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What Do You Want to Know about Homelessness?

Share your questions about homelessness and homeless people here.

From the lens Answers to Questions about Homelessness.

  • RoyMickey Apr 16, 2012 @ 12:19 pm | delete
    I hope I never reach that stage of despiration. I am already unemployed and by the grace of GOD I am still intact.
  • Claudia Apr 1, 2012 @ 12:26 pm | delete
    I'm a nursing student and, as part of my psych rotation, I'm doing some work with homeless people, since such a high percentage of them are also mentally ill. We'll be going to a shelter next week and cooking a meal and we're expected to do a short educational presentation to the residents. My problem is I don't feel like I have anything I can teach the homeless that can be of any real value to them because they have such limited resources. I admit I'm quite ignorant about what it's truly like to be homeless, and I realized this when I started visiting shelters and food pantries and actually interacting with homeless people. I feel they have much more to teach me, than I do them. I would love to find out from someone who's been homeless or is familiar with homelessness, if there is something they would like to be taught that would be of real value to them while living on the streets. The only concept I've been able to come up with is personal hygiene. I thought maybe I could look into some free or cheap and easy ways they can keep themselves and their clothes clean, so that they can avoid health problems from lack of cleanliness, excess moisture, etc. Please help?
  • Kylyssa Apr 1, 2012 @ 1:56 pm | delete
    Here are a few things you could tackle which would be useful and not come off as condescending-

    * Foot care for homeless people. It's basically the same as foot care for diabetic people. The amount of walking and standing homeless people do plus the high incidence of frostbite injuries often cause nerve damage in the feet of homeless people. Almost every homeless person you talk to will have sore feet.

    * Meditation or relaxation techniques, perhaps combined with creative visualization. It's incredibly stressful to be homeless; many homeless people never, ever feel safe, likely because they aren't safe.

    * Some kind of self-esteem exercises. Homeless people often feel like crap and like failures and society reinforces that.
  • Claudia Apr 2, 2012 @ 9:12 pm | delete
    Kylyssa, thank you so much for your suggestions! I was really at a loss for ideas!
  • Tipi Mar 26, 2011 @ 7:34 pm | delete
    I needed to spend a few nights in a shelter some while ago and understand a little of why they would not be high up on the list for people who are homeless, everybody had to leave during the day and return in the evening. You answered question expertly, of course and hit it all where the rubber meets the road for sure.
  • skiesgreen Dec 17, 2009 @ 3:25 am | delete
    Kylyssa, another great lens on this subject. I guess it will be hard for those of us who have never been in this situation to come up with good questions. I have read your lenses and already know what the problems are and how to address them, but perhaps if you answer this question from a child's perspective who has just been kicked out of home, if lonely, frightened and scared stiff of the police, where would he or she most likely go to get help or to sleep? Its obviously too young for a shelter and extremely vulnerable from pedophiles, thieves and others.

    Norma

    Norma
  • McQ Dec 16, 2009 @ 10:46 pm | delete
    What are the absolute most effective and helpful ways for someone to aid in helping those who are homeless? From the person you pass on the street who is obviously without shelter, to the people who sit on the sidewalk asking for money, or the people who hold signs that say, "Will work for food.", etc.

    How can one person, or one family, like mine, help? It's heartbreaking to think of the people who are outside right now simply trying to keep from freezing or starving to death.
  • Kylyssa Dec 20, 2009 @ 5:24 pm | delete
    I just finished a page today that might answer your question. I've linked to it above but its URL is The Best Ways to Help the Homeless
  • McQ Dec 16, 2009 @ 10:42 pm | delete
    I have more than one question or comment, so I will leave them one at a time. First, a comment. The thought of becoming homeless is truly frightening, and to think that it is just a major illness away, or the loss of a job away is even scarier.
    Having been homeless, how do you deal with the daily stress of knowing that it is possible for it to happen again?

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Kylyssa

I am a "retired" florist turned freelance writer. I enjoy cooking, keeping saltwater fish, and baking fun cakes. I have had some unusual life-experien... more »

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