Homeless Lady lives in car with her two dogs..

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » September 11, 2008 3:20 pm

This tugs at my heart strings - I wish there were some way to help her...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflif ... index.html

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » September 11, 2008 3:34 pm

Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » September 11, 2008 3:43 pm

ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.

But I want to help HER.....

fabduo · Post by **fabduo** » September 11, 2008 3:44 pm

ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.

you tell em Connie!!

Conolulu · Post by **Conolulu** » September 11, 2008 3:45 pm

ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.

Amen.

I've gotten to know some of the homeless here, and there is a HUGE homeless population here in Panama City....Not all of them are that way by choice, nor are they alcoholics and/or drug addicts.....Like Connie said, some of us are a paycheck away....I do what I can....from paying for groceries, to donating clothes to the Mission, etc.....

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » September 11, 2008 3:50 pm

She wasn't forced into homelessness. There are shelters available - especially for women the age probably helps her too. Since she is working and collecting social security, I am sure there is a place she could find to rent. It might not be as posh as she was accustomed, but it would be a home. If there isn't anything livable in CA then move. She has a car and can go anywhere. Surely there is some town within a 100 mile radius she could live.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » September 11, 2008 4:05 pm

I gotta say, I have a hell of alot more sympathy for those dogs than I do for her.

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » September 11, 2008 4:08 pm

Skibo wrote:She wasn't forced into homelessness. There are shelters available - especially for women the age probably helps her too. Since she is working and collecting social security, I am sure there is a place she could find to rent. It might not be as posh as she was accustomed, but it would be a home. If there isn't anything livable in CA then move. She has a car and can go anywhere. Surely there is some town within a 100 mile radius she could live.

I expect the shelters would not take the dogs. And I'm with her. I would not give them up. When you've lost everything else, pets are your lifeline. I also expect she wishes to stay close to where her daughter is living. Sounds like she's doing the the best that she can right now with what she's been dealt. Phin power on the way to her and others in her situation.

Frank4 · Post by **Frank4** » September 11, 2008 4:13 pm

ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.

Very well said.

Want to spend a few hours doing something good. Serve Thanksgiving dinner in a shelter, then come home to your family. If you never thought you had something to be thankful for. You will after that.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » September 11, 2008 4:25 pm

Skibo wrote:She wasn't forced into homelessness. There are shelters available - especially for women the age probably helps her too. Since she is working and collecting social security, I am sure there is a place she could find to rent. It might not be as posh as she was accustomed, but it would be a home. If there isn't anything livable in CA then move. She has a car and can go anywhere. Surely there is some town within a 100 mile radius she could live.

Shelters are full and often lawless places - sometimes one IS better off in their car. Many shelters have the people in the shelter running the so called security; and they are drug addicted and often criminals. And then there's her dogs who I'm sure are her family. Shelters don't take dogs

Once you've been evicted it's hard to rent another place. Have you ever been to a weekly motel?? They don't take dogs usually and are often full of drugs and crimes too.

oh and usually shelters are not free

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » September 11, 2008 4:30 pm

Frank4 wrote:
ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.
Very well said.

Want to spend a few hours doing something good. Serve Thanksgiving dinner in a shelter, then come home to your family. If you never thought you had something to be thankful for. You will after that.

While you are correct about serving Thanksgiving Dinner there are 364 other days a year however that's better than nothing

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » September 11, 2008 4:31 pm

If she's only making 8 bucks an hour anyway, why not move to a more affordable place, get a job at a Starbucks, and be able to afford rent?

Sometimes common sense is good.

blowinupinmissoula · September 11, 2008 4:39 pm

ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.

with all due respect, how can you possibly rationalize giving a homeless person money and trusting that god will be a force in how they spend the money? To me thats even less likely than them using the money to buy a lotto ticket, then winning. If you truly want to make a difference, put your faith/money in something tangible, buy the Real Change newspaper, give out food, not money and volunteer at shelter/organizations. Please realize that this is not a jab at religion, peoples beliefs are personal and they should be respected. All im saying is that when dealing with an unstable life, putting it in "gods" hands is not nearly enough. one needs to directly impact the unstable life, not hope that a higher power will take care of it all.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » September 11, 2008 4:40 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:Sometimes common sense is good.

You mean common sense as in NOT spending 75% of your income on rent, therefore allowing yourself to put nothing in savings for your rapidly approaching retirement?

I fully understand that there are alot of folks who are homeless through no fault of their own, but I don't think she's one of them. Sounds like she's a victim of nothing besides her own p*ss-poor planning.

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » September 11, 2008 4:41 pm

Having spent Sunday mornings volunteering in shelters, I can say that none of the ones that I'm aware of permit pets and most do not permit someone to stay in the shelter during the day. This means that every day you have to carry everything in and out and hope that you are early enough to get back in again.

It is true that some homeless people decided to become homeless, some end up that way due to circumstances beyond their control. Some have drug abuse issues, some have mental health issues and some just have bad luck. During the Reagan administration our public health policy was to turn the mentally ill, yet treatable individuals out of facilities that housed them and expect them to make it on their own. The policymakers assumed that since they were on their medications and as long as they remained on them that they would be fine and that they would remain on them. In many cases this assumption seems to have been wrong.

It may be time for us to reexamine our national health policies as they apply to mental illness. That or provide a better safety net for those truly in need.

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » September 11, 2008 4:41 pm

Skibo wrote:She wasn't forced into homelessness. There are shelters available - especially for women the age probably helps her too. Since she is working and collecting social security, I am sure there is a place she could find to rent. It might not be as posh as she was accustomed, but it would be a home. If there isn't anything livable in CA then move. She has a car and can go anywhere. Surely there is some town within a 100 mile radius she could live.

I've actually read three different articles on her. In that area(California), its next to impossible to find rent at $8/hour.....maybe in some areas you can...but not there. Heck I couldn't live HERE on 8/hour

$8/hr equates to approximately $1200/month. CHEAP rent here in NC is $800/month....not including utilities. I know I couldn't live on that. It's easy to say just move.....but would you take that risk...moving to a city where you know NO ONE? I wouldn't.....

What strikes me is that she IS working and not asking for handouts....she IS not living on welfare.....sure she receives SS but we all know that isn't a livable amount for most people these days.

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » September 11, 2008 4:44 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
SharkOnLand wrote:Sometimes common sense is good.
You mean common sense as in NOT spending 75% of your income on rent, therefore allowing yourself to put nothing in savings for your rapidly approaching retirement?

I fully understand that there are alot of folks who are homeless through no fault of their own, but I don't think she's one of them. Sounds like she's a victim of nothing besides her own p*ss-poor planning.

Sorry I disagree here as well. I LIVE pay check to pay check...I have two jobs (Thank GOD) and survive I have a MASTERS degree and as a woman STILL don't get paid what my male counterparts get paid.....p*ss poor planning? No..... Surviving by my sheer will....yes....

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » September 11, 2008 4:45 pm

sunseeker wrote:It's easy to say just move.....but would you take that risk...moving to a city where you know NO ONE? I wouldn't.....

Take the risk, or live in my car? I'll take the risk, thank you. And as for not knowing anyone, she may as well not have anyone, seeing as how her family isn't exactly much of a help to her. That'd be the day when my father would have to resort to living in his car - I'd live in my car so he could have my bed.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » September 11, 2008 4:53 pm

blowinupinmissoula wrote:
ph4ever wrote:Unfortunately there are THOUSANDS just like her. Homeless for whatever reason.

Volunteers are needed all over the US to help either feed them, help sort out clothes - all kinds of opportunity to help.

Even if you just give a panhandler a few bucks. Yes - there is a huge possibility that they could go buy something to drink or drugs but some do buy food. If God touches your heart to give them that money, what they do with it is between them and God.

A lot of us are but a paycheck away from homelesness. It's time for America to quit looking down it's nose at the homeless.
with all due respect, how can you possibly rationalize giving a homeless person money and trusting that god will be a force in how they spend the money? To me thats even less likely than them using the money to buy a lotto ticket, then winning. If you truly want to make a difference, put your faith/money in something tangible, buy the Real Change newspaper, give out food, not money and volunteer at shelter/organizations. Please realize that this is not a jab at religion, peoples beliefs are personal and they should be respected. All im saying is that when dealing with an unstable life, putting it in "gods" hands is not nearly enough. one needs to directly impact the unstable life, not hope that a higher power will take care of it all.

If God touches you and tells you to give you've fulfilled what God has told you to do- Period. It's God's place to judge the person - not yours. While I will agree with you on everything you said realize this; if you are walking into a convenience store and someone comes up and says "I'm hungry can you spare a dollar" and it crosses your heart/mind to give that dollar - that is God touching you telling you what to do.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » September 11, 2008 4:55 pm

sunseeker wrote:
Skibo wrote:She wasn't forced into homelessness. There are shelters available - especially for women the age probably helps her too. Since she is working and collecting social security, I am sure there is a place she could find to rent. It might not be as posh as she was accustomed, but it would be a home. If there isn't anything livable in CA then move. She has a car and can go anywhere. Surely there is some town within a 100 mile radius she could live.
I've actually read three different articles on her. In that area(California), its next to impossible to find rent at $8/hour.....maybe in some areas you can...but not there. Heck I couldn't live HERE on 8/hour

$8/hr equates to approximately $1200/month. CHEAP rent here in NC is $800/month....not including utilities. I know I couldn't live on that. It's easy to say just move.....but would you take that risk...moving to a city where you know NO ONE? I wouldn't.....

What strikes me is that she IS working and not asking for handouts....she IS not living on welfare.....sure she receives SS but we all know that isn't a livable amount for most people these days.

My sister in law rents a home (albeit a tiny home) for something like $200 a month. I live in a VERY poor area of the country, and know many people making it on minimum wage.

If rent was making me homeless, heck yes I'd be looking for a place to live with a lower standard of living....