winther502
218
Thanks Cookies
Here in Copenhagen the homeless are hardly visible.
Lates count says app. 6.500 (pop. is app. 6.5 m) with around 12% off those having slept on the street in the week of counting.
Most homeless stays with family, in shelters or hostels. App. half have been homeless fore more than a year. Thankfully there are no homeless children.
Off citizens that have been homeless fore more than a year, the wast majority strugles with psychiatric problems and/or abuse issues,- mostly alcohol.
Unfortunately the psychiatric care has been clearly underfunded for a number of years, but is finally geeting a substancial lift in the comming years.
There are sufficient supportsystems in place, so you are very unlikely to stay homeless for long, if there are no other problems in the equation.
One full time (37 hour/week) low wage job will pay enough for a decent living and home in greater Copenhagen.
The economic og social differences makes it difficult to compare the problem and the possible remedyes, but one thing is certain,-
if a low wage, fulltime job does not pay enough to live on, the society (political system) is clearly dysfuntional and most likely short lived.
Yours
Jacob
Homeless People
It’s just another day for you and me in paradise…sang Phil Collins. Daily, I see wealthy people. I’m surrounded by them. I’m numbed by them. I am probably one of them. Is there more to life than buying the next watch, or car? I didn’t want to find out too...
You speak the truth. This makes me sad.
Also, I think about this often and feel very guilty. Why is it that some have so much while many have nothing? I think we try to do what we can with a caring and passionate heart; as you have shown here yourself; yet it’s not nearly enough and hard to sol...
Thank you for taking notice
Yes it is not nearly enough for most of the homeless. These are complex cases, and there are terrible stories out there to a good Samaritan who got bitten back. Yes we must be thankful of the lifes we have, to have a roof and warm bed everyday.
Nice of you to help...
...but these people are almost always homeless because of drug addiction and mental illness. I will give them food but never money. We give money to charities (with almost zero overhead) that know how best to deal with this sort of thing. I am less enamor...
Yes mental illness seems to be the common theme
They could not fit into institutions, and run from help, for fear of the stigma or being “caught” and locked up.
Wonderful gesture,
And reasoning that is at once pragmatic yet wholehearted. Everything you mentioned in the post is absolutely accurate, and I have tragically witnessed far too many such examples on the streets of Los Angeles, where a literal small town of around 60,000 pe...
I wonder why Phil Colins made that song
It never really dawned upon me until lately, where the lyrics sank in. Am I the man who started to whistle as he crosses the street? Could I have done differently? Phil Colins has a beautiful voice.
Hello dear Cookies
I'm glad to read your post and I think you have a good heart. And that's one of the most important things in life, because no matter if you are rich, mid class or poor, you're always going to help someone in need. Yes, we have nothing assured in this life...
Great story Rene
There, it happened to your brother too. It’s like a domino when these happen in capitalist countries where costs of living are astronomical. One starfish at a time…we can’t help everyone it is true.
Sometimes I rather help the helpless pets, especially dogs who are loyal to us humans…
I believe in Karma, and I will not help those who look healthy, carry a sign and still smoking. I am very frustrated of the looters, robbers and sucker punching cowards who suffer no consequences. I will help the handicap homeless people but like you said...
Hello dear friend
I understand your point of view. There's logic in it. Many times people that really doesn't need the help abuses of the good hearted people. As you mention God, I'm going to assume you're a believer. So always remember that even God sent some one to help ...
Yes my friend…follow our hearts and be kind of what I’m practicing…
I just want to be an ordinary, decent person who is responsible to the people around me. I had helped and served as volunteers before, in temples, charity organizations when I was a teen. I can remember clearly the happy feeling of giving and helping. Thi...
Yes I saw many
Pretending to be homeless but actually peddling drugs by the sidewalks. Others smoked cigarettes till no end. There are many fake ones out there. A common theme I noticed is that the fake ones tend to congregate around high flow areas. The “genuine” ones ...
Bless you
I’m not religious but that was an angelic act that not many would imitate. Kudos to you and thanks for sharing the story. It is true they are not all thieves and crooks, it can happen to anyone. We should all be half or even a tenth of how kind you are. ...
I don’t know why i keep doing it
Something stirred in me. I see myself in their pain. I was left for dead by my ex-wife who did something quite similar to me. Roamed the streets of Saigon for a few days, and didn’t know where I fit in. I flew back home to Singapore after 4 years trying t...
Pls give some when you see them
I know you will. Some drink or bread or clothes will do. Don’t give money, because in many countries, the government actually pays these people benefits already.
This is a long-standing social issue
There is very little we can do, but we should be grateful for what we have
That’s right
Sometimes we do something nice and it can backfire royally. I just listened to a podcast about Schizophrenia. Apparently, 1-3% of the population has it. A robust support network for the afflicted. In this case, the homeless man’s support network simply wo...
Thanks Ted
Haven’t seen u here for a while. Beautiful Mokarran there. I am wearing my Bathyscaphe hard. It is a wonderful piece.
Our walking routes have to be carefully chosen
as the population of homeless around us exceeds 8000 and many are sleeping in the morning on sidewalks, lawns and in bushes. Not so bad perhaps as Los Angeles and San Francisco, but still a big problem. We have lived in the same area for a long time, and ...
Spot on Cazalea
Real life experience you have there and it’s great you’ve shared it. I will have to choose my walking paths very carefully too. It isn’t pleasant to be preyed on, stalked because one is kind. It can descend into danger too. When one becomes too reliant on...
Not a happy camper,-
Dear All I'm finding this post,- and many of the comments deeply disturbing. In a wealthy and civil society citizens in deep need of help should not be dependent on the good will of (a few) fellow citizens. Please stop the hypocrisy, pay your taxes and vo...
Thanks Cookies
Here in Copenhagen the homeless are hardly visible. Lates count says app. 6.500 (pop. is app. 6.5 m) with around 12% off those having slept on the street in the week of counting. Most homeless stays with family, in shelters or hostels. App. half have been...
100%
That is a very well thought of and researched answer. I heard so too, that Denmark has very good policies and systems to solve homelessness.
