*spin off* Homeless People - WDYT

[WorkingClassMum]

I dont feel sorry for homeless people. with the amount of funding and money that the goverments give these people they could have goverment housing etc. there is share housing etc. they have to want to help themself before anyone can help them

One person's belief - WDYT?

(I do have a homeless "by choice" family member - but I DO NOT think or believe the vast majority are there by choice - in fact if our Mental Health Facilities were adequate I wouldn't have a homeless family member)

[Benji]

I know. Why can't homeless people just log onto the internet and find a sharehouse

[the girls mum]

I dont think its that simple tbh. Alot (not saying all) of homeless people have serious addiction issues / mental health issues etc - I cant imagine MOST homeless people CHOOSE that life.

Its really sad tbh.

[MoonGecko]

Who ever wrote that must not have ever had to deal with government housing.

Here in Tassie, the category 1 (most urgent) list, you can wait up to 12 months for a place!

As for money the government gives, a single person with no kids can get Newstart allowance, if you qualify for the max amount of rent assistance, I think the most you can get is about $600 per f/n. Considering private rental costs, and a place under $250 per week here in Tassie is pretty rare, even worse on the mainland, how can people be expected to pay food, electricity, medical etc on $100 per f/n?

As for mental health services, pffft they are a JOKE! Here in Tassie there is some 1800 number 24/7, I rang for advice after a friend was threatening to kill himself. Their advice, take him to the RHH, so I did, got there, some psych nurse came down, with some form, asked a few questions. Went through that and he was on the border for being a severe threat to himself, but they didn't have a bed for him, so he was sent home and told someone would call him tomorrow morning.

3 hours later he was dead.

I don't think many people CHOOSE to go homeless, some do yes, if they like that kind of thing, fine.

[beebs]

It usually has a lot to do with mental health issues. There was a case here a few years ago where a man was dying in the Domain in Sydney- there were a group of onlookers who had no idea what to do. All of a sudden a homeless man, with no shoes and unwahsed etc etc came up and saved this guys life. The police called for his identity saying that only a surgeon could have done what he had done and if anyone knew who he was they wanted information on him etc.

Every single person has a story. And mostly with homeless people we never find out what it is because we just don't care as a society.

[WorkingClassMum]

http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org...0for%20web.pdf

http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org...-2011%20LR.pdf

http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org...-2011%20LR.pdf

http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org...%202010-11.pdf

further reading and links

http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/site/issues.php

[beebs]

As for mental health services, pffft they are a JOKE! Here in Tassie there is some 1800 number 24/7, I rang for advice after a friend was threatening to kill himself. Their advice, take him to the RHH, so I did, got there, some psych nurse came down, with some form, asked a few questions. Went through that and he was on the border for being a severe threat to himself, but they didn't have a bed for him, so he was sent home and told someone would call him tomorrow morning.

3 hours later he was dead.

That is horrific - so sad

[share a book]

The ones who choose to be homeless are rarely without a mental health problem.

I know! Why not stick them all out in the bush away from the rest of so ciety so we can pretend we have no homeless problem in Australia? That'll work! Well it'll work for those who want to turn a blind eye to the problem...

[MoonGecko]

That is horrific - so sad

It was, it went to the coroner and he suggested all these changes to how mentally ill patients should be assessed etc, you can guess how many the government took up.

A big fat 0

[anewme]

I have a family member who will wanders off from his home every year or two and live on streets for months at a time. He never stays close by. He is mentally ill. It very hard to help as the only way to get him off the streets is to have him committed against his will, where he receives treatment and is able to go back to living in a house/apartment again. It is very hard to find him somewhere as he up and leaves places with no notice. he just gets up and walks out the door which is normally left open. He leaves with just the clothes on his back and often without shoes.

You can't really understand homeless unless you have someone close to you living on the streets or you work with the homeless.