straight to hell! |
I've got a luxury box reserved, my friend. |
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| *~LiSa-LoO~* |
| quote: | Originally posted by VERTiG0
I've got a luxury box reserved, my friend. |
HEY! I totally forgot about that. You said I was invited!! |
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| [NFC]Wave |
| quote: | Originally posted by VERTiG0
I thought we had a natural defence against the homeless...
Winter. |
Ah yes, George Carlin strikes again ;) |
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| HeXp£Øi± |
| quote: | Originally posted by arek
Do you get tired of being asked for money every time you pass a homeless person? Do you get tired of being asked for change on your way to dinner at your favourite restaurant? Or on your way home?
I ask these questions because homeless people are people. They shouldn’t be ignored. We don’t know how they got on the streets nor can we generalize or become desensitized to them. Many of them do not want to remain there. They want the same things you do -- the things you already have: a home, three square meals a day, a job, a bed to sleep on, a chance to eat at a restaurant now and then. Even the simple things we take for granted like getting a haircut or a hot shower.
I am a volunteer for a group named Humanize Toronto (www.humanizetoronto.org). We’re organizing a “Sleep-out in Solidarity” at City Hall on November 19, 2005 from 9 pm to 9 am.
Now before you start to protest or think it’s far too cold to stay outside from 9 pm to 9 am on a November night, think about where you’ve slept the other 364 days. In a warm bed, I’m sure. Okay, maybe some of you roughed it and went camping for a few days earlier this year. However, you chose to do this.
Most homeless people do not choose to be there. They don’t choose to run away from abusive parents. They don’t choose to be kicked out of psychiatric wards and hospitals shut down by the Tories and Liberals. They don’t choose to squeeze the last of their RRSPs to pay this month’s rent because they lost their job and can’t find another.
My point is there are so many factors that lead to the number of people we see on the streets.
Well, I’m not asking for your money. Just your time. I’m asking for you to sleep somewhere else for one night out of 364 on Saturday November 19, 2005. We’ve stayed out partying, raving, having sex, etc., so it’s not like we can’t do this…together.
I’m inviting you to come out for one night, to bring a sleeping bag, a toque, mittens, some snacks, an instrument if you want (or cards and friends) and some resilience. We’re providing hot coffee, a bite to eat, music and chance to do something about a problem we see everyday but feel powerless (or maybe apathetic) about changing. You might be too busy to do it – but even if you come for a few hours it’ll help.
We’re doing this to get (and hold) the mayor’s attention. We just want the mayor and city council to cement a plan with an actual timeline (because they have made empty promises and created "plans" that haven't come to fruition). The only way to get an actual (accountable) plan in place is to get a significant number of people to show some solidarity by sleeping out on Saturday November 19 at 9 pm at City Hall because I do believe there’s a grain of truth to the adage, Strength in numbers.
(For more information, please visit www.humanizetoronto.org.) |
:toocool: |
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| Moral Hazard |
| let all that is falling also be pushed |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| I truly feel for all the homeless people...we should all do something to help them out. The next time I walk by a homeless person I will be sure to reach into their cup and take as many quarters as I can. They have more money then I do.....they have no debt.....and yet I owe over $100,000.00....sure I may have a house to sleep in. |
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| chanoa |
| quote: | Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
I truly feel for all the homeless people...we should all do something to help them out. The next time I walk by a homeless person I will be sure to reach into their cup and take as many quarters as I can. They have more money then I do.....they have no debt.....and yet I owe over $100,000.00....sure I may have a house to sleep in. |
this deserves a big giant :rolleyes:
while i can understand not giving money to INDIVIDUAL homeless people, to blanket-compare yourselve to "them" is just ridiculous. the various reasons why people end up the street are probably things a lot of us have never had to come close to, most debilitating of them all being mental disorders.
don't try to spend a day in their shoes without trying to spead a day in their mind.
and no..u being a crackhead is NOT the same thing :p |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by chanoa
the various reasons why people end up the street are probably things a lot of us have never had to come close to, most debilitating of them all being mental disorders. |
While it is true that most homeless people end up homeless due to mental illness it is also true that many of them were being treated for their illness prior to or subsequent to becoming homeless. Most of those on the street have elected to go off their meds thus resulting in the progression of their conditions and their current circumstance. While I agree that we should offer assistance I do not feel any sympathy for those that refuse to take it. Moreover, I must ask myself, is the benefit received from helping these people equal to the resources expended? I don't know, however, the utilitarian in me says if it is then we should not only continue to help but we should increase our aide, if not then we should not only withdraw our aide but hasten their demise. |
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| chinamon |
| i think we should have a dedicated area in the city where all the homeless are confined and we can urinate on them. |
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