There used to be a guy at that spot who was a disabled vet on crutches one day, able bodied the next.

 

i was forced to volunteer at st. anthony's in san francisco, it was part of some outreach experience for my social justice class. so pretty much our job was to feed the hungry, i ate with them at the tables and you would not believe how rude everyone was to me...

 

i guess what i'm getting at is that you can help those who dont want your help.

 

In "The City" I did a independent life drawing study and the only people whom stayed still long enough to draw were the "bums". After weeks of talking to them the thing I noticed was that there a few different types.
1. Homeless - these were people whom were just down on their luck, like lost a job or a souce of security (parents or spouse died) and you could tell these people wouldn't be there for long and usually haven't even been there long either. These were the ones in the shelters and are getting help
2. Migrants - these were the people, just on the move (usually from the law), you can spot them by the minimal belongings (like just a backpack)
3. Bums - these people were just fine about living off of society. These people have little problem hitting you up for money and usually have the shopping carts
4. Mentals - These people probably should be in a mental hospital, they have a real weak sense of reality and are the scary ones.
5. Druggies - just living for the next hit and sooner or later will die because they use all of the money the get for drugs and none for food.

This was just my expeirence. Rarely did I ever feel actually threatened but after awhile you actually begin to see them as people whom need some help helping themselves.

 

i heard lots of these "bums" are actually people who got kicked out of mental institutions because of lack of funding and are now on the streets and can't support themselves because of mental disabilities...

or at least thats what i've heard. but my old social justice teacher does bring up a good point though, its hard to build a life offa minimum wage, especially if you have loved ones to support. anyway, i'll learn more about "the city" when i attend my psychiatric and mental health clinical rotation there............................................. ... i'm afraid to imagine what i'll encounter T.T

 

[QUOTE=177ark,Aug 28 2007, 01:57 PM] True Story:
One Christmas the Key Club I was part of was giving out food to the needy in the area.

 

I live right outside of Hattiesburg, Forrest and Jones county have pretty decent roads. Although, there are some i dont drive my S on.

 

that's pretty accurate. Also consider that not everyone who needs it wants treatment. Some people are only mentally ill in the sense that they chose to live hand-to-mouth rather fight what they see as an unending battle against an unstoppable current sweeping them over the falls. Sometimes it's a reaction to a devastating setback that would challenge anyone to keep it together, other times it's a fatalistic sense that they'll either get by or not, subject to fates out of their control. Their instinct for self-preservation demands they try, but their conscious intent or inability to control their urges sabotages them at every turn.

Some people see trying to get by paycheck to paycheck as motivation to work harder, while the stress of it all drives others to poor choices and desperation. But giving money can't help. Food and help with rent is far more effective.

 

Not to be cliche but, cocaine is a helluva drug...

 

Walmart's customers own all!!! But I can't fault the store's prices.