Reaching out to the homeless.

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Ah.....ok, probably a good idea for you not to work in the rehab/treatment field.😎
yea no.

I don't agree with that kind of treatment. Cos it doesn't work. They just a revolving door.
I'm more into preventative strategies. Not ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
 
yea no.

I don't agree with that kind of treatment. Cos it doesn't work. They just a revolving door.
I'm more into preventative strategies. Not ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
I hear what you are saying, but solutions are not always that easy. The logic behind this is that they are still going to do the drug, so providing the clean needles just prevents further issues of having to deal with the drug and the medical issue associated with the use of contaminated needles. This approach just prevents matters from getting worse.

Providing the needles has no real impact on promoting the use of the drug, as I know no one that has ever decided to start using Heroin just because they had access to clean needles.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2016 about 948,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year, a number that has been on the rise since 2007. No updated figures are available, but I suspect that this number is now over 1 million. If we use the previous ration of 1 in 10, that's potentially 100,000 people that can contract HIV via used needles.

From an article I just read (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/opinion/pricing-hiv-drugs-america.html), the average yearly HIV cost is $39,000 and the average time people live is around 10 years. Now, you can buy 100 needles for $19.99 (https://medicalsupplies.healthcares...MIs6_rgN6p5wIVS73ACh1YPA4ZEAQYASABEgKBOfD_BwE), or around $70.00 for a year's supply. S0 spending $70.00 can avoid spending $39.000.
 
"I am also rather shocked that people are giving drug addicts CLEAN needles! And think that's helping. You should not give addicts anything to keep them going with their addictions. Its like giving alcoholics a drink from a clean glass rather than a dirty one."

This ends up being a public health issue. 1 in 10 people become infected with HIV through using dirty needles. Don't get me wring, I don't like it, but I get it.

rtm3039

Well just stop using drugs then.
I don't really have any sympathy if you going to do drugs with a needle dirty or clean.

Hello Lanolin and Ray;

I feel as Christians we can agree we wouldn't wish homelessness on anyone. Its a fact that its always existed around the world since the Old and New Testaments.

The frustration is, for example, the distribution of clean syringe needles, buprenorphine, methadone, or anti-depressants, to combat the substance abuse addictions.

Or, we're enabling addicts to continue their habit but with clean needles which seems to be the consolation for solution in the metro cities. San Francisco is a horrible example of this and though the statistics in the USA is important information, this does does not mean that the social programs have the grand solutions. They are trying but are all missing a most important ingredient.

Jesus taught in the Gospels that the poor would always be with us. In my 20 years ministering to the homeless, drug and alcohol dependency, dysfunctional families, those in prison, time and time again, prayer, spending time with "people," (not labels,) buying them a cup of coffee or lunch, and inviting them to worship at church with us, not just telling them to go to church.

We would drive to the shelters, street corners and pick up brothers and sisters, go to church and afterwards, go out to lunch and then take them back with tremendous results! Men and women came to Christ,
cleaned up (purified flesh), learned how to do a job resume and get gainfully employed, in my 20 years witnessed more success. Sure, many men and women chose to remain homeless, lost and remained inside their box and still continue praying for them today.

But we focused and encouraged the men and women who took the positive step in their lives, chose Jesus over drugs, God Almighty's provisions, feeling like a contributor instead of a liability to our society, most ended up following Jesus and are serving Him in the church today.

If we are going to reach out to the homeless, one at a time, then nothing beats
live testimony, loving and treating these men and women as human beings in alignment with the Gospels.
 
Hello Lanolin and Ray;

I feel as Christians we can agree we wouldn't wish homelessness on anyone. Its a fact that its always existed around the world since the Old and New Testaments.

The frustration is, for example, the distribution of clean syringe needles, buprenorphine, methadone, or anti-depressants, to combat the substance abuse addictions.

Or, we're enabling addicts to continue their habit but with clean needles which seems to be the consolation for solution in the metro cities. San Francisco is a horrible example of this and though the statistics in the USA is important information, this does does not mean that the social programs have the grand solutions. They are trying but are all missing a most important ingredient.

Jesus taught in the Gospels that the poor would always be with us. In my 20 years ministering to the homeless, drug and alcohol dependency, dysfunctional families, those in prison, time and time again, prayer, spending time with "people," (not labels,) buying them a cup of coffee or lunch, and inviting them to worship at church with us, not just telling them to go to church.

We would drive to the shelters, street corners and pick up brothers and sisters, go to church and afterwards, go out to lunch and then take them back with tremendous results! Men and women came to Christ,
cleaned up (purified flesh), learned how to do a job resume and get gainfully employed, in my 20 years witnessed more success. Sure, many men and women chose to remain homeless, lost and remained inside their box and still continue praying for them today.

But we focused and encouraged the men and women who took the positive step in their lives, chose Jesus over drugs, God Almighty's provisions, feeling like a contributor instead of a liability to our society, most ended up following Jesus and are serving Him in the church today.

If we are going to reach out to the homeless, one at a time, then nothing beats
live testimony, loving and treating these men and women as human beings in alignment with the Gospels.
I could only find data from 2012, but it appears there are many areas involved in this program:

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I think it's one on one if you are going to be reaching out to anyone who is homeless.

For anyone without a home, to be invited into one is a God send. Jesus spent a lot of time homeless in his ministry.

He actually wasn't allowed to go into his own Father's house (the temple).

In the paper today the front page had about 'ghost homes' that could be used to house the homeless or low-income earners, at least temporaririly, they are mostly richer people's holiday homes sitting round unoccupied or richer people's second (or third, or fourth) investment sitting round waiting to be demolished for development.
 
I've been reading about domestic violence.

Probably one of the main reasons youth are homeless, because they are running away from violent broken homes. And of course, most cannot afford to stay anywhere, and they have no jobs.

It makes me a bit angry that Francine Rivers can just gliby say homeless are lazy or they just don't want to spend money on housing. Um maybe they actually HAVE NO MONEY. Most are just surviving day to day, couch surfing or living in cars. They can't go back 'home' cos at home they will be abused or even killed. It might have not occured to her that many homeless are runaways.
 
I've been reading about domestic violence.

Probably one of the main reasons youth are homeless, because they are running away from violent broken homes. And of course, most cannot afford to stay anywhere, and they have no jobs.

It makes me a bit angry that Francine Rivers can just gliby say homeless are lazy or they just don't want to spend money on housing. Um maybe they actually HAVE NO MONEY. Most are just surviving day to day, couch surfing or living in cars. They can't go back 'home' cos at home they will be abused or even killed. It might have not occured to her that many homeless are runaways.

Good day Lanolin, I suspect that domestic violence might be an issue; however, probably not the "main reason." I guess I would need to know what you mean by "youth." In the US, we do have a serious problem with homeless children, but this usually extends to their families as well.

As for Francine Rivers, this might be a case of misquoting. If you are citing her January 21, 2020 piece “Searching for Solutions to Homelessness,” the comments she made were actually attributable to some of the people she asked about the issue of homelessness. https://francinerivers.com/searching-for-solutions-to-homelessness/. Also, she is from California, which has a unique homeless problem "“Almost half (47 percent) of all unsheltered homeless people in the United States are found in California, about four times as high as their share of the overall United States population. Among the five cities with the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness, four are in California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, and San Jose), and the other is Seattle.”


(see: https://blog.acton.org/archives/111777-10-facts-about-homelessness-in-america.html?utm_term=causes of homelessness&utm_campaign=5+Facts+-+Educational+Evergreen&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9098040689&hsa_cam=6526563754&hsa_grp=85326033024&hsa_ad=384418036927&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-296699658883&hsa_kw=causes of homelessness&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoSywuiy5wIVmZOzCh0XMA9wEAAYASAAEgLwJfD_BwE)
 
Here in the U.S. minors run away from the places they reside for a variety of reasons. Rebellious youth here usually do so to escape the grips of parental control. My eldest ran away so many times, the police would just call to say they saw her. Sometimes they would take her to the youth shelter, and she would walk in one door then out the other. Unless you are a parent that has experienced this behavior, you don't realize the extreme magnitude of the problem. Internet technology has made matters worse today as many runaways think they have someplace "safe" to go. Its something few discuss, because of the dangers their children have voluntarily placed themselves into (being "homeless" and living on the streets). Predators are waiting with every evil thought imaginable.
 
Here in the U.S. minors run away from the places they reside for a variety of reasons. Rebellious youth here usually do so to escape the grips of parental control. My eldest ran away so many times, the police would just call to say they saw her. Sometimes they would take her to the youth shelter, and she would walk in one door then out the other. Unless you are a parent that has experienced this behavior, you don't realize the extreme magnitude of the problem. Internet technology has made matters worse today as many runaways think they have someplace "safe" to go. Its something few discuss, because of the dangers their children have voluntarily placed themselves into (being "homeless" and living on the streets). Predators are waiting with every evil thought imaginable.

We have five kids (now adults). None ever ran away, even though the wife and I tried real hard to get them to do so :) My sister, on the other hand, ran away at 14 to California. She tried to cross into Mexico (sight seeing), got caught, and brought back to Miami. As soon as the dust settled, she did it again and she has been in California ever since (40 plus years).
 
Here in the U.S. minors run away from the places they reside for a variety of reasons. Rebellious youth here usually do so to escape the grips of parental control. My eldest ran away so many times, the police would just call to say they saw her. Sometimes they would take her to the youth shelter, and she would walk in one door then out the other. Unless you are a parent that has experienced this behavior, you don't realize the extreme magnitude of the problem. Internet technology has made matters worse today as many runaways think they have someplace "safe" to go. Its something few discuss, because of the dangers their children have voluntarily placed themselves into (being "homeless" and living on the streets). Predators are waiting with every evil thought imaginable.
thenami, getting back to the children thing. It is very hard to predict these things. Yes, there are the obvious ones that come from homes and parents that really should have never had children. Then there are some who appear to focused on destroying their lives (or at least making it as hard as possible), regardless of their home environment.

Working for the school system allows me to see the full range. I have seen an eight y/o addicted to porn and a 16 y/o that goes to school all day then has a night job to help support his mother.

Same in my household. All of our kids were raised the same way an in the same environment. Out of the five, one of them (middle daughter) did everything she could to ruin her life. Imagine growing up with a flat screen TV in your bedroom and only having to walk 50 yards to a swimming pool. Nope, she thought her environment was a bit too privileged, so she started looking for friends in one of the more messed up high schools in the county. Ends up that she graduates high school, moves in with her "bad boy" friend, gets pregnant, he gets deported, and she ends up back to her flat screen TV, but has to spend her off time raising a son. That was 12 years ago and she has recovered. The little boy is my oldest grandson, so I have a hard time not appreciating his birth (regardless of the circumstances).

Forrest Gump was totally right; life is a box of chocolates.
 
It doesn't matter what we want for our children, nor how we decide to raise them. They are people with minds, and hearts of their own. Everything they do in their lives is a personal choice. We can lead them as to which way to go, and teach them the life skills they need to succeed. That is our duty as parents. Where they go on the other hand, is not up to us no matter how much some believe other wise. We only have control over ourselves. Expectations are for us, not others.

Life really is a box of chocolates.
 
I don't think you can force a child to stay home but they do know in their hearts when they are not wanted or loved for just who they are (not what the parents want them to be). Things might be pretty bad for them to run away, but many do so out of fear.

You might think your brand of discipline is correct and 'for their good' but you can end up pushing them away.
You might even think your permissiveness is ok but then the child knows that without any safe boundaries they don't know security in their own homes. And they will run somewhere they think is SAFER. Its not so much roof over their head they value, it to be loved uncondiitonally.

Everyone is seeking that. On the streets, there aren't many conditions that you need to meet.

It breaks my heart to hear some parents joke that they want their child to move out. Even if the child is not within earshot, they know they are only just tolerated. Now even when children grow up and become adults, that parent - child bond or lack of it will affect their entire lives. If it is backwards and wrong..if the hearts of the Fathers are not toward their children and the children not toward their fathers, you have this dysfunction and homelessness.
 
Anyhow, I think my point is, don't walk past homeless people. Sometimes you're in a rush, but if you aren't, stop and say hello.

No-one asks to be homeless. No-one asks to be an addict. No small child when asked what they want to be when they grow up, says "I want to be a homeless drug addict" and then strives to achieve that . Stuff happens. People find themselves in terrible situations.

Say hello, give someone a sandwich or a coffee. Buy an extra burger and give it to them.

Be kind.
I partly agree with you. 99% of the time, homeless people and drug addicts cause the issues, by being motivated to go to drugs thinking its a relief and also disobeying the parents and authorities. I do agree with feeding the homeless and not walking past them. The church i go to does a lot for homeless people, so do i personally. I think motivation to change life is better than a burger though but i would still feed the poor.
 
I sincerely hope that the homelessness doesn't skyrocket during this Covid crisis. The tent cities here in Seattle are growing. The policing of homeless areas in Seattle is no longer allowed as of this year.

Homelessness and drugs is a serious issue. Sadly giving money sometimes is just aiding their addiction.

Finding creative ways to help the homeless without supporting their addiction is a challenge. I like my friend's approach. He use to run across someone needing money and he would offer to put them to work and/or sometimes bring them some fast food.

Helping the needy is not always easy, especially these days when discretion is well advised.

cp
 
In the UK there is a magazine called 'The Big Issue'. Homeless people who want to make a start in getting out of there current situation can buy it and sell it on for a profit. They have to be 'badged' in order to sell it, and are given a place to sell it. Anyone curious can google 'The Big Issue' and find out more about it. I also know this idea is not just local to my country, and may be given different names.

There is a guy who sells this paper outside my local shop. Initially I felt very uncomfortable about talking with him. Who was he? What was he doing there? However, over the course of time I have stopped to chat, and have found out that he was seriously involved with drugs at one point in his life. Now he is clean, has a place to stay and is a keen biker. And now we have a good chat everyday.

Recently there was a huge biker meet in a nearby town, and I went with a friend for a stroll around and hopefully to buy my youngest son a gift, as he is now a keen biker (much against my wishes, it's unsafe and he is my baby! ). To my surprise I was called over and there was the 'Big Issue' seller. He looked quite embarrassed to have called me over, as though I would be embarrassed to speak to him or something. But I wasn't, and we had a lovely chat and met some lovely people (one guy looked like Gene Simmons from Kiss which really freaked me out lol).

Anyhow, I think my point is, don't walk past homeless people. Sometimes you're in a rush, but if you aren't, stop and say hello.

No-one asks to be homeless. No-one asks to be an addict. No small child when asked what they want to be when they grow up, says "I want to be a homeless drug addict" and then strives to achieve that . Stuff happens. People find themselves in terrible situations.

Say hello, give someone a sandwich or a coffee. Buy an extra burger and give it to them.

Be kind.
yes there are many people who are not with home,, as our team is going to many areas, while we are presenting the gospel, we are reaching many people.. In many villages, many people are living in huts, and road side places, and they are living under trees.. I am praying.. I am waiting in Lord to do some thing for them to build small homes as Lord permits.. I don't know the will of God but i am waiting in Him for right day,,
 
In India how is land apportioned?

I was reading how my home town/city came into being after the Maori traded some land to European settlers. The governing officials then surveyed it and divided it up into lots. But apparently land speculators with more money swooped in over settlers who intended to live and stay on the land and ended up buying it first, and then subsequently divided it up into smaller lots that they then onsold for profit.

The surveyor also made the mistake of making the lots too big, which meant there were too few for the number of settlers wanting land to live on and build houses. Then because supply was low and demand was high, this pushed prices up so high that no settlers could afford them, or they had to pay 9 times the value of it. And this happened right from the start...and still happens today.
 
yes there are many people who are not with home,, as our team is going to many areas, while we are presenting the gospel, we are reaching many people.. In many villages, many people are living in huts, and road side places, and they are living under trees.. I am praying.. I am waiting in Lord to do some thing for them to build small homes as Lord permits.. I don't know the will of God but i am waiting in Him for right day,,
In India how is land apportioned?

I was reading how my home town/city came into being after the Maori traded some land to European settlers. The governing officials then surveyed it and divided it up into lots. But apparently land speculators with more money swooped in over settlers who intended to live and stay on the land and ended up buying it first, and then subsequently divided it up into smaller lots that they then onsold for profit.

The surveyor also made the mistake of making the lots too big, which meant there were too few for the number of settlers wanting land to live on and build houses. Then because supply was low and demand was high, this pushed prices up so high that no settlers could afford them, or they had to pay 9 times the value of it. And this happened right from the start...and still happens today.

Hello Brother IND:

Reaching out to the homeless as you share in your ministry in India is a different scenario than in other parts of the world, but is still the same - poverty is poverty.

I did short term missions in the Philippines and Central America, and the homelessness is the same that you describe in your country. In my witness, the poor are victims of these conditions but not the making of their own. For example, parts of the world in India, the Philippines, the southern Americas, Africa, their government, political and natural disasters bring them down more than living abuse.

Inside these countries their government monopolize the ownership of land and properties. It always boils down to money in the pockets of these officials. The people's hands are tied in home and property ownership, falling short and thus living in a tree or underneath a bridge on the highway.

Whereas in other parts of the world where there is plenty, the poor abuse good living for immoral living, drugs, broken families and no room for God. Then when the bad living is all used up, they can fall back on their country's plentiful.

Jesus said the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. The workers who are few are the ones obedient to where God sends them. Lets be honest. Where God sends them/us can be the most undesirable parts of the world.

Matthew 9:35-38, 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Still, whether the workers are few or one, does not thwart what God is going to do. Praise His Name!

Brother IND,
I feel what you, your wife and son gave up to serve Jesus for the Father's glory. Keep doing what you're doing because God's results will minister to those in need, as well as reach the ears around the world.

Sad to say, homelessness was around during the Old and New Testaments and will continue to exist today. But Jesus' work also continues and for those who stand firm, with Him, no matter their living condition will be remembered for all eternity.

God bless you, Brother IND, your wife, son and ministry.
 
Interesting, but I don't think its the poor that can afford drugs, they are pretty expensive actually, but people will do anything to get them. So after spending the money they have on it, they might rob someone to get more money. Drug addicts aren't necessarily poor, they can be of all backgrounds.

Though its true cocaine and heroin are available for more wealthy, (Class A) and alcohol and weed are lower gateways. Prescription drugs, including opiates, can be accessed to all. Even doctors and medical professionals abuse them.

So I don't think it's 'poor people abuse drugs' . Anybody with access can abuse them. It's more, people with too much time on their hands (this includes very rich people) or in unfulfilling jobs crave drugs. It numbs the pain. The highs people get from it become addictive to the point they cannot function without a hit.

If people want easy money, drug dealing is profitable.
 
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