Homeless Connect Program
John W. Bienko
Here in Calgary Canada a Homeless Connect Program was
sponsored at a large shopping mall to do something
worthwhile for the homeless, now estimated at 3600
men and women.
Volunteers provided medical services, haircutting and
grooming, free clothing, toiletry supplies, food
baskets, as well as employment opportunities.
The objective is to give these unfortunate persons an
opportunity todo something constructive to better
their role in life.
It was amazing to see the transformation. Once the
look of poverty was removed, these persons turned out
to be handsome and beautiful people.
The interest of the volunteers showed these persons
a better way of living.
And they were thankful.
Jerry Okamura
"John W. Bienko" <as...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:fvhrd1$5ks$1...@theodyn.ncf.ca...
Let me suggest that there is a difference between "showing" them a better
way of living, and acomplishing the goal, i.e. that they do something to
live better, are two different things. I am not saying that is not a good
thing to do, but if in the end, if they are still homeless, you did not
solve the problem. In the end, what is important is that the number of
homeless people decreases and that we are able to reduce the number of
people who are homeless. To begin with, it seem to me the "solution" or
partial "solution" requires that we understand fully why they are homeless
in the first place. "If" a person is homeless because they have a substance
abuse problem, making them feel better, does not solve the reason they are
homeless. We have to figure out if we can successfully get them to not be
dependent on that substance. "If" a person is homeless because they don't
have a job, or they lost the job they did have, or they cannot get a job
that pays them enough money to keep a roof over their head, the "solution"
to the problem is different than someone who has a substance abuse problem.
And if you do not address and solve how to get them a good paying job, you
have not solved the basic reason they became homeless. And the chances are
that even if you succeed to get them to afford to put a roof over their
head, they could become homeless again, because you did not solve the basic
reason they were and will become homeless. "If" a woman with children are
homeless, you shuld ask yourself, why did she become homeless? If she had
children, that means some man contributed to that child being born. If the
wonan is homeless, is that man who fathered that child, or fathers who
fathered those children, also homeless. And if the father of the children
are not homeless, and the woman and child are homeless, why is that? I
would think you also have to know what level of education these homeless
adults have achieved. I am willing to bet you will find a direct
correlation between the level of education they have achieved and the number
of people who are homeless. And then the quesiton becomes, how do you
convince them to get more of an education.
Lawrence Akutagawa
"Jerry Okamura" <okamu...@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
news:481c9845$0$7714$4c36...@roadrunner.com...
say can be done, then I venture to say we wouldn't have the kind of homeless
problems we do have. I for one like and laud John's Homeless Connect
Program. In fact, I think that the good folks of Calgary should do even
more for the homeless there so that once the homeless here in the good old
USA get wind of the bountiful treatment of homeless there, they'll all by
themselves though however and whatever means will hie themselves up to
Calgary to partake of the goodies there. Goodness knows that even in San
Francisco the homeless don't get as good treatment. And thus we'd have in
large measure addressed the homeless situation here in the USA.
And we have a precedent for this kind of movement - remember back in the
70's when Canada greeted with open arms the Americans who dodged the draft?
We lost a lot - not all, by any means - of draft dodgers from the USA that
way. Same concept, different context...except that this one is more of a
pull than a push.
Jerry Okamura
"Lawrence Akutagawa" <lakuN...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:tj2Tj.8238$LQ4....@newssvr11.news.prodigy.net...
Like many of our recurring problems, it can be done. It just takes the will
to do what is necessary to do it.
John W. Bienko
thanks for your interest and insights re the problem.
I always harken back to my good teachers.. the Jesuit Fathers and
the Sisters of St. Joseph's Home for the Orphans.
"there but for the grace of God, go I."
The philosopher Pascal said it well.
"It is the rule in human nature to speak wisely but act
foolishly."
This is the least we can do for our fellow human beings.
Cor...@yahoo.com
Of course there are those who, if they were to receive $100,000.00 and
a free house house, would choose to live on the streets in front of
it. I don't believe that such a program as John suggests, is targeted
at that subset of the homeless, but rather those who want to do
something about it but never can get enough traction to actually get
there. There will always be that subset of homeless who are there and
stay there, for whatever reason.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **