How to deal with the homeless guy

[Borachio]

Now you go by the shelter and there are masses of people who are not so different than those you see everyday working and shopping in Walmart.

Grapes of Wrath.

 

[Core Imposter]

I believe that the instances of parents kicking out pregnant girls is pretty rare and will continue to do so until I see some hard data (of which I admit I would be skeptical).

Kids are far more likely to be kicked out because of other issues, which in themselves, may increase the likelyhood of them becoming pregnant.

I am not saying that it doesn't happen though.

For an example, a parent might be forced to kick out a female child who has become a meth addict who later turns out to be or become pregnant. In some cases it might not be feasible to let them return home. If you've had to deal with these issues in your family, or witnessed it, you understand that things tend to be complicated.

 

[Borachio]

There's plenty of abusive relationships between teenage girls and step fathers. Can you accept that?

 

[dutchfire]

It says "with no place to stay when the baby comes"

"They are homeless because they don't have a place to stay", sounds tautological to me.

 

[Borachio]

No. You can have a place to stay and still be homeless.

People who are obliged to stay in B and B's or hostels are homeless. Rules often mean they have to leave the place first thing in the morning.

Rough sleepers have to sleep outside.

 

[Core Imposter]

There's plenty of abusive relationships between teenage girls and step fathers. Can you accept that?

I might quibble over the "plenty" but I'd agree there are too many. Good point.

Consequence of moral decline. I suggest that the nation should use the Bible as a primary reading text in our schools.

 

[Gucumatz]

Have any of you all ever volunteered/worked at shelters? I admit I am not particularly familiar with anything similar to the OP is - but ultimately they are still people and worthy of respect. Have you, you know, ever tried talking to them? Might be the simplest solution there is. I volunteer in Raleigh most weeks to make food and hand it out to homeless at the town square - Most people I meet feel like they can't trust anyone or people would just rather think they aren't there. Treating them like people could be a start.

 

[civver_764]

So he just keeps hanging around until he gets more? I mean, I appreciate the humanitarian sentiment, but there's a reason that we have organised campaigns, shelters run by trained volunteers and overseen professionals, and other responses that are actually capable of dealing with vagrants. I'm not say that I'd blame him if he tried to milk it (can any of us honestly say that we wouldn't do the same in his position?, just that it's anything but a solution to Skwink's problem.

It's just a nice thing to do

 

[kochman]

Have any of you all ever volunteered/worked at shelters? I admit I am not particularly familiar with anything similar to the OP is - but ultimately they are still people and worthy of respect. Have you, you know, ever tried talking to them? Might be the simplest solution there is. I volunteer in Raleigh most weeks to make food and hand it out to homeless at the town square - Most people I meet feel like they can't trust anyone or people would just rather think they aren't there. Treating them like people could be a start.

Those coming into an environment where they expect free goods and are supposed to behave tend to take on a different, and known demeanor than one out on the streets half-way through a bag of crack rocks.
Every case and situation is unique.

If you don't know what you're getting into, best to be wary.

In a soup kitchen, mission, etc... you'll probably be ok.

 

[Gucumatz]

Those coming into an environment where they expect free goods and are supposed to behave tend to take on a different, and known demeanor than one out on the streets half-way through a bag of crack rocks.
Every case and situation is unique.

If you don't know what you're getting into, best to be wary.

In a soup kitchen, mission, etc... you'll probably be ok.

Every case and every person is indeed unique. But danger can come from anyone, not just that 'scary' looking homeless man. As I have said, I haven't had the issue personally that the OP had, but times are tough, including for the homeless as there is less to go around from charities and shelters in general.

And while I haven't had "homeless in my streets directly" - it happens more often than you realize perhaps (people digging through trash). People have and will dug through trash for leftover scraps, food, etc. Shocking I know, but its not easy being homeless.

It happens in England, here in NC [Altough from what I have learned mostly at certain stores/supermarkets here], Spain, and across the country. Again I still think the best idea is to talk to the people, you can still be cautious while doing so - nothing is preventing you from that.

But if you really want to be extreme you could do worse: http://www.businessinsider.com/spanish-authorities-are-locking-up-trash-cans-2012-9

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Is there not any government programs that can in fact help moved addicts or the mentally ill off the streets?

We used to have one... where they used to live until the government closed it, kicked the residents out to find what shelter/programs they could, or fend for themselves on the streets. The government wanted to Save Money... and incidentally, threw a lot of people out of work - this place was one of the major employers here.

I don't know that calling the police will do a lot of good if you don't have any evidence of what you suspect. In fact, it might just piss the "homeless" guy off and escalate the situation. My advice would be to gather evidence, including surveillance of your garage (or whereever your garbage is kept), and then take the proof of trespassing to police. At that point, something could actually be done. Otherwise, you're just harassing them as you have no real proof that this guy is the culprit, and there won't be a whole lot the cops can do without any evidence.

My primary advice to you is this: don't piss them off and make things worse.

Calling the police and insisting they open a file is the right thing to do. They won't actually do anything to catch the guy, but at least there will be a record if something bad/violent ever should happen.

At my last apartment, some crazy coot kept looking into my windows (I lived in the basement) and at one point began leaving notes taped to my window, accusing me of stealing his cat (not the one in my avatar; my younger cat). I caught him one day and he repeated his accusation; I told him I'd had Maddy since she was a kitten and had photographs and vet records to prove it. He still didn't believe me (surprise ), and I started worrying about the possibility that he might simply break in and take her. So I called the cops, who promised to send somebody over... and they never did. I'd already told my landlady about all this, and I took the note down to the police station and INSISTED they open a file. They really didn't think it was worth bothering about, but dammit, I no longer felt safe in my own home, either for my cat or for myself.

At least here I've never had that sort of problem with anybody trying to falsely accuse me of theft, but there are other problems... like somebody getting murdered in the next block a little over a year ago.

This is definitely not one of the safer areas of town to live, but it's better than a couple of decades ago when the local Grim Reapers (or Hells Angels, I forget which one it was) had their headquarters a couple of blocks away. Thing is, Red Deer is a crossroads/mid-point between two major cities north-south and a central point for the surrounding towns east-west. We're perfectly situated for shopping, work, and the drug/sex trade... and the criminals take full advantage of that. And any homeless I see, I stay well away from. Sure, there are some who are victims of the economy and government bureaucracy that doesn't give a damn about screwing people out of their lives. But all too many are drug addicts and/or mentally ill, and you never know who's carrying a knife or gun.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Give them some money and food?

I would not give money, too much chance that money will be spent on booze or drugs or gambling. If you give them some food at least you know that it will be eaten. Given that it is winter in America maybe some socks.

If you are worried take photos of them, avoid contact and keep weapon at hand inside your house. Preferably an AR15 Assault rifle with 100 rnd drum mag, then make sure they see you with the weapon, clock the weapon and point it at them, in a threatening manner. EDIT: Also put some kind of Republican stickers regarding gun ownership around the house.

 

[gozpel]

A guy told me he had sqatters in his son's cubby-house, in a big backyard.

He told them to bugger off, but of course they refused. 2 guys only. He couldn't remove them by force, by Australian laws a property dispute has to take it's course. The police just shook their heads, it was above their jurisdiction.

The guy watched the couple for a week, only to see that when one went out scavenging, the other hold fort. He lost his temper one day and went there with a gun, saying: GO AWAY!

Trespassers said no and the guy looked at them, seeing their worn clothes and their scared faces.

You want a meal?

One of the hijackers said: Yes, please.

Right, owner fires up the barbie and No1 eats himself happy, then switches to No2, who also gets a good feed. He leaves them with a couple of beers.

In the early morning one of the homeless comes up to thank you the guy, saying: Do you need any work done around here? He got a job for a petty penny, or food rather.

Making the story shorter, he put up a tent for them with bedrolls and they were patrolling the area for a whole year. Then they just decided to leave one day, with decent clothes and a big bag of food and necessities, given from the neighbours.

This happened in Western Sydney a few years ago.

 

[Borachio]

Nice story.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Indeed. What an odd country. It would take the police about 10 minutes to chase them off or arrest them in the US.

 

[Traitorfish]

It's just a nice thing to do

It's also a very stupid thing to do, was my point. If you just see them out and about, downtown or wherever, by all means give them a few quid or a sandwich, but unless you're either a specialist or have ready access to a specialist, it's really very unwise to encourage vagrants to hang around your house.

 

[Core Imposter]

It was a tough decision as to where would be the best place to post this so I've put it in both as this should settle the debates on dealing with gun rights and the homeless (and has a dog in there for bonus points)

A naked intruder who was trying to choke a pet Rottweiler was shot by a homeowner in Miami Wednesday morning, police said.

The bizarre incident happened around 5 a.m. when the occupants of the home were awoken when they heard a commotion and dogs barking.

When the homeowner went to check out the noise, he confronted the suspect, who was completely naked and trying to choke one of the dogs, police said.




http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...und-choking-dog-police-say?lite&lite=obinsite

/debates

 

[Borachio]

Yeah. I've heard this. They go naked for a reason, don't they? I can't remember what it is.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Hey, does 'rough sleeper' have a special meaning in the UK or does it just mean one who doesn't sleep well?

 

[Borachio]

Yes, it means someone who sleeps out of doors, and not for fun. So, a homeless person without a roof over their heads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_Sleepers_Initiative

You can be homeless but still have access to somewhere to sleep like a hostel. With a roof.

Even if you have a roof over your head you can still be homeless, if you don't have any rights to stay where you live or your home is unsuitable due to severe overcrowding or other reasons.

You might be entitled to help as a homeless person if you are:

• temporarily staying with friends or family
• staying in a hostel or nightshelter
• living in very overcrowded conditions
• at risk of violence or abuse in your home
• living in poor conditions that affect your health.

You may also be considered to be homeless if you are:

• living somewhere where you have no legal right to stay, such as in a squat.
• living somewhere that you can't afford to pay for without depriving yourself of basic essentials
• forced to live apart from your family or someone you would normally live with because your accommodation isn't suitable.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/what_is_homelessness#0

Interestingly squatting in empty residential property has now become a criminal offence. (It used to be the case that you could only be prosecuted for breaking and entering, so people used to very carefully make their way in without doing any damage. )

Now, squatters are using empty industrial properties. I expect that too will become criminalized in due course.

To evict legal squatters takes a court order, and up to six months delay.