I once called an ambulance for a college-aged girl who was severely drunk, eyes rolling about and vomiting so badly that I thought she might die. When EMS arrived, I apologized for possibly making an unnecessary call, but they assured me that I had done the right thing and that someone can die from alcohol poisoning.
On another occasion, a number of us called an ambulance for Danny Mustard, who was so drunk that he appeared to not be breathing. Danny has since cleaned up and gone on to a musical career after his astonishing cover of Creep by Radiohead aired on the Opie and Anthony show, now with 4 million views on YouTube.
Since the inception of this website, I have befriended a number of homeless individuals, many whom I see on a regular basis such as Stephanie or Morgan. The problem with homelessness is that even with outreach programs, most homeless prefer a life on the streets to that in shelters for a number of reasons. Many are puzzled, as I have been, as to why a homeless person would choose a life on the streets over a shelter. Here is why:
Lack of beds. Most shelters have a shortage of available beds.
They are dangerous. There have been many reported murders, assaults and rapes.
Drugs. Drugs are not allowed, so drug users will avoid them.
Theft. There is thievery in shelters, so some homeless stop using shelters to protect the few possessions they have.
Lack of privacy.
Lack of control. Shelters impose many rules - check in times, meal times, sleep times, curfews. Some homeless work, sometimes with schedules making it impossible to abide by a shelter's hours.
Mental Illness. Some people are denied entry to shelters due to mental illness.
No pets allowed.
Fear of contracting parasites including lice, scabies or bedbugs.
Lack of accommodations for the disabled.
Separation of families. Children can not usually stay in homeless shelters. Men and women cannot be in the same shelter.
If you fall down in New York City, will someone help you get up? Usually. If you need help in New York City, will someone come to your aid? Maybe. If you are homeless and need a safe place to stay, will you find one? Probably not.
Related Posts: Sleeping in Jeans, Caught in the Rain, Any Questions?, Down on His Luck, Dead to the World
12 comments:
It's a horrible way to live. We are seeing more homeless people in Sweden now as well.
This is so sad. And what a commentary on this nation - which some would like to think is "Christian"!
Meanwhile just down the street from where this man lies some folks are making $1 million per hour for shuffling paper around!
These objections to using shelters are exactly the same as those given by the homeless in Vancouver.
What a striking image! Fantastic post and great blog.
a moving image indeed. a nearly alike picture i have from over here, where no-one seem to have cared in the middle the city.
may time and life treat you kind.
This picture is heartbreaking. I have mentioned before that I am so far removed from that life as I live in rural Oklahoma. When I look at that photo I wonder, does he have a family? children? What happened in his life to get him where hs is today. Love your blog, it always keeps me fascinated by the world outside of where we come from.
How I hate to see my fellow man in such dire straights..Wish it just wasn't such a tough go of things for some people..Best of luck to the man..
Same in L.A...not quite in Phoenix...
poor man,i dont like seeing things like this,it reminds me of the unfair things in our society.
About homelees in US, i've seen it in movies. But your blog give me more information. Great blog. :D
This is awful..it herts so bad everytime I get to see people like this.. I feel so pitty.. :(
Poor NY!
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