Homeless or a health care problem ?
Question:
ignore one possibe missing link; the health care system. While some
others do not want to deal with some of the core problems, but rather
deal with a symptom of a problem, homelessness.
If we are to discuss this issue, we must not be ‘politically
correct’, we must explore the many cause of homelessness, and be
critical by moving beyond generalized black and white logic, which the
truth is not.
Back some 20 years ago I rented to a homeless man who was living not on
the streets, but in the forest. He appeared to be a nice man however he
had health issues, he had been labeled a schizophrenic. We rented him a
two room suite he was a nice man for some 6 years.
After a few years his condition worsened, and many other tenants left the building, so had to give him a notice to leave. In fact he had now developed a serious intestinal problem requiring surge
So is the problem really a health issue ?
Answer:
Well, I'm homeless, and this is the fourth time in my life I have been in this state. I am now pushing 50 years of age. The first time, I was a teenager who came home after years of caring for my prescription-drug-addicted mother, to find our home abandoned by her, and suddenly, with no life skills beyond being able to cook and do laundry, on my own. I was homeless for that summer, but soon found housing. Over the years I have both lived on my own, and with others as a roommate. This current bout started several years ago. I had a home, but the company I leased it from sold it out from under me, and with two evictions on my record, and poor credit, no landlord will rent to me. I ended up living on a ranch and acting as caretaker. The owner said I could stay there for the rest of my life, but when he found out I have AIDS, he threw me out onto the street. I tried to appeal to the County for help, as I felt this was a broken promise of housing when I had kept up my end of the deal as caretaker, but the county said they could not do anything. I then bought a motor home that I lived in, but recently it caught fire due to a mechanical problem in the engine, and I lost everything, including my pets. I work two jobs as an independent contractor, creating low-budget commercials and videos. Living as a visual artist, for me money is feast or famine. Last year I made a smart move, and bought some land in the mountains nearby. I am hoping to move a trailer there soon to live there, and build a house as I get money to do it, stick-by-stick. I am also a client of the largest AIDS and homeless assistance organization in our county, but have been very disappointed due to, frankly, the incompetence on the part of the staff and councilors, many of whom don't even have basic computer skills, such as being able to use Microsoft Word. Add to that the fact that, in looking for housing, the hoops they make you jump through (such as making us find our own housing and placing rules that say we have to get the housing secured BEFORE they will assist us) and you can see how frustrating it is. They simply add another level of bureaucracy to wade through on efforts that we could do on our own without seeking help or permission from them. Honestly, it is my personal experience that most of those organizations are there to get fat on tax dollars while offering meager services at best to their target clientelle. I do suffer from AIDS, clinical depression, bipolar syndrome, and maybe a hint of schizophrenia, but I have a good doctor, and I try to stay on top of it with my meds. I was never a drug or alcohol user, and am basically a functional person, but a life as an artist has it's ups and downs. I have tried to fit into the 9-to-5 culture, but I usually end up leaving after a year or so as I get restless when my creative urges go unmet.
I hope that gives you some insight. Good question, too!
usually 40% of homeless people have a recorded mental illness
I wonder if it is an insurance issue?
After using up all ones insurance benefits, they psych hospitals "release" patients because they can no longer pay. These poor mistreated people often end up on the street because they have no where else to go.
You cannot say they are related all the time. Many homeless people have heath problems, but many do not. Many people with no health care are homeless, but still, many are not.
This particular man's problem was his mental health causing him to be homeless (from your building at least).
He was capable of maintaining a residence, you however were not capable of keeping him as a tenent.
In his case, I think he could have (or possible you could have assisted him) found an apartment designed for handicapped people.
There is a big problem with health issue in the homeless communities, however one must look at why these people are homeless. Many people who end up homeless do have mental health issues. When I lived in Wisconsin, I noticed a large number of obvious mentally unstable people who ended up on the street due to many closures of facilities that provided care to the mentally ill. They were, from what I heard, put out on the curb if they had no family to claim them.
These people have in many cases been turned down by society and have in turn, turned their backs on the world. Most of them don't want help (financial, employment, or health) even if its offered. They are obviously low on money (either from being homeless or prior to becoming homeless) which would translate in to poor hygene, poor deit, and lack of shelter from the elements. Even if the basic health care is provided to people, some people wont go to get help until their problem is too far along to easily treat.
Many people who are homeless have "given up". I am not trying to put down people for the difficulties they have had in life that may have brought them to this position, however, the sad fact is that they mostly either see no way out, or don't want a way out. This act of "giving up" is apparent in their social lives, their health, their drive to do whatever necessary to turn their situations around.
some people say we are one pay check a way from being homeless, do this men the rich to,some people are all adout the money like the hospitals, even if you can pay for the Dr. can you pay for the medicen
Mostly it is a mental health issue problem.
More Questions & Answers...