Comments for The Homeless Experience http://homelessexperience.com Homelessness Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:27:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on About by Cathy http://homelessexperience.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-642 Cathy Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:27:46 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?page_id=2#comment-642 Michael, thanks for the comment and good luck in all of your efforts. I recently read 'Under the Overpass'. A great story about 2 young men that chose homelessness for 6 months. Their website is http://www.undertheoverpass.com/uop/home.php If you contact the author, he might have some ideas of the program you are talking about. I would start there. If OK with you, I'll stay in touch via email. Blessings to you and to the work of your hands! Cathy Michael, thanks for the comment and good luck in all of your efforts.

I recently read ‘Under the Overpass’. A great story about 2 young men that chose homelessness for 6 months. Their website is http://www.undertheoverpass.com/uop/home.php If you contact the author, he might have some ideas of the program you are talking about. I would start there. If OK with you, I’ll stay in touch via email.

Blessings to you and to the work of your hands!
Cathy

]]> Comment on About by Michael http://homelessexperience.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Michael Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:21:01 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?page_id=2#comment-639 Hey Cathy, I want to do a documentary on Homelessness, and i heard there was a program where you could be homeless for a weekend and you will have a chaperone to make sure you dont do anything illegal or dangerous. Let me know if you know what i am talking about. I like your site though it is very informative! What are some things that would be helpful to do in my community to raise awareness? God bless, Michael Hey Cathy,

I want to do a documentary on Homelessness, and i heard there was a program where you could be homeless for a weekend and you will have a chaperone to make sure you dont do anything illegal or dangerous. Let me know if you know what i am talking about.
I like your site though it is very informative! What are some things that would be helpful to do in my community to raise awareness?
God bless,
Michael

]]> Comment on The addicted homeless bias… by Cathy http://homelessexperience.com/the-addicted-homeless-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Cathy Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:34:58 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?p=397#comment-632 Your comments are so good Allisun, thank you. It is the complexity of our reactions and feelings that also keep us stuck and nothing happens. If we can 'break free' through understanding of ourselves and others, we can get a 'new flow' going. Your comments are so good Allisun, thank you. It is the complexity of our reactions and feelings that also keep us stuck and nothing happens. If we can ‘break free’ through understanding of ourselves and others, we can get a ‘new flow’ going.

]]> Comment on The addicted homeless bias… by Allisun Conant http://homelessexperience.com/the-addicted-homeless-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-629 Allisun Conant Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:13:12 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?p=397#comment-629 I think our feelings/reactions to homelessness (and homeless people) are so complicated. I find it so uncomfortable and confusing when I am asked for "spare change" from a person on the street. I always feel conflicted. I love that you make specific suggestions about how to give and help, because I think many people just don't know how to think about the problem or how to be helpful. And to be reminded that we are all so much more similar than different is uncomfortable and so important. I think our feelings/reactions to homelessness (and homeless people) are so complicated. I find it so uncomfortable and confusing when I am asked for “spare change” from a person on the street. I always feel conflicted. I love that you make specific suggestions about how to give and help, because I think many people just don’t know how to think about the problem or how to be helpful. And to be reminded that we are all so much more similar than different is uncomfortable and so important.

]]> Comment on The addicted homeless bias… by Cathy http://homelessexperience.com/the-addicted-homeless-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-626 Cathy Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:18:47 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?p=397#comment-626 You were right on Linn with your comment "We try to ignore the things we don't understand." I guess we would rather not see than be challenged to think differently. The stats are out there Linn. Click on the link above and check out all of the information they have gathered. Be warned...some of it is hard to read. We think of America as being a wealthy nation, and we are by the world's standards, but there is still poverty here. Maybe not by world standards but by ours. Regardless, hunger is still hunger, fear is still fear, loneliness is still loneliness.... You were right on Linn with your comment “We try to ignore the things we don’t understand.” I guess we would rather not see than be challenged to think differently.

The stats are out there Linn. Click on the link above and check out all of the information they have gathered. Be warned…some of it is hard to read. We think of America as being a wealthy nation, and we are by the world’s standards, but there is still poverty here. Maybe not by world standards but by ours. Regardless, hunger is still hunger, fear is still fear, loneliness is still loneliness….

]]> Comment on The addicted homeless bias… by Cathy http://homelessexperience.com/the-addicted-homeless-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-625 Cathy Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:13:25 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?p=397#comment-625 Love your ideas Mary...thanks for sharing them. Like you said, we just have to step out a bit and press through, beyond our fears and biases. In His Grace, Cathy Love your ideas Mary…thanks for sharing them. Like you said, we just have to step out a bit and press through, beyond our fears and biases.

In His Grace,
Cathy

]]> Comment on The addicted homeless bias… by Linn http://homelessexperience.com/the-addicted-homeless-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-624 Linn Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:19:21 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?p=397#comment-624 You have made us all think about where we stand on the issues of homelessness, I'm sure. Who of us have not judged those we see and tried to understand their situation? I don't know the difference between the addicted and the abusers by sight, we tend to lump them all together I think. I took the boys to the Loveland Park at the old fairgrounds. We were rather early for the day to begin and there were people cleaning there as well as homeless men sleeping under the footbridge. I could not understand what was going on until the tarp was being folded up by one of the men and they were taking turns using the restrooms there. I had the little boys and didn't want to frighten them so just let them play. I was afraid but not afraid enough to leave. I used the experience to talk with the boys and help them understand homelessness. We try to ignore the things we don't understand. If you understand those things you don't avoid or ignore them but try to help the situation in any way you can. One thing I'm sure of is that these people are not homeless by choice, or maybe some are by now. They probably are comfortable being taken care of because some have come to that place where they know how to get by and it is the pattern they are accustom to. It simply works for them but others hate it and those are the addicted and abusers possibly. Are there any stats on that possibility? Might be interesting to gain knowledge of this information. What do you think? You have made us all think about where we stand on the issues of homelessness, I’m sure. Who of us have not judged those we see and tried to understand their situation? I don’t know the difference between the addicted and the abusers by sight, we tend to lump them all together I think.

I took the boys to the Loveland Park at the old fairgrounds. We were rather early for the day to begin and there were people cleaning there as well as homeless men sleeping under the footbridge. I could not understand what was going on until the tarp was being folded up by one of the men and they were taking turns using the restrooms there. I had the little boys and didn’t want to frighten them so just let them play. I was afraid but not afraid enough to leave. I used the experience to talk with the boys and help them understand homelessness. We try to ignore the things we don’t understand. If you understand those things you don’t avoid or ignore them but try to help the situation in any way you can.

One thing I’m sure of is that these people are not homeless by choice, or maybe some are by now. They probably are comfortable being taken care of because some have come to that place where they know how to get by and it is the pattern they are accustom to. It simply works for them but others hate it and those are the addicted and abusers possibly. Are there any stats on that possibility? Might be interesting to gain knowledge of this information. What do you think?

]]> Comment on The addicted homeless bias… by Mary http://homelessexperience.com/the-addicted-homeless-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-623 Mary Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:17:41 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?p=397#comment-623 Well said, my friend! And you just gave me a great idea! Why not carry a box of new socks, gloves, winter caps and scarves, fast food gift cards, etc. in the car at all times? (Especially right now with winter well on its way.) You can buy this stuff really inexpensively at WalMart or other discount stores. That would help to meet a small need when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign where a homeless person is asking for help without the concern for handing them cash. I love what you are doing, Cathy! Thanks for encouraging the rest of us to shake off our fears and biases for the sake of another human being. There but by the grace of God go I! Praise God for such merciful grace! Have a blessed day, my friend! Mary Well said, my friend! And you just gave me a great idea! Why not carry a box of new socks, gloves, winter caps and scarves, fast food gift cards, etc. in the car at all times? (Especially right now with winter well on its way.) You can buy this stuff really inexpensively at WalMart or other discount stores. That would help to meet a small need when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign where a homeless person is asking for help without the concern for handing them cash.

I love what you are doing, Cathy! Thanks for encouraging the rest of us to shake off our fears and biases for the sake of another human being.

There but by the grace of God go I! Praise God for such merciful grace!

Have a blessed day, my friend!
Mary

]]> Comment on About by Cathy http://homelessexperience.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-543 Cathy Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:52:31 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?page_id=2#comment-543 Bill, thank you so much for your kind comment. When your heart begins to get tugged, it is hard to walk away...as you well know. I appreciate you and all you and Sue do for those in need. Bill, thank you so much for your kind comment. When your heart begins to get tugged, it is hard to walk away…as you well know. I appreciate you and all you and Sue do for those in need.

]]> Comment on About by Bill Watkins http://homelessexperience.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Bill Watkins Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:46:45 +0000 http://homelessexperience.com/?page_id=2#comment-521 Hi Cathy, I know your heart and pray this blog will further not only restoration to the homeless but also healing to one more soul each day through the awareness this brings. Great to see your blog. Very well done and quite a challenge to take on. Keep up the great work. Reach out to me if you need any help. I'm planning to share it a lot! Appreciate you guys and God Bless! ~ Bill Hi Cathy,

I know your heart and pray this blog will further not only restoration to the homeless but also healing to one more soul each day through the awareness this brings.

Great to see your blog. Very well done and quite a challenge to take on. Keep up the great work. Reach out to me if you need any help. I’m planning to share it a lot!

Appreciate you guys and God Bless!

~ Bill

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