And it might not even have helped him in particular in the long run, if the money is spent on services he personally doesn’t need.
Actually, considering that temperatures can go well below freezing for extended periods in much of Canada, I am surprised there is not more deaths from exposure. These are pretty rare. But whether it’s staying warm or eating, most street people are not so far gone that they can’t cover those needs one way or another. For the ones who fail to, at least in Canada an ambulance will take them to a hospital where treatment is free. The inner city does have a number of free kitchens, shelters, etc. You hear in the news of patrols going around during bad cold snaps looking for those who might need help.
I remember back in the 60’s, Toronto’s mental health establishment (999 Queen St.) was well know. During the 60’s a more progressive mindset prevailed, and the incapable were released. This coincided with the discovery by politicians that this saved a lot of money and making them someone else’s problem. Meanwhile, those unable to cope could not easily manage their money to the extent of making rent or buying groceries, so ended up on the street. Without a home address, they no longer qualified for welfare payments. it became a downward spiral.
Hospitals treat environmental exposures but are less capable of solving chronic social problems. The concern is for serious exposures where ambulances are not called in time.
Two homeless people sheltering in a tent froze to death this winter in my area. Another was murdered and thrown into a river. This kind of thing happens pretty regularly here and everywhere else I’ve ever lived (not the freezing to death, that’s climate-dependent, but the violence).
Beggars have existed since time immemorial. Hobos seem to have been a fixture since trains became common, despite laws and enforcement efforts. Mental asylums, poorhouses, etc. have variously sought to lock up the incapable for centuries. Today we have welfare, shelters, soup kitchens, rehab and numerous social services, and the problem is no better. (Just more visible) Some of these services help some of the people some of the time. You can’t fix all of the people all of the time - nobody has the answer.
Whether a personal handout helps a person, or allows them to continue, or helps aggravate whatever problems they have - depends on the person, situation, and type of handout. There’s no simple way to find out which it does, in a short encounter.
I’ll reiterate - I don’t think the corner beggar is living the life of luxury, but it’s a 50-50 bet whether that is their only or major means of support.
Yes, agreed. There are macro solutions, and micro problems, and the macro solutions don’t immediately solve micro problems.
I confess, I thought of this thread when I came across this tonight:
[OC]Someone pretended to be homeless as a cover to break-in store.
It’s probably staged.
I don’t get it?
Supposedly the lean-to was for weather protection/cover, but it was actually to hide the break in through the hole cut in the sliding door.
Ah, okay.
That would take a lot of work!