Baby, It's Cold Outside

I heard a news story recently about a homeless shelter in Reno, Nv. Apparently they don't have room for all the homeless people who need a warm place to sleep. The section they have for women should be finished in a month or so. Let's see now, did the city not know there were homeless people? Or perhaps they forgot that winter would be arriving and bringing very cold temperatures with it. I'm sure Reno isn't alone with it's problem. There are homeless people all over the country who need a place to sleep when the temps drop down low. What I don't understand is how they can have a homeless shelter that isn't ready when the need arises. Timing is everything when it comes to saving lives. Personally, I think every city and town should have adequate space for indigents to escape the cold and get a hot meal. I also firmly believe that churches and other private groups should do the funding and try to help get the homeless into homes and jobs of their own. Some of the "street people" want to live that way and are happy with their "lifestyle", true. But there are plenty of others who need the chance to better their situation and will do well if given a little help. I'm not talking Welfare, folks. Maybe "workfare" is a better answer. There are churches and civic groups all over the country who could extend a hand to homeless people who aren't in that situation out of choice. "Faith based initiatives" are a good idea and they tend to be better managed than any government agency can do. If everyone contributes what they can and does what they can through their church or organization, we could see a real change in many of the social problems that we face as a society. Think about it....

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Posted By: S.L. - Category: No Category

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13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by youranter

December 7th 2006 10:54

youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern

I agree SL, but finding out how many homeless are in your town is the biggest problem. Recently, here in Toronto, they finally faced their homeless problem. The bleeding hearts put the figure at about 60,000 and big money was spent to do a study. They finally sent out a flyinf squad of volunteers to enumerate the homeless and found about 5,000. Although each city should be prepared, how many do you prepare for?

Comment by S.L.Bradish

December 7th 2006 12:04

Excellent question, Youranter! Homeless advocates are always exaggerating the problem. But waiting until January to get a shelter open isn't very smart planning. There always has been and always will be a portion of society that chooses to be homeless and they're welcome to it if it makes them happy. But the rest of us shouldn't have to pay for it. It's the ones that don't want to be homeless that need the help getting out of the cold and back on their feet. There must be some reasonable way to figure out who they are and how many (accurately) and deal with the problem, shouldn't there?

Comment by youranter

December 7th 2006 12:34

youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern

You're right SL. I think the weather there in Nevada must be close to what we have here in 'The Great White North'. Unfortunately, putting the onus on private institutions might work for a while, but not in the long run. In our own case, our bingos were supporting charities that did just what you advocate. Provide shelter for the homeless. Along comes our government who bans smoking everywhere. Bingo players seem to be smokers and revenue has dropped by more than half since they can't smoke anymore. This leaves less money to go to causes like homes for the homeless, battered women's houses, etc. So the all powerful government has put itself behind the eight-ball and now must raise taxes to provide that which once came from the private sector. It becomes a vicious circle.

Comment by S.L.Bradish

December 7th 2006 13:10

Leave it to government to take any good idea and find a way to @$#%^ it up, huh? They really have a problem with priotities, don't they? And we keep voting for them, why??? LOL

Comment by youranter

December 7th 2006 13:29

youranter
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opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern

Hey, anything the private sector can do on the cheap, the gov't can do on the expensive. Why do we keep voting for them? Why not? It gives us something to do instead of talk about each other behind their backs.

Comment by S.L.Bradish

December 7th 2006 13:44

Yep. Wouldn't it be interesting if they held an election and nobody showed up? Nah... they'd just vote themselves in anyway... I can't think of anything the government can do better than the private sector (except campaigning, of course).

Comment by Devil's Advocate

December 8th 2006 03:46

You never cease to amaze me Mrs. Bradish. I must say I am pleasantly surprised to hear that you have a heart for homeless people. That's not to be mean. It just seems to be a cause most on the "right", avoid like the plague. That said, from my experience working with homeless shelters, one of the biggest problems is the regulations placed on shelters that limit how many people can be crammed into the building. Most homesless shelters could easily accomodate close to twice as many people, if only they would toss the cots and beds. That sounds cruel, I know, but better a spot on the floor in a warm builidng than a spot on the sidewalk in the cold.

Comment by S.L.Bradish

December 8th 2006 03:54

Avoiding a problem doesn't make it go away, D.A. I am a firm believer in helping the homeless to improve their position if they want to. Shelters are a necessity in the cold months as food is year round. Cities have an obligation to all their citizens, the homeless included. They know how many people they'll need to care for and they know that winter comes at the same time every year. It is unconscionable not to have the preparations completed before winter sets in.

Comment by Devil's Advocate

December 8th 2006 03:57

Well I don't disagree that it's inconsiderate not to be ready for our outdoor neighbors. I just think we are more prepared than the statutes allow for when they limit the number of beds allowed in a given facility. I have been to homeless shelters that were better equipped than some apartment complexes... and made so because of stricter than sane city ordinances.

Comment by S.L.Bradish

December 8th 2006 04:06

I suppose it's a matter of priorities. Some places go to extremes with their shelters and some can't seem to get them going on time. Too bad all the "powers that be" can't regulate the situation better than they do.

Comment by Devil's Advocate

December 8th 2006 04:59

My father runs a faith based homeless center in San Francisco. It's a community center/ foodbank, not a shelter, but trust me when I tell you that faith based is the way to go. I hear, during this time of year, alot of silly complaints from people of faith about "taking the Christ out of Christmas." It seems to me that people of faith should be putitng the Christ in the season by being more involved in the lives of the poor. Putting Christ in Christmas is more about the spirit of the God man than it is about about using the right code words in a holiday salutation. It's not that more regulation is needed. What's missing is not governmental regulation. That seems a wee bit left to me. What's needed to solve the shelter problem for people is less government and more heart...the heart of the Christ, for while men may take the christ out of Christmas... it's far more worisome that men have taken the Christ out of Christian.

Comment by S.L.Bradish

December 8th 2006 05:38

Good for your father. Helping the helpless is a noble pursuit. By "powers that be" I was referring to any organization or group that is supposed to be taking care of the homeless. And faith based is surely the best way to help our fellow men (and women). It should be a year round calling for every one of us.