Homelessness is a serious social and economic problem. Chasing people away does not resolve it. It is like using your hand to block the sun from hurting your eyes. Homelessness is a community issue that should be addressed by ALL; the local, state and federal government, faith-based entities, other nonprofit organizations and local residents. HUD provides funding for a small percentage of supportive housing. That should be supplemented with general funds, and the buying in from the private sector. The Salvation Army has a great program and yes, you guessed it, it is not enough to meet the demand. Work together as a community and get it right.
Angie Aguayo, Virginia

The city should not allow panhandlers to litter the street when most of them already have an income such as medical etc. The is one fellow that hands out c/ds that even states on the c/d that is has poison in and one it. That is REAL good for our tourist population and our credibility as a city when we can't clean up our own streets.

Get a job! Reply; Is your company hiring. That congressman; Your fired no pension. Now you go find a job.

How should homelessness be dealt with? First, how many here realize that federal guidelines deny substance abuse treatment program funds to the homeless. Perhaps there's a triage concept at play there, but it's undeniable that the people most in need are denied the treatment. Second, for those who are schizophrenic, clozapid provides an effective therapy. The problem is cost, and monitoring for toxicity. Third, shelters are needed, but few communities are willing to have one built in their midst, even if it would take the homeless off the streets. And lastly, jobs end homelessness, but there aren't enough to go around right now.

There is no such a thing as a homeless person. The Great Spirit created the Earth for all people equally and for all men to live together as brothers. It is the wealthy and well-fed who are destroying the clean water and the best farmland; it is not the poor who may sometimes leave a fast-food wrapper somewhere. It is the heartless who offend me. B.J.

Thanks everyone for the insightful comments! For those of you who are referencing specific cities, it would really help the conversation if you wouldn't mind saying which ones. It's wonderful to have a 19-Patch conversation going, but it can get confusing fast!

Homelessness is a sore spot for some people. It is a real problem that does not have easy solutions. It would be nice if you could take out a magic wand and wave away poverty and drug abuse, but being human, these problems won't go away just by wishing. As always, it takes money, lots of it, which is not available at the moment, so the problems persist. Of course, with the GOP convention coming into the area, the locals are hard at it to "clean up" the vagrants. I wouldn't worry about it. The GOP and their followers, have spent a lifetime ignoring peoples pains. They won't even notice them.

We should not rely on federal money or help to deal with what should be dealt with on a community level.
Most homeless fall into 3 categories: mental illness, drug addicts, and loss of job which means loss of a way to pay for housing and the care of thier families.
We should get together as a community, professionals and non professionals alike and do something. As a community we are strong and can accomplish anything.
Look at what 2 small towns in Ireland and Spain did to boost local economy (see- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18085630 and http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/shortcuts/2012/feb/14/spanish-town-peseta-euro )
or the doctor that still gives doctor visits at $5.00 (see-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/russell-dohner-5-dollar-doctor-visit_n_1624497.html).
These communities got together and did something that helps all that are there. It is just up to us as a community to get together and possibly solve our own homeless and economic problems.....the feds be damned.

Janie Rider
Where is the Compassion in man kind. When someone falls, do we kick them, or offer them a hand to rise again? I believe that every Community has the responsibility, to help these folks, who have fallen on hard times. If we all join together we can make this world a better place. Looking the other way from the fallen, is a very sad way to live our lives. Our Country was built on the trust in God, but if we believe in God, why won't we help our brother's? How can we judge, unless we be judged? People need to think with their hearts! Obviously, too many are brain dead, and heartless!

Thanks for clarifying, BlFalconskeep!

Great dialogue! I have mixed feelings and it is great to read the perspectives of others!

Do those "representatives" that make the rules, watch the same news and read the same newspapers that I do? My job takes me on the streets thoughout the county. Trust me, there are far greater problems in our communities that we ask our law enforcement officers to remedy. I would prefer they are out investigating and preventing violent crime, rather than telling an American that they can't lay on that grass or sit on that bench. The excuse, that panhandling is a public safety issue is hogwash.
I had an interesting experience recently in another state. I was riding in the car with someone, we drove by a homeless man panhandling. The person with started saying "go get a job". I suggested that this person give the gentleman a dollar, my friend refused. At which time I said to her, "you won't give this person a dollar, but you expect someone else to give them a job"? "Do you see the irony?

Pushing away the homeless is NOT a solution to that problem. The homeless epidemic started in the US when Ronald Reagan closed down public mental hospitals by defunding those institutions. That is a fact - the majority of homeless are mentally ill, they used to be housed with public funds, now they are allowed to roam the streets. Yes, there are those who are hopeless addicts/alcoholics, but they are the mentally ill. Whoever thought defunding mental hospitals was a good, safe idea? How about voting them back in? Your tax dollars could be working to keep your community safe and comfortable - again.

Now we have an economic crisis that puts low income families on the street, including children. We need to educate and train our populace so business owners/job creators can see fit to hire them. Minimum wage is not a liveable wage, it must be raised above the poverty line. If business owners and citizens think they are not their brothers' keeper, they are wrong. We all must pull together to create and maintain a nation with a strong and employed middle class, or homelessness will simply get worse. If you want the homeless to simply go away, get a grip on reality. The homeless will be with us forever until and unless those more fortunate do something to stabilize our economy.

Meanwhile, support charities that help sustain the homeless. Volunteer and meet some of these people. They are human, just like you.

you can't get rid of the homeless without getting rid of the Tropicana field and the Times newspaper....and even the Mahaffey Theater....why you ask? because they need LOTS of people 40-100 every night there is a EVENT.....and to Stuff the Sunday papers with all the ads etc. Politicians, even the MAYOR don't acknowledge that fact. Who else will wait on a Sat. night or any night, til 11 pm or later to get 4 hours work at minimum wage? YOU? ME? l don't THINK so.
build a stadium somewhere else......NORTH PINELLAS COUNTY maybe....then the homeless will have to move to be near it because buses don't run that late. Its a sad but VERY TRUE situation that does exist and someone in authority should recognize this very soon. Who do you think sets up, takes down and cleans when the GRAND PRIX is in town? The TEMPORARY LABORERS from the labor pools, thats who!!! How do l know? because l ran Delta Temp. Help on and off for over 20 years.

This just goes against what made us a great nation. We used to fix problems with our citizenship and government. Now we just say,"Not our problem" and push things away.

A number of businesses around this nation have traded room/board/food and small amount of pay to have homeless families work and a place to rebuild. How we can't find people to do the same?

I am curious as to where these lawmakers would have the homeless move to? We have a huge number of homeless here and i continues to grow. Meanwhile, it is illegal for groups like Food Not Bombs to set up and feed them (which includes clean up afterward) We have families with small children living in cars or tents moving around from place to place. What is the aim of these laws, to lock them up? To fine them? Please...take money from the feds or whomever offers! I doubt the vast majority of them actually wants to be homeless and hungry! Some places, shelters, charge these folks to spend the night. We have an ever growing foreclosure crisis which promises even more homeless to come, while there are many empty homes sitting there falling apart due to being abandoned or lost in the nowhere zone because the banks can't figure out where the papers are. It is a sin to have all of these empty places and all of these homeless people. Nobody wins here. It's all nice to talk about the community being responsible but I have yet to see the community really pull together to solve a big problem like this especially when the only ones that will benefit are the very poor.

So when people who are walking or jogging need to sit down? Why even have parks, let's get rid if the parks while you're at it. All this does is alienate people. The homeless will find somewhere else to sit and the people who want to use the services such as walking and resting will not be able to.

Good points, Jeffrey. You also raise an interesting point on how difficult this could be to enforce.

Homelessness is prima facie evidence of an intrinsic societal failure, it is not a law enforcement issue. Any municipality would be at best hard pressed to address the multitude of issues that homelessness brings with it. As a larger society we must find effective methods of reaching a positive resolution. Tossing some bum in the back of a police cruiser and have Barney Fife drive him to the county line fails to achieve a positive resolution.

Do the homeless commit crimes - certainly. So do residents of gated communities. Do the homeless use drugs - yes. So do many kids in our local schools. Do they want to be homeless - yes some do. Are there little kids living on the street - yes.

This is an issue that cries for creative solutions from Tallahassee and Washington. The leadership we have gotten in the past certainly has not resolved these crying societal needs.

Try this on for size: Let's say you are too poor to afford a roof over your head and have no relatives to take you in. If you are on private property (trespassing), you are a criminal. If you are on public property laying, sitting or there after hours (trespassing), you are a criminal. Where are you going to go, assuming that you really are just poor and don't want to be a criminal?

The last time I read the laws of the land, it was not a crime to be out of a job, out of money with no roof over your heas. Come on America, get off your high horses. How would YOU feel if you lost you job and home. What would you do? Anything you could to put food in your mouth or your family

Only problem I have is ,and I know I will get flax for saying it, how can you really tell who needs it. I have actually seen people who were pan handling leave there spot and go to a m expensive car/van and drive off. Have also tried to give a person in TX a sandwich and fries only to be told , want money not food, but sign they were displaying said either would he welcomed. I am retired military and also retired from a fortune 500 company and I don't mind giving, "BUT" not to a bunch of freeloaders that are able, but to danged lazy to work. How do you tell the difference???????????????????

http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/okc/Panhandler-arrested-claims-to-have-made-60-000-last-year/-/11777584/15620916/-/o4flxb/-/index.html

I doubt any panhandlers locally are making $60k (as I doubt this man actually did). Have you had any interaction with the homeless community or are you going by what you heard from others. By that I mean real interaction, getting to know them, their story, how they live today....Most jobs require someone have a home address and clean clothes and regular showers. This tends to be quite a challenge when homeless. While there are drunks/addicts in this group there are some that didn't start out that way. Until you have lost everything including self worth please don't throw stones. Very few actually choose to be homeless.

Rollo - if all the homeless people are just bums who don't want a job, how do you explain the fact that their numbers magically go up after lay-offs and in recessions? What about all the homeless people during the Great Depression - guess they were all just bums as far as you are concerned? Figures from last year showed that there were 4 people looking for every 1 job available. I know 3 people who have finally found jobs after several weeks of homelessness here in Gainesville. I hope you never have to face the harsh realities that you are so determined to deny.

I don't deny the figures but those are NOT the people you see in the parks and at the redlights, these are eternal bums, they never sought work they never want a job and most are drunks or alkys, it is those i am addressing not the people who lost their jobs and became homeless. You need to realize there is a difference, you cannot combine the street bum with the truly homeless two entirely different classes. Thats mostly the problem with you liberal do gooders who want to help, your intemtions are good but because you are ignorant of the true facts you do more harm than good. help the truly down and out do not help the street bum.

So many really intelligent, thoughtful responses in this comment section. And then there are the comments that use old, tired words to describe the people who live (temporarily or permanently) on the streets of our communities. Our language, the words we use to label people, circumscribe our thinking about the problem. And, frankly I never know how to respond to comments which use terms I consider bigoted or just not useful in seeking solutions. I can't change the minds of people whose language prevents them from new thoughts, new ways to look for solutions. And I just get called names when responding to the use of terms I find offensive. In person, I request people to consider not telling the racist, homophobic, sexist joke or to drop the use of casual insulting terms; on line my options are limited and seem only to bring out the worst in people. If we can't agree to call what to call the people living (by choice or by need) on our streets, how can we make our communities better places for everyone?

Excellent Lynda
Nice to see there are some enlightened people out there. Who would rather think for themselves than have others think for them

Why iis it, when anyone uses the term PC, their about to say something bigoted and stupid?

Your part of the problem too ignorant to learn too lefty to see reality. Thats why we have a socialist in the White house who has ruined the country. you helped.

Folks, let's be civil and treat each other with respect. Argue the issues and not the person's character.

Respectful is relative, being truthful and blunt is mistaken for insulting. More reasons why you should talk straight. the comments are blunt but not insulting unless you take them as such. If you cannot take the directed comments there is a gardening post you can contribute to. These are real issues and straight talk is paramount. If we have to worry about you getting your feelings hurt it takes away from the idea. Move to another posting if you are injured. I speak in simple truths and you should try to keep up or get off the bus.

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All beliefs are a result of prejudice, ignorance, customs, education or experience. It what they So when one says they "speak the truth". Is it what they "believe" to be the "truth" or what the "know" to be the "truth"? There is a huge difference. One is fact, the other may not be.

Panhandling....... Some of them make over $150.00 a day. To 'cure' homelessness, allow them to get a job. Remove the shackles of organized labor unions, reduce job-killing Federal regulations, and stop blaming Conservatives! Conservatives believe the way to reduce homeless people is to get them to make an income for themselves. ("Help them to help themselves").... The liberals hate that concept! Heck, even the silly Obama wants to remove the working clause for Welfare (tax money) checks. Obama believes allowing people to get on welfare without trying to work / educate is a vote getter. Let's make the homeless industry fail like every Obama - Green Industry. Jobs is the fix. Not hand-outs. What if the billions of wasted green jobs money went to the homeless?? Support business, not wasteful government. Homeless will then find a job.

Why is it the biggest propnents of free enterprise, Have the biggest problem with panhandling? They have a job. You may not like thier job, But there are lots of occupationsI don't like.

Wow.... talk about liberals not listening..... A panhandler will have a better life with a job. (Duh)
Homelessness is another subject. (Some people prefer to be homeless) Panhandlers want money. (Leave it to a liberal to describe that as a "job") Ha...

That proves my point... Obama wants to remove the 'required job/education' part from receiving a welfare check. You libs may not have heard about that due to your limited access of news from MSNBC.
Panhandlers want something from nothing. (or drug money, etc.)

If a panhandler can stand at a street corner for hours, they can offer themselves up for working for money during that same time. Return the wasted green jobs - tax money lost by Obama, and support trade schools for the panhandlers.

Duh

Pete
I hate to break it to you, what do you think everyone in business wants?
They want your money. The only difference between Mitt and the guy on the corner, At least the guy on the corner is honest about wanting to take your money. And Mitt dresses better. One may buy some booze with his earnings. The other gives some of his money to the cult he belongs to. Would you feel better if the guy sold pencils for donations? Why do conservatives care so much about what a poor guy does with his earnings, and care so little about what the rich guy who wants to be your president does with his earnings?

The rich and big industries have been getting tax breaks and subsidies from our money for years. Is that more honorable somehow than panhandling? The industries don't even have to ask us for it, our "representatives" just fork it over. Why aren't more people angry about that instead of thinking it is the poor people who are the problem. We are being scammed folks, but it's not those guys in the park that caused the recession or the budget deficit. Look up how much of your taxes go to the military (you'll be shocked). Everyone can remember how much one homeless guys claims to make from begging, but does anyone remember the total cost of the bank bailouts? Let's stop blaming and criminalizing poor people and working people and follow the money to the ones who have been making out like the bandits they are!

A panhandler may not be homeless. What is wrong about getting a panhandler a job?
Many panhandlers are drug users.

Sure..... some subsidies are not warranted.... tax breaks are mainly for rich people taking a risk with their OWN MONEY. What the heck..... forget tax breaks.... let the 'rich' just take their invested money and take a 10-year vacation... close the business that they EMPLOY us people.

This is an endless discussion..... there will always be an example of wrong doing.

I just don't want a socialist like Obama forcing the American citizen to think we owe them.

bums will always be bums let em be bums somewhere else.

When I read and hear statements like these, that are common from the conservatives. I wonder, what country and what kind of families did they grow up in. It must be sad to go through life so full of hate and so empty of compassion for their fellow man. Interested more in finding reasons to justify their bigotry and wasting so much energy avoiding facts and evading enlightenment. I guess there must be some reward for this attitude, but I can't fathom what it might be...

gimme your address lefty we'll send em to to your house

To Rollo
I REST MY CASE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP
SINCERELY,
RICK

Ssssssnnnifffff. Ahhhh, the sweet smell of an online community. Scientific and mathematic constants have nothing on the nearly guaranteed degeneration of an online discussion board, given the time.

Round them up and send them to a work camp. While at the camp they will have an opportunity to earn the social services and counseling that some on this opinion board think they need.

Does anyone else get nervous, anytime the solution to a problem in the USA begins with "round them up". It sounds like a dangerous road to head down. Just ask the Blacks, Native Americans, and Japanese...

People who see enemies everywhere they look say things like "round em up". Must be pretty sad to wake up in their world every day. Afriad of everyone who isn't exactly like themselves. I don't fear people. I don't think there are simple answers, but I'm willing to work on the problems. I have a plant nursery, a 20hr a week job at UF in Gainesville, a couple rental properties, and I spend every extra minute I have in the public plaza doing volunteer work. I don't think just voting is enough to be a good citizen. I also don't think the "round them up" mentality fits in a democracy. Maybe it's just easier to bark than actually work on the problems. I am well informed and hard working - if that spells "lefty" then that's me.

What is hateful about getting a panhandler a job?? Someone described a panhandling "a job"...... (Good grief)..... What do they accomplish? Someone wrote that Obama is "left of center"........ And you expect us sane people to believe that ??

Back to the subject...... YES - YES - YES.... Many panhandlers are drug users looking for more drug money.

Any psychiatrist will tell you, the reason people use derogatory and demeaning terms like the "N" word, Bum, stupid, ugly and various terms for women, is to compensate for their own inferiority complexes. If one can make others seem less than equal, it makes the speaker feel more superior.

OR they do not prescribe to YOUR altered lefty views. Call a spade a spade and you'll never be misunderstood. guys like Barasso are just too ignorant to to move forward. You are not able to learn anything because you are too far gone. Any Psychiatrist will tell you elitist look down their nose at the working class subjects are just insecure trying to elevate themselves by faking intelligence. it's called Barassoing

Like it or not Quentin and Rollo, people like me put in more than 40 hrs a week and still do volunteer work and know the various stories of the homeless from first hand experience. There are hard core long-term homeless burned up by years of drug or alchol abuse - the ones you like to insult and call bums. You don't know their past lives - you'd be surprized, no I take that back because you would refuse to believe they had families and careers once, were decorated veterans too some of them. Many others are temporarily homeless due to lay-offs and foreclosures. There are as many types of people living outside as there are types of people inside. If it makes you feel like tough-guys, like you're the only realists around, then go right ahead and bark that they are all useless bums. What you think doesn't hold a candle to what other's actually know from experience and what we actually DO. The world will change around you and you'll be just as grouchy and clueless about it as you are now about the homeless.

I have to tell you, I love it when people like Quentin prove my points over and over again. They do make it pretty easy to seem intelligent.
So to Quentin,
Thank you
I yield the remainder of my time in this debate to Quentin. I love it when people do my work for me. I guess I am a socialist! I highly recommend it...

BIFYou are making some very good points, but you know there are a few individuals on here that will come back with something "really funny" to say about that last comment.
Did you see the one by NCI ESS (REALLY FUNNY TAG) about "So you see a psychiatrist." I was holding my sides laughing at that one...

60 years ago,as a child, I watched as my Mother gave a sandwiches and cups of coffee to the vagrants or bums,as some said, who came through our little southern town. They were polite and usually did some little chore as payback without being asked. Most were just guys without jobs. Today is a different story; studies have shown most of today's homeless (vagrants) are mentally ill and/or drug addicts. Most have relatives who would help but won't accept the rules of civilized living. Some have been kicked out of the family as the family can't take anymore of the drugs, lying and criminal activity. Very few are actually former good citizens who have come upon hard times. There are government agencies for helping. In a way thats unfortunate because the Christian church was the main source of help for unfortunates 70 years ago. Now the fed gov't won't accept "faith based" help. The ACLU stopped doctors and families from placing mentally ill people in mental hospitals. They feel its better to have insane people walking around the streets, scaring the normal people. Peeing on the steps of public buildings and using the public library as a bed and breakfast. Vagrants have made our lovely library into a smelly , scary place. I never go there without my husband as dangerous looking, ill men hang out there day and night. Answer is simple; put the mentally ill in caring facilities where they HAVE to take their medicine.