HOMELESS RESIDENTS (Topic Closed)

Back in the late 70's there were several mental institutions that were exposed as horrible places. In the early 80's the government stopped funding homes for the mentally ill and many of those people were released to their families. The families could not care for them and thus they ended up roaming the streets. The majority of homeless people, contrary to the press coverage, are single, male and have some addiction such as alcohol, drugs and/or a mental illness like PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) or bipolar disease. Unfortunately many of these men served our country in Viet Nam. In the west suburbs we have an organization called PADS If you would like to donate to this organization either time or money please call 847-963-9163. They also have a website PADS to hope.

85% of all homeless people have a mental illness. Without a real health care system, we can not help anyone. My sister has a mental illness and took to the streets, we had no idea where she was, and has been in many hospitals. My mother has been extremely effected by the economy and cannot afford to help her any longer and there is not any other family members in better financials situations. Since my sister cannot work from her illness, she cannot get health insurance, and goes homeless without medication. She thinks that the whole family is agianst her without medication. So the streets are the only place she will go. It has gotten so bad, one day I was on my way to work, and she was asking me for money. She had no idea who I was. It is so sad, we all need to require health care in this country. I can tell you countless situations and issues with other homeless individuals we have encountered looking for my sister. If you want to help; write your congressmen, go to a NAMI meeting, and just get involved. If you go to a NAMI meeting, it will show you the truth, and how disgusting our expectations are on what people can financial support. Mental illness is not something you plan for.

I agree. NAMI is a great organization helping people with mental illness and their families. NAMI could use all the support we can give them. Here in Illinois we have received a "D" from NAMI for our treatment or should I say our non Treatment of the mentally ill.

I feel bad for the people who are homeless cause I know what it was like in the year of 20004 you have no place to go and you have to make plastic shoes because of the rain and it being so wet and cold; I made sure my kids were staying with they family while i was in the cold and I hope never to be that way every again:

have you thought of a way that you could help the homeless not the ones that out there just using people, but the ones that really need help.

The only thing I could suggest is that you go to a salvation army location and they will be able to help you are go to a women shelter if you a women; If you are a man they have a
place called sheltered arms and they will help you and pick up a listing that will help you
find other places if desired they also sometimes provide you with bus tokens to ride on the
bus line; to find places to live, I know you heared about half way homes that also help: That is all I can tell you and I hope that you can find some were that is safe to live and not have to be on the street; Because I sold my things and my kids things and now I came to stay with a relative thinking I was going to get help so I would not be on the street at this present time and now I have to find some other alternitive before friday; So I'm in the same boat as you; But I'm trying to find something out real fast before Friday....

HELLO, I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE HOMELESS.AND I PRAY THAT ANYONE THAT IS HOMELESS,I PRAY THAT WILL GO TO SOME OFTHOSE PLACES THAT WILL HELP YOU ,THEY HAVE THEIR RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO APPLY BY.BUT IF YOU HANG IN THERE ,THEY'LL GET YOU YOUR OWN APARTMENT ,IS TAKES A LIL TIME ,BUT MOST OF THESE NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS,USUALLY,HELP YOU GET A LOW INCOME APT OF YOUR VERY OWN,YES YOU HAVE TO TALK WITH THE TIGHT PERSON ,AND GO TO THE RIGHT PLACES.THERE OUT THERE.ONE I KNOW OF IS LOCATED AT,10 SOUTH KEDZIE.IN CHICAGO,ILL.AND I'VE HEARD OF THRESHOLDS.JUST CONTINUE TO PUT THAT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND YES GOD WILL BLESS YOU AND YOURS ,TO HAVE A HAPPY HOME AGAIN SOON ,BELEIVE AND JUST ASK HIM JESUS .AND HE WILL DELEIVER ,AND THATS THE GOD HEAVENS TRUTH,HE DONE IT FOR ME AND HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU IN JESUS NAME ASK HIM .THANK YOU JESUS.

A CHANGE IS A GONNA COME! WE NEED EACH OTHER IN THIS WORLD WETHER,ANYONE OR ANYBODY BELEIVES THAT ITS TRUTH.AND THE SOONER WE COME TO SOME GRIPS ON THIS MATTER WELL ALL BE BETTER OFF.EVERYONE WANTS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.AND WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO START REALIZING THAT!WHO WANTS TO WALK THE STREETS DAY IN AND DAY OUT EVERYDAY WITHOUT A PLACE THAT THEY CAN CALL HOME.AND IT IS THERE OWN HOME.WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE.LORD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL.BECAUSE THERE IS ONE THINDG THAT I HAVE REALIZED SINCE I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE ON THIS GODS GREEN EARTH IS 'WE ALL NEED SOME BODY EVERYDAY! WHETHER WE ADMIT IT OR NOT. THERE IS A WAY TO HELP THEE LESS FORTUNATE THAN THEE OTHER.AND I TRULY BELEIVE THATS WE CHILDREN OF GOD ,HAVE A PURPOSE AS WELL TO FULLFIL.AND ITS SHOWING EVERYDAY JUST LOOKK AROUND AND PAY ATTENTION ,GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING!!THATS WHY THERE ARE OTHERS BLESSED MORE THAN THEE OTHER TO REACH OUT AND LIFT THE OTHER UP! AS JESUS DOES! LET'S REACH OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER THIS WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AMEN!

how many are you housing?

HELLO.NO ONE .BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE.COOKING VOLUNTEER WORK.YES I WOULD WHATEVER IT TAKES.PPEOPLE NEED HOUSING.IT IS SAD VERY.NO ONE LIKRS TO DISCUSS THAT TOPIC.BUT I WAS TRYING TO HELP FIGURE OUT SOME PLANS OR COME UP WITH A WAY TO START OR HELP.WITH PUTTING TOGETHER AN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.AT ONE TIME DIDN'T NO WHERE TO REALLY START .IN A CHURCH SETTING OR MAYBE BUILD A BUILD A PLACE SOME WAY .I MEAN WE ALL I WANT A PLACE THAT WE CAN CONSIDER HOME,THANK YOU.FEED BACK PLEASE!

I would not mine helping

oh my god you are so right. this is like a word from god.becouse this is all i wont to do. i have a plain on paper for a home for homeless people.see,when god bless me i try to bless others in some kind of way.no.. i'am not rich but my father god is and i asked him to help make a way for me to help the homeless people. so maybe together we can do something.to help..so lets do this...

My husband recently passed away. I have bags of perfectly good mens clother I want to donate to the homeless. How do I go about that, considering I drive very little.

o.k. guys we need to come up with a homeless web site were the homeless people can find food and all types of things to help them. they need some were safe to live too. not in the park either. so who will help me get this going. get back with me a.s.a.p.

Can you pick up mens clothing in the Oak lawn area? Marthy

I have a bunch of good mens clothing, shoes, gloves, hats to donate. Please, someone give me a legitimate group to give these to. Marthy

I really bwant to help the homeless. I just need a pick-up area in Oak lawm, Chicago Ridge, Mt. Greenwood.

I would donate them to a near by Church that has a clothing closet. That way you would make sure that a needy person is getting something they can use. There are companies that drive to your house and pick up your clothing, and other items. You may have to check the yellow pages for a clothing pickup company in your area.

I would first try calling a couple of churches to see if they have a clothing closet for the homeless.
I live in Atlanta now and our Church has showers, clothing, food, job support and they go to our church when they want.
Yea, a lot of those people put themselves in that situation but now times are tough and there are families that need our help. I had 3 children and was almost homeless a couple of times. Thankfully, I had good family and friends to help and I never abused drugs or alcohol so people wanted to help me when I was down on my luck. Being single with 3 children and trying to make it without child support and having a low paying job was really hard. I did work through it, got on my feet and got a better paying job and was able to get my kids in a better house. Met a man who loved those kids like the kids he never had and got married and 5 years later everything is PEACHY.
GOD is good. Fairy Tails can happen people. Never give up hope.

why come we can not fight for the homeless like people do for other things they won't.we could get together and get some organizing started. contact congress.have a food drive.put out flyers.my hubby work for wholefoods market so we can get the free food.i have a big house all the things could happen here at my home.this is something that god has been keeping in my heart for a long time now.so for me the time is right and the time is now.get back with me thank you.

hi guys i would just like to say we should be better then other places that keep alot of what they get for them selfs.that's why the world is like this now because we can't come together and help each other.i don't have much. but i do have a kind heart for other people.

Why does everyone think the homeless on the streets are scum and sick? Your all whacky!! If you took the time you would find that so many career people ended up there. People with degree's, smarts, and have done well in their life!! Thanks to George Bush tho, our economy will never be the same and so many suffer. Its gonna take a long time to fix the mess he made, and there will be a whole lot more on the streets before its done!!! So judge each person as you see, dont just assume cuz their on the streets they are scum or looking for booze. People need to be more caring!!! Tomorrow it could be you,OK? I know only about 21% on the streets are scum. The rest are victums of the economy and have nothing else because nobody wants to care!!! SO SHOW the love Chicago!!!! GO CUBS!!!!

I'AM STEEL TRYING TO GET SOME THING IN MY HOME GOING THAT WE CAN DO FOR THE HOMELESS. IF WE COME TOGETHER OR DO OUR PART TO HELP THAT WOULD BE GOOD.THINK ABOUT IT.MUCH LOVE GUYS

I feel the country need to assist everyone who need it, but watch out for others that take use the kindness for personal gain. God knows the needs of everyone and will help. Hopefully the government will provide the support as well. I'm willing to support efforts to make a change in the communities.

need address for half-way decent clothing

Nope, there isnt any help out there!
"Help is a phone call away." Bull*&^*!
Have you ever really needed help? I bet not.
If there is any kind of help you would not be able to jump through the hoops even if you were "NORMAL" and had a "permanent address" and the people who are in control of possible places that could help won't even point you to the right location or place. It is a journey of pain and torture, dehumanizing and hopelessness.
There isn't even a place to run to if you could run.
Its sad, it's tragic, and there isn't any mercy. Even the church locks there doors during the day so you can't even visit God at Gods residence "per say" and cry.
There isn't even any hope left.

I can see your in the early stages of your problem,UH? But lose the attitude and open your ears!!! There are places that will make it better!! Walk In Ministry's, St Vincent DePaul, start searching??? Start with Catholic Charities and dont take NO for an answer!! GOOD LUCK TO YA!!!!

This is in response to Moloko, being a former homeless person, I find it offensive that you would think that 85 percent of homeless people have a mental problem, and this I assume is coming form someone who has never been homeless, never even help out a homeless person, but yet you find it in your feeble mind to say what you said. Well in my opinion 85-90 percent is without JOBS.

Thanks ICU8ITALL!!! People in organizations that suppose to help you make you become depressed. I need help with apartment for low income so I applied for subsidized and the answer was -DENIED.WHY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE BID DEBT. 50%of it is a car LOAN.
And for other programs you have to wait 3-8 years-FIRST.SECOND- in my area only a few organization so if I move I will lose my job.
I AM NORMAL-NO DRUGS, NO ALCOHOL.
Me and my son (2 y.o.) run from abusive husband.Every day I try to say thank you to God that I'm still alive but some days I'm so tired and I'm the winner of the game - Who'll fall a sleep first. We lived in shelter and now we stay temporarily (for 6 month) in shared living transitional house.In this time I need improve my income (one of the rules)to be eligible for apartment if not they say good bay to you.They do not care if I'm alone in this country and I need more time because I need to learn English ( yes, finely, I'm in college) and if my child get sick I can not go to work all week.Oh, I get little more income it is good but no improvement( no apt,it's even worth) because my benefits get cut (for food and child care(I mean both at ones)) so I even do not have to choose -forget the food-child care increased more then I earned.
By the way 3 month ago first time I told my case worker that I need help with my debt....................
I scheduled my classes for fall semester and I don't know where I'll be living but I have to learn English - no matter what.
I try to be calm but sometimes I feel that my mined will explode - How to do everything?
PEOPLE IT'S SO HARD TO WRITE but with dictionary and check spelling program I did some. HURRAY!!!

Greetings, being a former homeless individual, I understand your plight, but the blessing in hiding , is the fact that you have a strong mind that works, you have ambittions to be in a better place than you are now. I had those same feelings that you have now, and when it came time for the blessing to come out of hiding, they will be plentiful, as a piece of advice, dont dwell on what you dont have, think about what you want to acheive, because sometimes you got to get down, to get up. Keep the faith, I will pray for you and your child.

See people whats going on? You go for help, your a honest hard working loving and caring person, and all you every get is 91 excuses and NO NO NO!!! So very sorry Sir: We only help woman with kids, or women that are homeless?? So who am I? So where do you go? Then they wonder why people rob banks,UH? It really sucks, its not getting any better, and God help us all cuz they put Barrack Obama in office!!!!!There is no hope!!!

I understat that a lot of people don't line to put on the orartaion on statiosnon. I miss going to scool on the comput and I see water war welook in becacue year. Weso out fason were
i I don't know people I someone. I gettin read to in a neigh hud
i hope to to see you so. I'll spek log as as i can thero or gy.

I dond know what to say now to know ifeel some body voted and the thins every is arlrigt. I remember aout a lady one to jaic
in order to have sex dealsof the tab. We slo have men that wat they. Because its like we migt a friend of on on f this this. I will new a search perdat envery this in I turned hime in cause
he he told me her have have all kids of cheild. I was 16 yeafs.
He told mae if het foung out he would kill me.

We can't solve the homless problem. But we can help the homeless solve their own problem each as an individual one at a time. I stop to talk to many of them; each is an individual with unique circumstances. I think finding them each a job they are capable of might be a step in the right direction. Even if ones job is to look out for another who is mentally ill. They are a community and we need to bring them together with a common cause, not just serve them food in a shelter. Those are some of my thoughts.

You are the 1st person Ive heard so far with brains!!! GREAT COMMENT!!! The problem we have now is that major corporations have been blessed by the Bush presidency. They were able to push aside all of us with education. And bring in illegal immigrants to do the job for a whole lot less, and avoid paying benefits!!!Now they got spoiled and wanna leave it the way it is?? The illegals HAVE TO GO!!! Bring the jobs back to the USA born and raised, like it was?? And there wont be a homeless issue anymore!!!BUT IT WONT HAPPEN WITH OBAMA!! Those companys are the very same people that wrote the checks that put him in the whitehouse!!! NO politician wants anything to do with the illegal immigration mess!!!??? SO WHO SUFFERS????

I WOULD LOVE TO HELP BUT I DONT TRUST ALOT OF PLACES THAT SAY HELP...I WORKED FOR A NON-PROFIT AND SEEN SO MANY THINGS ESPECIALLY POCKETING OF FUNDS
I STARTED OUT JUST AS A VOLUNTEER THEN THEY OFFERED ME A POSITION I LATER FOUND OUT THEY ONLY DID THIS BECAUSE I HAD A HUGE CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE I WAS NATURALLY GOOD AT BEING A LEADER SO THEY USED ME TO GET MORE FUNDING

I have done some voleenter work as well, mostly Chicago Cares. I am looking for a way to combine my photography passion with helping the homeless. Thinking of a website that shows individual homeless people tells their individual story and solicits funds and reports how the funds get consumed. Just beginning to think about this. let me know if you are interested in any aspect of this.

Go around and snap pictures of people on benches, in parks, or waiting to get into something!!! Send these photo's constantly to local papers!! And it will educate the public on just what type caliber people are struggling jobless and homeless!!!!It will be known how many well educated, career genius's are now struggling cuz of the economy? Not everyone out there is scumbag - Its time people know it!!!!!

Your best bet my friend, is to find a church that is a weekly PADS site!! Then go in and help that church as a volunteer!! It is well recieved!! BELIEVE ME!! Its so nice after a day of putting up with job hunting, and NO - NO - NO's!!! How nice it is to be smiled at and have someone chat with you!!!!You also will be overjoyed!!! THANKS, needs to be more like you out here!!!!

need info.

Richard_bolar : What kind of info do you need?

Looking for people to work with me on this project

jnhphoto

Can we email...would like to ask some questions

sure jnh1379@...

No problem sistasara!!! But why are you thanking me?

MY BAD!

i need help i just got laid off need help kids clothes it hard time do you want adopt famliy back school

hi guys iam back had some things to do sorry. look jnhphoto about what you said that is so good. we can go out there and talk to homeless people to see how they feel about us talking and geting some pictures of them.then we can put all that together and send it out. but we need to have a logo on out stuff so know clams our paper and pictures.that we can put together.we also have to have a name too. so hit me back guys lets do this.

Hey Dessia? First of all, where do you live? First place I would go is the St Vincent Depaul Center at Halsted & Fullerton in Chicago!! They will help. 2nd : Give a call to Catholic Charities, they are there for such a purpose!! And depending on what area your in, there are Walk In Ministry's!!! GOOD LUCK 2 YA!!!!!

I AM HOMELESS & DISABLED IN OAK LAWN, IL
I JUST NEED SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ON WHERE TO GET VOUCHERS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, GAS, & A SHELTER TO STAY IN @ NIGHT & NOT SLEEP INSIDE MY PARKED CAR. GOD BLESS & THANK YOU!

Julie - Call PADS in your area at 708-754-4357, they will help you with all you need!! Also give the St Vincent DePaul Center on Fullerton Ave. in Chicago a jingle and they will be truly helpful - ITS a great program with good people!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

hi try 10 south kedzie or 12th and canal or look up on websites like acess living they;ll help .and may god continue to bless u and keep you .amen!!!give them a try.

There are shelters in the Oak Lawn area for homeless individuals. There is also room for those that would like to help the homeless as volunteers. PADS is an organization that assist the homeless, please contact them to see how you can volunteer or assist.

why is it our goverment can send billions over seas when weneed here in the US.I don't have anything against helping starving children in other countries but giving weapons and instruments of war isn't where our money needs to go when we have children and eldery living out of trash cans. I just don't understand our country anymore and i hope sometimeour goverment will open their eyes and want to put their prioritys straight and help who has helped them .

KANSAS : I feel your pain!! But the sad but true part of the whole thing. Our goverment dont care about anybody or anything unless somewhere in the deal there is a profit return? They help overseas and they gain control, and can set rules. They help the homeless and needy here and it costs them and there is nothing gained as far as they are concerned. They'd rather spend the money bringing in illegal immigrants, that take our jobs, places to live, and free benefits and welfare!! Cuz the big money people and politicians love them - they keep the wages down and they dont need to pay benefits and top salary's like they would an everyday educated american!!!??? IN SHORT : It has become a heartless, cold, non-caring world and there is no love or respect anymore?? SAD,UH???