Study finds 754,000 living on U.S. streets

As an American,i find this absolutely disgusting.
We have billions to fight bogus wars and help every other country but our own.
The American dream is a nightmare.
The middle class is being pushed down to poor.And the poor are becoming homeless.
Our country dosent help its own people anymore.
In fact we cater to illegals more than our own.
If you ever wondered if America was being destroyed,look around you.
The collapse of society,wars,North American Union,illegals.
Its all happening.Every great civilization has fallen from within.

(CNN)-WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- There were an estimated 754,000 homeless people in the United States, in shelters or living on the streets on a single night in January 2005, U.S. officials said in a report to Congress.

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According to the study, from February to April 2005, an estimated 704,000 people in the United States used homeless shelters or transitional housing.

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During that period, 47 percent of people living in homeless shelters were single adult men. Nearly one quarter were children 17 or younger. Less than 2 percent of the homeless population was 62 or older, compared with 15 percent of the total U.S. population

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Among other findings, the report said about 59 percent of the people in homeless shelters were members of minority groups. Forty-five percent of the homeless were African Americans, the report said.

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Based on a sampling of communities across the United States, the study concluded that 24 percent of all adults in homeless shelters were disabled.

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"Many cities in this country are trying to give the impression that things are better than they really are, that homelessness is decreasing. But in reality, homelessness continues to increase regardless of who is in the White House or who controls Congress," Stoops said in a telephone interview.

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Aw man, this is so bad. We are collapsing... Everything "America" has stood for over the years is crumbling away. It's too sad.

Good post. Good job.

And this was in 2005.

Three-quarters of a million people on the street during the middle of winter.

These aren't happy campers, folks. 180,000 children. 180,000 disabled.

What has happened to the heart and soul of this great nation of ours? How can our leaders walk the halls of power with all their wealth and privilege while this is allowed to happen, continue, and escalate?

Every one of our elected officials needs to be turned out of their home onto the streets and forced to live there until this situation, this travesty, this complete injustice is made right and never allowed to happen again.

I love what George Carlin said about this in one of his stand ups.

You hear about all kinds of "wars-on", i.e. the war on drugs, the war on crime, the war on poverty. But you ever notice there is no war on homelessness? There's no money to be made. If you could find a solution to the war on homelessness where the corporate swine could find a way to swindle a couple million dollars, you'd see the streets clear up pretty quick.

I'd bet this statement holds truth, sadly.

That is quite depressing.

The current state of homelessness, combined with the education system failing in comparison to education rates overseas only means more people are to become homeless.

I think the fist priority is the education system. Ensure that the future citizens are well prepared for the working world, and can compete with foreign job markets.
The second priority would be to set up work placement programs for those with little to no education who are currently homeless. A basic training system which is coordinated with willing companies, such as janitorial services, would assist in finding these people some income.

If you're looking for funding, well, with enough nuclear weapons to destroy every major city 4 times over, I don't see why any more need to be produced. Just recycle the material from the old ones, or, you know, just don't have that many.

The money being spent on wars with little to no evidence or reason could be placed back into the country.

I know alot of this sounds like socialist crap, but no country has ever survived without some form of a social system to assist the population.

I suggest the first step would be to look at some of the countries that aren't having such a problem with their homeless, and see how they've done it.
Albeit, America would have to set aside it's ego, but in the end it would be worth it.

Do they have subsidized housing in the states?
But I guess even with subsidized housing you still need those very jobs that seem to be getting exported all for the sake of buying cheep stuff at wallymart and building up a future super power. Oh and lets not forget alowing the import of many of thousands of illegal workers that send a big chunk of the money they make out of country.

Many of the homeless are either alcohol or drug addicts whose compulsions have led them to their state or have mental health issues and given our lack of mental health facilities don't have the ability to live alone but aren't a "danger" to themselves or society and therefore not commitable.

What gets me is the number of able-bodied, even young people who choose to be homeless. I say choose because they're in the early 20's, fully capable but don't want to go work at McDonald's or other such places .. they would rather just hang out all day and live under bridges and parks. I guess it's easier to beg for money and do a little petty theft here and there then it is to get up and go to work every day.

During winter my city has a temporary shelter ... opens Thanksgiving weekend and closes sometime around Mar to April. Only half of the homeless use the shelter the rest refuse to use the shelter because they don't like their rules.

Originally posted by SmallMindsBigIdeas
Many of the homeless are either alcohol or drug addicts whose compulsions have led them to their state or have mental health issues and given our lack of mental health facilities don't have the ability to live alone but aren't a "danger" to themselves or society and therefore not commitable.

What gets me is the number of able-bodied, even young people who choose to be homeless. I say choose because they're in the early 20's, fully capable but don't want to go work at McDonald's or other such places .. they would rather just hang out all day and live under bridges and parks. I guess it's easier to beg for money and do a little petty theft here and there then it is to get up and go to work every day.

During winter my city has a temporary shelter ... opens Thanksgiving weekend and closes sometime around Mar to April. Only half of the homeless use the shelter the rest refuse to use the shelter because they don't like their rules.

Hallelujah!

Its ridiculous how many beggars I run intio who are just idiot kids who think its "punk rock" or whatever other assinine reason to live in a condemned building, steal crap, "tag" buildings and get high all day.

The other homeless in New Haven are either drunks who dont want to sober up for the shelter, complete schizos who arent aware of anything at all or people who I know where they live and work yet still panhandle around town!

In fact, I cant think of one legitamitely homeless person on the street whos been on the street for longer than a few nights.

I find it shocking and amazing the amount of pity these people attract. I find it equally shocking and amazing how many people are all too willing to bend over backwards to give a drunk a cot. Even after the same drunk refused a meal because he just wanted money for liquor calling me selfish and evil for not handing him cash but offering food. How dare I? Well, Ill never again.

It is hardened hearts like those of the last two posters that foster and perpetuate the problem.

Get told enough times that you are a worthless loser and unfit to be afforded the most basic of human dignities, food, clothing, and shelter, and you too will turn your back on a cold, unforgiving society and seek a bitter end.

I see it as a little example of what God has in store for those of a like mind.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
It is hardened hearts like those of the last two posters that foster and perpetuate the problem.

Get told enough times that you are a worthless loser and unfit to be afforded the most basic of human dignities, food, clothing, and shelter, and you too will turn your back on a cold, unforgiving society and seek a bitter end.

I see it as a little example of what God has in store for those of a like mind.

Ill be sure to move to your town when I decide to quit my job and hit the bottle with a vengance. You guys going to drive around and deliver the food to me or should I come pick it up? That is, unless you think picking up my free stuff is too much work to be expected of the downtrodden such as myself.

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
It is hardened hearts like those of the last two posters that foster and perpetuate the problem.

Get told enough times that you are a worthless loser and unfit to be afforded the most basic of human dignities, food, clothing, and shelter, and you too will turn your back on a cold, unforgiving society and seek a bitter end.

I see it as a little example of what God has in store for those of a like mind.

My point was that in my little city there are services but about half the homeless population fail to utilize them. It's not a matter of not knowing the services are there; When they're told about them they say they don't want to go.

Have you ever tried giving some food to a homeless person with a sign asking for money for food? Be prepared to run because some of them get awfully upset when you try to give them a bag of food instead of cold, hard cash.

Yes, I have. I especially remember a guy at Venice Beach who freaked out when I gave him change instead of a bill.

I don't disagree with you that a lot of these folks are beyond repair, fallen through the gaping cracks in the Capitalist system. Many others are just one bonafide opportunity away from making it out of the hole, and those are the one's that desperately need the attention they deserve. In particular, children and the disabled need to be looked after.

I think FBO's might be a big part of the answer. Remember, "there but for the grace of God go I."