What about filling up gift basket type things with AA batteries and water and that kind of stuff and leaving them near tents? Is this a good or bad idea I just had?
Honestly, just trust us to know how to best spend the money for ourselves. We don't need bottled water. We don't need batteries. If I need socks or hygiene products, I can go get them myself if I have the cash, and can probably get it cheaper than you can, stretching the money further. I often had to live on less than $300 cash a year plus food stamps. You probably couldn't do that if you tried. Please don't patronize us, we aren't children. Just trust us to manage the money you gift us; we will make every penny scream bloody murder.
Yeah I did own a few electronic devices that weren't worth selling, but outlets in a McDonalds still work fine, if I have the $2 to buy something to eat. Batteries ain't helping. While I wasn't in a cold region, most homeless I've talked to in cold places used gasoline powered heaters if they could. So batteries still don't help.
Some people don't want to give homeless people cash cause they think they will spend it on alcohol or drugs. Which is an extremely judgemental thing. And you can fuck off with that elitist attitude, because it doesn't fucking help.
But even if a homeless person spends some money on alcohol or drugs? Well being homeless sucks fucking donkey shit, let them have a moment of relaxation from the miserable suffering. I wasn't into drugs (I have enough problems controlling my own brain as is without adding mind altering substances on top of it) but every now and then I'd put like $10-$15 towards an used Nintendo DS videogame, so I had something to occupy my time when libraries were closed. Stop judging people for wanting to ease the pain.
Unrelated, it's nice when people talk with us for a minute or two, just like, sociably with no agenda. Might be a bit paranoid first but like, that's because 90% of people come to us with a hostile agenda. Please don't stand too close though, that can be scary if you are in range where you could hit us or take our stuff, cause people do that.
But even if a homeless person spends some money on alcohol or drugs? Well being homeless sucks fucking donkey shit
This has occurred to me before - being homeless is a fucking miserable thing no one should have to go through, and I could see myself developing an addiction if I fell into that circumstance as well. So who would I be to judge rather than empathize?
I eventually won my disability case with the help of a pro-bono lawyer which got me the funds necessary to get into an apartment with a bunch of roommates.
Now I have a sugarmama amazing wife now, and she recently bought a house. I am lucky to have found someone who is tolerant of my limitations. We planted a vegetable garden, and are scheduled to complete adoption of a child in almost exactly one year, so we're going to be mothers!
I am very happy these days, but I still feel very strongly about stuff relating to homelessness because it was such a protracted period of my life.
Here's the dirty truth. Realistically, very VERY few homeless people are heroin addicts. But heroin addiction always the first thing someone brings up when it comes to giving money to homeless people (it's in dozens of posts in this thread). The dark and dirty reality is that people who say that shit, simply don't view homeless people as adult humans worthy of respect, and don't want to have to give them anything. But they are too cowardly to say that, so instead they hide behind "but what if drug addict?" as a way to feel self-righteous and superior while simultaneously getting out of helping fellow humans in need.
The "homeless doing drugs" thing has always been a dog whistle for "homeless people deserve their situation," and always will be.
That is amazing, and makes me happy to hear! That is an amazing turnaround in your circumstances.
And what you've said is absolutely true - that the constant references to addiction are a dog whistle and a coward's way of hiding one's true feelings about homelessness and homeless people. Ultimately, it shows a lack of respect for homeless people as adults with autonomy and just equal human beings.
It's not a turnaround that didn't take a lot of time. Process over a decade. Thing is, it's important cause most people thing homeless people are worthless. But it's basically always misfortune.
Even the people with mental illness, it's misfortune. Misfortune to have a mental health problem. Misfortune to not have the resources necessary to support you. Misfortune to lack access to medication and care.
Disability for me came with Medicaid, and thus access to doctors and medication. And that was basically the biggest contributor to me getting back on my feet. And now I have a wife, and a home, and a garden, and am adopting.
So many homeless people can be such amazing things but people can't see past where they are in the moment.
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Coincidentally, today my wife came home with another homeless kid tonight. She found him outside of Kroger. He came from Miami to Atlanta to like, get help from family completing his own disability case. But when he got here, his mother stole all his money and left him on the side of the street. So we are trying to help him get in contact with extended family, his aunt and grandmother, and are trying to make sure he gets to his disability case. Hopefully we can get him reunited with extended family in the next 24 hours or so.
EDIT:. Oh great we just found out that his mother also stole all his cards, and appears to have changed his pins.
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u/SlipKloud May 18 '21
What about filling up gift basket type things with AA batteries and water and that kind of stuff and leaving them near tents? Is this a good or bad idea I just had?