Comments on: Stranger Danger

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 01:58:50 +0000

@Linda: That sounds like a great program, something that’s really making a difference!

@David: Your logic is ridiculous. That’s like saying I hate grizzly bears because I don’t want them running around my kid’s school. I’m not over the top judgmental — I cited scientific studies stating that approximately 40-45% of homeless people are mentally ill, and 75% of homeless people have drug and alcohol issues. Blame reality for those numbers, not me.

It’s not that I “don’t wish to see these people,” it’s WHERE I don’t wish to see them.

By: David S.

David S. — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 01:05:53 +0000

"I hope this didnâ€t come off as a rant against the homeless. I realize most homeless people are not dangerous, but many of them are mentally ill and the majority of them have drug and alcohol addictions. " You are just over the top pre-judgemental. And is it better to hide these poor persons from the public just so that you can have a comfortable life? Is it so bad to actually see how your society treats less fortunate people? Instead of wishing not to see these persons, ask yourself rather what you can do to improve their life and dignity. Or maybe that's too much to ask for? Imagine that many homeless people are educated people, who lost a chance to stay in the "accepted levels" of the society because they could not afford health insurance, and then got ill ... which is not uncommon with teachers in the US. Do you think that your kids teachers might be a potential homeless person in the future?

By: Aunt Linda

Aunt Linda — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:56:21 +0000

We have PADS in the south suburbs. Women and chidren are separate from the men. A different church each night of the week shelters them. My shift, at St. Agnes in the Heights, does serve a hot dinner, hot breakfast and send you off at 7AM with a lunch bag. You do have to find your way at this point to a day shelter, which is miles away. I’m sure we have alcoholics but most of my guys, in the new millenium, are truly down on their luck. I have one cook from New Orleans who has been looking for a job and finally found one washing dishes..not enough money for an apartment up here. A lot of them have wakeup calls(the Holiday Inn has nothing on us) to go to meager jobs.

WE are good to our homeless here but they would never be allowed to stay in a library or public place. If you have $4 you can get coffee and sit in Caribou. Otherwise you know what church is on the schedule at 4:30.

Maybe you need PADS there and it starts with the churches getting involved. They taught us “Whatsoever you do to the least of My brother…” They should show us how.

P.S. I hear you on the foot smell. Work Men’s Night at St. Agnes!!! Feet are sounding kind of good, comparatively speaking.

By: Mom

Mom — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:16:45 +0000

They should bring one of the public busses that nobody rides and give them all a ride to the homeless shelter where they can stay warm, sleep and be fed and get them out of the library and off the street corners. Last night we passed a guy on a corner with a sign “Need 57 cents for a cheeseburger”. Right. They make more money panhandling than a lot of people who work 40 hours a week! OK, I’m off my soapbox, at least for now.

By: Felix

Felix — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:34:52 +0000

My wife is very pro-library, despite the fact she never goes to them. It is not uncommon for me to make fun of the library and how many homeless people hang out there. I am going to have to show her this blog to prove my point. Thanks!