FIRE, FLOOD, EARTHQUAKES... ECONOMY..... Equal Opportunity!?

Fire in Malibu..... Flood in New Orleans..... Drought in Georgia...... Volcanoes in Hawaii...... Earthquakes......

What is with the complaints of services to help these victims of each tragedy? In the first place... what happened to... "Preparedness" !!?? The over 1 million recent fire victims have obviously been VERY quickly located in shelters - while thousands of Katrina victims (many still scattered throughout the country) are still displaced! Provisions and facilities were apparently available all along, and meanwhile the Katrina victims have been just waiting in line for.........(!???) The "current disaster victims" can expect assistance, with promises of cutting corners with insurance companies, FEMA, etc., to expedite their aid. WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE SO MUCH
MORE PRIVILEGED THAN ANY OTHER CITIZEN SURVIVING HOMELESSNESS!!??

The REALITY of "EQUALITY" shows up when a homeless citizen dies at night from the elements, is beaten, or set on fire, etc..... the news may mention it, briefly, then a quick closure! Compare the equality to folks in Malibu with Katrina survivors who are still buying into familiar false promises as thousands of homeless citizens have for years... the waiting in lines, the persecutions, discriminations, and even hate crimes!! Homeless or just houseless, with or without the drama, it all results in identical stress, distress and depression... It Doesn't take a Disaster, to be a Catastrophe in anyone's life! Thousands have been striving to live within their means, hopeful for a change, with promised assistance that never happens - except that which is skipped over to more current (selected) "crisis victims" !? When was a meager existence during a failing economy not a crisis!!?? Being displaced from housing, losing life's worth, property, enduring an array of tragedies cause hardship to one's life, with often neglected medical needs that perpetuates problems. Regardless of the individual circumstance - the results are still devastation, degradation, and then the depression. Losing property economically is not a "made for t.v. drama", like a fire with drama, which becomes "newsworthy" more than when just quietly passing that point of being "one-paycheck-away" from losing your place, your savings..... your "stuff" (often life's worth). When it's your "stuff", the loss and will cause as much trauma, the preceding months have a simmering build-up with a slow burn that embeds the depression and will put one's survival ability beyond just a pressure test!? While former citizens of New Orleans have had to fend for themselves (after being spurned), are now an addition to the already existing over 3 million citizens who have been homeless for YEARS!

After the Dust Settles, and the drama dissipates, the only attention towards a homeless citizen is negative, a typical result from the subsequent increase of homeless traffic. This inevitability always results in an increase of "anonymous" complaints to police using "just don't want them here" (as though that area is somehow exclusive and that magically they can disappear). This all diverts attention from the cause of the problem, and all those previous discussions of compassionately helping others in need during a crisis are moot. The seeming expectation is that if I don't see, then it doesn't exist...(??) - WRONG !!?!... Nothing justifies abusing the use of authorities to harass someone, so if the accumulating volumes are tiring, then help solve that problem!! Only while linked to a current disaster... are there any concerns expressed for the homeless. Those able to recuperate, have no clue what has happened to some of their "friends" and neighbors who couldn't. While striving to recover from a series of accumulating misfortunes, with obstacles unnecessarily added to the experience, many have learned to exist with resourceful means - and with the closest experience to compassion is when a cop gives a warning instead of being charged (with a crime)!?

There is a difference between doing something about the homeless and doing something for the homeless. While already striving to recover from a series of accumulating misfortunes, with unnecessary obstacles added to the experience, many have learned to exist with resourceful means. Economic imbalances between housing costs and lack of jobs with affordable wages previously perpetuated accumulative hardships affording housing. Now, finding non-existing housing with less income than that becomes irrelevant. The new laws that skirt around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws have been so counterproductive, with no positive accomplishments, and are violating Civil Rights!! (Despite the U.S. 9th District Court ruling, some communities still believe they are above the Federal Law.) This has only resulted in an illusion of (very brief) absence during attempts to keep a low profile until the increasing volume can no longer stay hidden. This ... "game" of Musical Chairs has been played" while the number of "players" have increased, and the "chairs" removed!? Sooo..... Malibu, San Diego, New Orleans, Georgia..... (and of course all those facing the housing "bubble")... WELCOME TO THE PARTY!!?!

It (the party) started without you... (or your help).
If you have been doing, what you thought was of "help"... 
 - enjoy it's "adequacy"..... (!??)
     Drop in centers, shelters and food banks have become
     a thriving business all over the country, whose goals
     are NOT to solve the growing problem and are NOT even
     trying to end the need!?  They do provide assistance
     and referrals to sources for clothes, blankets, foods
     (and "stuff").   Of course, that's more "stuff" that
     you'll have to carry around with you (shopping carts
     have become illegal).  It's fortunate when you can
     actually USE most of it - before it's stolen,
     vandalized, or taken in the next police raid!?  There
     is usually a waiting list for space at most shelters,
     so if you want to be warehoused, risk losing your
     "stuff", etc., whenever space becomes available), and
     you'll have a limited length of time to try to acquire
     that "any-kind-of-job".

There has been nothing that even begins to address the
problems that continue to cause the growth of the
homeless populations!!?

Coming soon, you can count on this new game (if you don't like the one played so far) !! It's already begun, with many veteran players who have been in training!!? The rules are: In a democracy, (even in this hypocrisy), the majority will rule !! This holiday season (2007) most of the 25 million that went to the food banks were NOT homeless... but a likely probable up & coming!? Recent estimates are that 25% of the homeless populations are military veterans - and counting. Our players have been increasing, and the war's end will increase a ("surge") volume of "re-enforcements" who if not already resentful, will express more anger and the rules will again change along with the scoring. Either the majority will rule..... or the mobs will. Soooo... we're not playing chess... but, it's your move... or do nothing and someone else will (but who knows what!!??

What are being grossly overlooked are the over 3 million citizens who have been homeless, for YEARS, with no consideration to the gravity of their circumstances. 2 million of those - were not homeless 5 years ago... so who are they, where did they come from, and moreover ... who will the next 2 million be!!?? There are many of you - who will show up at centers like so many of the new faces... (and all with the same typical look on your face). I see them all when they show up), and many of you don't yet know who you are. I'll be there to let you know who you are, and how you could have done something before becoming - just another one of "them" (!!?! ) ... And those of you , who have been kicking homeless people to the curb... we all will remember who you are !!

I am A. John Doe Homeless

and these have been my Viewpoints
of those "progressive" developments
of the  Growth that has been
so -  "Good for the Economy"!!?

Houseless is NOT Homeless!?

California seems to set the pace for cities in many ways. Throughout the country, many areas are skirting around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws and making homelessness a crime! This is a violation of Civil Rights!!!

In 1951 Santa Rosa’s population was 17,000. By 2005 had grown to 170,000 (a 10 times increase in over 50 years). By comparison, in 1994 the homeless population here (after tripling in 2 years) was estimated at about 150. By 2005 a census showed that homeless folks had increased to 1,700 (that they knew of) a 10 times increase in about 10 years). That disproportionate figure was not representative of the influx of new arrivals, but a residual affect of new arrivals that was the "growth-being-good-for-the-economy".

Comparing those notes, (they have never actually been able to count completely acurate all) the estimated current homeless population (as of-July 2007) - being over 2,200, the available space in the shelter in 1994 of 280 beds has been replaced by a facility with only 80 beds!?... and that's the progress to show for 13 years!??

It seems that some areas have more concern to facilitate folks more appropriately. There are many who do not want to be "warehoused" due to the conflicts that often occur there. It typifies the difference in attitudes between people just like the difference of behavior between people in general. The cost of housing has increased over 20 times while during the same period that the wage earnings increased less than 20%! This is typical the economic imbalance nationally which, by the way, the homeless population was last reported at 3 MILLION!!

Typically, governing agencies come up with the wrong solution to a given problem. Good examples are inappropriate law changes, "band-aids" for problems instead of an attempt to fix-it. It's the same efficiency of amendments to an amendment of an amendment etc. There wouldn’t be more need for more food at the kitchens and food banks, more shelters (the kitchens and food banks are growing in abundance), if the client population was reduced, instead of growing. The contribution to the problem is that some of the former donators are now clients!!!

A more current (attempted) “solution” not only fails to solve problems (IE: complaints regarding the homeless) but creates new problems, and doesn’t even ease the original problem (just moves it to additional areas). The complaints that are not limited to just homeless (including urination, littering, panhandling, drug & alcohol abuse, etc.) are obviously behaviors by all echelons in society. Those, with "inappropriate behavior", behaved inappropriately before becoming homeless... and likewise, responsible conduct is not exclusive to those having a residence!!?

Consider, after being refused the privilege (or should it be a right?) the use of a public restroom then walking maybe 6 blocks or more to another facility only to be refused (even shunned again), and then again.... Sooner or later common sense will dictate that nature will run it's course. Eventually, one will just skip to the last part - (go figure?). Litter violators, trash dumping are especially not exclusive to the homeless, but significant by each and every ill-mannered, uncaring and unthinking social group!!! Alcoholism starts in the home, and the last I heard, proficient drug dealers can afford a residence!

Until attention is paid to the Real facts since the 1980's... connect the dots to the reality of it all... then, more will experience the rude awakening of testing their survival skills (or the lack of!).

California seems to set the pace for cities in many ways. Throughout the country, many areas are skirting around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws and making homelessness a crime! This is a violation of Civil Rights!!!

In 1951 Santa Rosa’s population was 17,000. By 2005 had grown to 170,000 (a 10 times increase in over 50 years). By comparison, in 1994 the homeless population here (after tripling in 2 years) was estimated at about 150. By 2005 a census showed that homeless folks had increased to 1,700 (that they knew of) a 10 times increase in about 10 years). That disproportionate figure was not representative of the influx of new arrivals, but a residual affect of new arrivals that was the "growth-being-good-for-the-economy".

Comparing those notes, (they have never actually been able to count completely acurate all) the estimated current homeless population (as of-July 2007) - being over 2,200, the available space in the shelter in 1994 of 280 beds has been replaced by a facility with only 80 beds!?... and that's the progress to show for 13 years!??

It seems that some areas have more concern to facilitate folks more appropriately. There are many who do not want to be "warehoused" due to the conflicts that often occur there. It typifies the difference in attitudes between people just like the difference of behavior between people in general. The cost of housing has increased over 20 times while during the same period that the wage earnings increased less than 20%! This is typical the economic imbalance nationally which, by the way, the homeless population was last reported at 3 MILLION!!

Typically, governing agencies come up with the wrong solution to a given problem. Good examples are inappropriate law changes, "band-aids" for problems instead of an attempt to fix-it. It's the same efficiency of amendments to an amendment of an amendment etc. There wouldn’t be more need for more food at the kitchens and food banks, more shelters (the kitchens and food banks are growing in abundance), if the client population was reduced, instead of growing. The contribution to the problem is that some of the former donators are now clients!!!

A more current (attempted) “solution” not only fails to solve problems (IE: complaints regarding the homeless) but creates new problems, and doesn’t even ease the original problem (just moves it to additional areas). The complaints that are not limited to just homeless (including urination, littering, panhandling, drug & alcohol abuse, etc.) are obviously behaviors by all echelons in society. Those with inappropriate behavior, behaved inappropriately before becoming homeless... likewise responsible conduct is not exclusive to having a residence!!?

Consider, after being refused the privilege (or should it be a right?) the use of a public restroom then walking maybe 6 blocks or more to another facility only to be refused (even shunned again), and then again.... Sooner or later common sense will dictate that nature will run it's course. Eventually, one will just skip to the last part - (go figure?). Litter violators, trash dumping are especially not exclusive to the homeless, but significant by each and every ill-mannered, uncaring and unthinking social group!!! Alcoholism starts in the home, and the last I heard, proficient drug dealers can afford a residence!
Until attention is paid to the Real facts since the 1980's... connect the dots to the reality of it all... then, more will experience the rude awakening of testing their survival skills (or the lack of!).

If you think these are problems so far... wait until you get a load of WORSE!!?!

I am John Doe Houseless...... not homeless

JohnDoeHouseless@Yahoo.COM

Edited by John Doe Homeless on Sep 29, 2005 at 6:07 PM

It Doesn't take a Disaster..... to be a Catastrophe in Anyone's Life!!

Homeless folks have all had something tragic… to compel changing a lifestyle to such desperate measures of living homelessly. The looting and crimes committed in New Orleans typifies one type of reaction… out of desperation. Survival mode will cause a different sense of values, and different people react in different ways, just as people who try to help do.
Folks that behaved inappropriately... were behaving inappropriately before becoming homeless. It is not appropriate to blame all the homeless for a specific behavior of a few. The tragedies that befell the victims of Katrina are traumatic obviously. But… not so obvious, is how equally traumatic becoming homeless is whatever the cause… losing life, property, life’s worth in general is devastating and is equally disconcerting. The despair accumulates and becomes overwhelming. When depression sets in, it enhances the decision making process. The complaints exemplify the results of these scenarios. Over three million homeless folks who have been trying to live within their means best they can with obstacles most people hopefully will never have to find out how to deal with. Many never find a way to cope at all!

Typically the government will come up with the wrong solution for a given problem. A new law being put into place all over the country, skirts around the abolishment of former vagrancy laws making it a crime to be homeless and violates Civil Rights!! How will this play out with Katrina’s victims being scattered throughout the country. With so much devastation, even FEMA will have to cut corners with funds short, and in communities like mine they’ll get up to $500 fine and/or 6 months in jail… (?)

*** And Barbara Bush, our presidente's mother... (no not a typo) remarked regarding the victims of Katrina that "Those people are all underprivileged anyway & ARE BETTER OFF"!!!?! An obvious Freudian slip............
*Read my lips.....NO NEW BUSH'S!!!!
Reality Checks - U.S.A.>>> Incite More Insight!?

I am John Doe Homeless...

Edited by John Doe Homeless on Sep 29, 2005 at 1:52 PM