Local view: Help make Duluth’s homeless safe, visible
January 19, 2012 at 6:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
On a bitterly cold night about six years ago, a night not unlike our last couple, a homeless man in Duluth sought shelter behind a downtown senior high-rise apartment building.
Continue Reading
Are a lot of the “homeless” seasonal?
Hot debate. What do you think?
12 
20
The majority of homeless are either mentally ill or chemically dependent. Where they need to be is a treatment center that can address the problems that are keeping them homeless. Handing them a sandwich or a blanket does nothing to get them any closer to being off the streets and is a misguided use of already scarce resources. While it might sound like a crass and thoughtless suggestion, how about putting them on a bus and sending them down to Twin Cities area treatment centers where they can get the help they clearly need? That’s why those centers exist.
(And the average age of a homeless person is not nine years old. That’s an old stat that never was accurate. I understand that homeless advocates and lazy journalists are looking for the “awww” factor in hopes of drumming up some support, but fudging the numbers doesn’t help the cause and diverts attention and resources from the real problem areas.)
Hot debate. What do you think?
30 
18
Look, there are better solutions out there, but sandwiches & blankets are not scarce resources. If you can give someone food or shelter for one day, that’s a hell of a lot better than doing nothing.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
31 
10
Is it? Why? So you can feel better about yourself? Because that’s the only result you’re going to get out of it. It doesn’t begin to help that person get off the streets and into a permanent shelter. So hand him a sandwich and pat yourself on the back and tell everyone you care more than they do. But don’t pretend you’re having any real effect. That’s not a solution.
Hot debate. What do you think?
22 
23
You see, DanH, some people do a good turn once in a while and don’t expect major quantifiable results — that’s why it’s okay to give someone a sandwich or whatever without having to “pretend you’re having any real effect.”
Like or Dislike:
6 
6
That might actually work, except for two things. You can’t force anyone to do something they don’t want to and….most of those kind of places are full to overcrowded most of the time, with a long waiting list. And the more funding for them keeps getting cut, the worse the situation will become.
Like or Dislike:
20 
8
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. Once you teach a man to fish and direct him to a lake, you can do no more. It is up to him to decide to fish.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
31 
13
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Hot debate. What do you think?
18 
13
It’s nice to know there are people around with such big hearts like Deb Holman and Chuck Frederick, helping out those unfortunate homeless in the area who are down on their luck and left out in the cold. Thanks guys.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
27 
6
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
12 
23
Actually, the sandwich and blanket DO help. They are what it takes to make a connection and form some trust. Most of the people with mental illness are terrified of making those connections, just because of people like you.
They are afraid that someone just wants to lock them up somewhere.
Once a bond is formed and they begin to trust, it’s much easier to convince them to get the help they need.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
24 
9
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
8 
22
Not really. Most people with mental illness can function just fine in the community once they have stable housing and get on medication and/or receive outpatient therapy.
And it’s much cheaper to do that than to house them in an institution or treatment facility.
Like or Dislike:
18 
6
“And they need help. They need gloves, mittens, wool socks, fleece, winter hats, scarves, long johns, bottles of water, granola bars, other non-perishable snack foods, soap, shampoo, toilet paper, can openers, first-aid kits, backpacks, blankets, hand-warmer packets, candles, and even tarps, tents and sleeping bags.
Just to get through. Just to survive.”
Huh? CANDLES??
How about a room in a shelter? With all the empty buildings in Duluth, it’s a dirty sin that anyone should have to sleep outside.
But what happened to Ringsred a couple of years ago when he allowed a couple of guys to sleep in the basement of the Norshor? He should have given them a couple of granola bars and some candles, instead, eh?
It’s sickening to read.
Like or Dislike:
15 
4
That’s kind of what I’m trying to say, but liberals don’t want to hear it. It’s their own misguided “compassion” that only perpetuates homelessness. They don’t understand that. They gave someone a sandwich and went home feeling good about themselves. To them that’s a solution. And the mentally ill and chemically dependent recipients eat the sandwiches and go on with another homeless day. I can’t wait to hear how much of an impact this had and how much closer we are to a solution now.
Like or Dislike:
11 
14
lloyd wagner said: “How about a room in a shelter? With all the empty buildings in Duluth, it’s a dirty sin that anyone should have to sleep outside.”
I definitely agree. The problem is….money. It all takes money and there doesn’t seem to be any.
The government keeps cutting the funding for the resources that help people with mental illness or other problems. The conservatives definitely don’t seem interested in helping so…people are doing the best they can with what’s available.
Personally, I’d love to see more shelters open up but …I don’t have much faith it’s going to happen any time soon.
Like or Dislike:
7 
6
Excuses, excuses.
It doesn’t cost a dime to unlock a door and let someone in.
Like or Dislike:
3 
5
BULL SH*T!!! It sure the hell does. I’ve done it countless times and been burned so many times I can’t count them anylonger. It has cost me thousands and thousands of dollars trying to help the homeless situation. Reality is perhaps a little harsh but some people DESERVE to be homeless, or at least put into a group home situation where they are closely supervised. Many are homeless due to selfdestructive decisions THEY themselves have made, and continue to make.
Like or Dislike:
4 
5
Well actually, it would cost several dimes. You’d have to have lights/power on to avoid falls/accidents. Without power, you end up with people using candles which more often than not, ends up starting things on fire.
You prolly should have water/toilet facilities, unless you want people using the floor.
Insurance would be a good idea, to protect the property owner from lawsuits in case of falls/injuries of any kind.
Like or Dislike:
5 
1
Deb Holman is the Mother Teresa of Duluth. Thanks for your efforts Deb.
Like or Dislike:
7 
6
Mother Teresa? That’s not very nice.
Like or Dislike:
3 
9
Dan, I for one, would just love to see you go through the homeless episode.
And then hear what you had to say.
Like or Dislike:
8 
8
That’s not likely to happen, but I’m curious why you’d wish that on anybody?
Like or Dislike:
8 
6
Why, it’s probably because you provide such deep insight into all things, DanH, and bac just wishes you could spread some of that sweet wisdom to transience.
Like or Dislike:
4 
3
The goal of a comment section, as I understand it, is to collect people’s comments. Does that confuse you?
Like or Dislike:
3 
4
Just so you could walk a mile in their shoes, Dan.
You might change your tune.
On second thought, you probably wouldn’t, just brag that you made money doing it.
Like or Dislike:
3 
3
“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed. “….Herman Melville
If one hasn’t eaten for two days and sleeping outside, a sandwich and a blanket could literally be life saving. To proclaim that isn’t a solution for the homeless only shows how little one knows about the homeless situation.
Tonight, there will be 67,000 people sleeping on our streets that are Veterans that put their lifes on the line so some have the freedom to make snarky comments on the internet about them. The number of female Veterans that are homeless has doubled in last 4 years due to their increased exposure to combat and Post Traumatic Stress resulting from that exposure. Before Iraq and Afganistan the stat was that 350,000 American Veterans would experience homelessness within a year.
The problem with the homeless issue is primarily the publics perception. Do some have mental issues that challenge them or a form of chemical dependency? Yes, and many of those again. are our own Vets suffering PTS. You wouldn’t guess that of course unless actually spent some time with them. Most people just write them off as drunks that made their own lot, not knowing that person has a bullet permanently lodged in their brain .
Katy was absolutely correct, you can’t force an addict into rehab and you can’t commit someone just because you think they should be institutionalized. Have some of homeless made some poor choices, absolutely, but the majority are victims of circumstances beyond their control also. I could tell a hundred stories as worked as site manager for a homeless shelter for 10 years and that it isn’t what you think. The most often repeated phrase from new volunteers worked with and the realization was usually on their first night was “this could be us”. They aren’t all dredges and they all are human beings.
You can’t magically solve the homeless crises, you can’t save them but you can provide food and shelter. Making comments demeaning others efforts as not a solution or proclaiming that the stats for children is incorrect is automatically the wrong approach. One first has to start by asking questions like, how many homeless and hungry children are acceptable to you? Should any of our war Vets be homeless? Hopefully the answer would be none and so, a sandwich and blanket would be first step while we all await your revelation to the magic solution to actually end the homelessness crises in this country.
“When I feed the hungry, they call me a saint, but when I ask why people should be hungry, they call me a communist” Archbishop Dom Helder Camara
Like or Dislike:
6 
3
Kudos. Very well stated.
Like or Dislike:
3 
2
Tips cap…Thanks Katy for kind words.
This story just posted on line and what was talking about…instead of arguing about the homeless, if we do nothing then it should be to hang our heads in shame IMHO…
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10238239-homeless-navy-veteran-receives-full-military-burial
“The burial of a homeless Navy veteran at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland was the 1,000th in a national program that provides military honors to homeless and indigent vets.”
Like or Dislike:
3 
1
A large population of the homeless are Military Veterans…still the conservatives don’t want to help them. Congrats GOP on screwing our Veterans even once more…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0