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Madd Max 
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2004,11:43 am |
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Homeless, jobless and often ailing
Randy Forest and Terry Collins, Star Tribune
December 17, 2004 HOMELESS1217
Marlene Briggs, 43, takes medication for severe depression. The doses are so high, she said, that she is unable to work.
Cathy Caldwell, 46, has bipolar disorder and was hospitalized for two weeks in May. She'd like a job, she said, but has been unable to find one.
The women share a common address -- People Serving People, a large homeless shelter on Portland Avenue S. in downtown Minneapolis that houses an average of 225 people each night.
Caldwell's and Briggs' situations reflect several trends reported in a statewide survey of homelessness released in September by the nonprofit Wilder Research Center of St. Paul.
Last year, 8,800 people were homeless on any given night in Minnesota, the center estimates.
While the number of homeless Minnesotans appears to have leveled off, more of them are suffering from serious mental illness
Tom Sweeney
Star Tribune
Forty-seven percent of homeless Minnesotans had a serious mental illness in 2003, up from 20 percent in 1991, when the study was first conducted, said Greg Owen, the study's director.
In addition, the percentage of homeless adults who are employed is down: 24 percent had full-time jobs in 2000; in the latest study, that number dropped to 13 percent.
Jim Smith, executive director of Simpson Housing Services, which operates a homeless shelter in Minneapolis, said homeless advocates have collected the names of 115 people who died this year.
"Homelessness exists and is a scandal, and just as scandalous as it was in the early 1980s when it became a public issue," Smith said.
A mournful march
On Thursday evening, more than 400 people marched south along Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis in freezing weather to honor people who died while homeless this year.
They carried signs that recalled those who did not have a place to call their own: Roger B., 24; Tammy, 50, and Ralph K., 62, all of Minneapolis, and Jude, 24, and Joseph H., 55, both from St. Paul.
"I felt sad," said Julia Riebe, a development director at the Simpson homeless shelter in Minneapolis, as she surveyed the signs. "Each one of those signals a person, a life, a human being. Gone."
The marchers later joined another 300 people in a vigil at Simpson United Methodist Church in south Minneapolis.
They packed the pews -- those who have a roof over their heads at night sitting beside those who don't. Their heads bowed collectively as the names of more than 80 homeless people who have died were read aloud.
Sheila Webb, a shelter director, said homeless people are often unfairly described as "disenfranchised, displaced, abandoned and outcasts."
One vigil attendee, Shawnee Jones, 42, of Minneapolis, said despite that being homeless, he still wants to be a mortician someday. "I have dreams," he said. "I have goals."
Fighting for a foothold
Deborah Mitchell, president of the board of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, said many homeless people suffer from undiagnosed mental illnesses. Others have had their illnesses diagnosed, but are not taking their medications, she said.
"If you are homeless and not stable, you may not be able to take care of mental health problems," Mitchell said.
Dan Goodermont, family and children's services manager at People Serving People, said that while there is more vacant housing these days, rents are up and public assistance has not kept pace, so the poor have difficulty finding affordable units to rent, he said.Goodermont estimates that 40 to 50 percent of the adults at the shelter cannot read or write, which makes it hard to fill out job applications or read want-ads to look for work.
Said Owen: "I think many of the people who have the skills and ability to get out of this [homeless] situation have done so."
But among the long-term homeless -- those who have been homeless for a year or longer and/or have had multiple episodes of homelessness in the past several years -- 85 percent reported a physical or mental health problem, or a problem with substance abuse, he said.
More... "We don't have adequate access to mental health services for disadvantaged people, and we have not done anything nearly adequate to provide housing with support services for people with mental illness," Owen said.
Briggs said that after living under a bridge last summer, she moved in with her sister. When they had an argument, she left, and went to People Serving People several weeks ago. Last winter, she lived in an old bus in Norwood Young America, keeping warm with an electric heater, she said.
Caldwell said she had a Section 8 housing subsidy voucher, but it was taken away and she was evicted from her north Minneapolis duplex. She rented a one-room apartment for $525 a month, but was unable to afford it on a monthly disability insurance subsidy of $507, so she moved out.
She said she has a college degree in psychology and would like to a job, but worries that her illness has made employers wary. "I want to work," she said.
Not without hope
Owen said that the Wilder study uncovered some positive signs. Eighty-nine percent of homeless children of school age are in school.
In addition, he said, a statewide plan to address long-term homelessness, while not fully funded, is in the beginning stages of being implemented by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.
Still, "we have not yet turned the corner in this program, Owen said. "We may have seen a leveling-off, but I don't think we can start to think that we've solved this problem."
After Thursday's vigil ended and goodbyes were exchanged, some folks headed home, some went downstairs to the 46-bed shelter and others went ... to parts unknown, as the homeless often do.
Just something to think about this Christmas.
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Heck, if crazy were a pre-existing condition, the GOP wouldn't be able to get insurance. James Carville
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2004,3:59 pm |
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"Homelessness" is a problem--but note the frequent mention of mental illness in the piece. | Quote | | Forty-seven percent of homeless Minnesotans had a serious mental illness in 2003, |
| Quote | | Deborah Mitchell, president of the board of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, said many homeless people suffer from undiagnosed mental illnesses. Others have had their illnesses diagnosed, but are not taking their medications, she said. |
These people used to be cared for in institutions--asylums, care centers, nursing homes--before it became stylish to "mainstream" them and let them out.| Quote | | But among the long-term homeless -- those who have been homeless for a year or longer and/or have had multiple episodes of homelessness in the past several years -- 85 percent reported a physical or mental health problem, or a problem with substance abuse |
It might seem heartless in this holiday season to disagree with the "homeless" problem--but the reality is that there are few people that can't get the basic requirements of life by ASKING for them. There are programs for the mentally ill capable of doing work (i.e. Cedar Valley), medical centers never turn people away due to inability to pay, "mentally disabled" can collect SSI payments (I know of two people recently that are capable of working but collect payments as "vulnerable adults"), and the truly ill can be institutionallized.
Many of the people that work in the "missions" (as they used to be called) state that many of their "clients" refuse to avail themselves of the programs designed to help them--alcohol and substance abuse programs (which have their own living quarters), social programs, educational programs, medical programs. They just keep coming back every night.
Is there an answer to the homeless problem? What do you do if people can't/won't help themselves? Institutionalization isn't all bad--if people can't or won't make responsible decisions for themselves--they shouldn't be left to fend for themselves. We may just have to face the fact that we can't cure all of the problems of society.
It IS something to think about this Christmas--helping others. It is also something to think about at Thanksgiving (and every other time it comes to mind)--being thankful for the things we have.
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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DrBombay
Group: Members
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Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2004,6:50 pm |
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| Quote | | Goodermont estimates that 40 to 50 percent of the adults at the shelter cannot read or write, which makes it hard to fill out job applications or read want-ads to look for work. |
This seems like a problem that certainly could be addressed. Hard to imagine that illiteracy still exists in the numbers that it does.
Some who are homeless are because they choose to be. No amount of help would change their situation. My heart goes out to those who have slipped through the cracks. No child should be homeless, no matter what the situation of the family. We should count our blessings, and try to help those who would help themselves if they could. No easy solutions!
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| Post Number: 4
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
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Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 17 2004,9:10 pm |
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| Quote | | 8,800 people were homeless on any given night (snip) homeless advocates have collected the names of 115 people who died this year. |
115 deaths divided by 8800 homeless = a mortality rate of 1.315%. If we take an average life span of 76 years and projected deaths at a straight line (we have no idea what the ages are at death), it would be an identical 1.3068%. Deaths do not project in a straight line--infants and elderly are higher, but it would seem that the homeless as a whole have a mortality rate close to that of the general population.
Regarding Dr. Bombays comment about Adult literacy--Adult Education classes are held in nearly every community--in some circumstances, living expenses and even transportation are provided. You can't MAKE someone attend school, though.
You are correct, Dr. Bombay--the children here are the ultimate victims.
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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hairhertz
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Posted on: Dec. 18 2004,2:16 am |
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Anybody old enough around here to remember the county poor farms? Not the most glamorous of places, but back when self respect & honor counted, lots of people lived on these farms & worked for their room & board.
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metis movement
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| Post Number: 6
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Madd Max
Group: Members
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Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Dec. 18 2004,7:57 am |
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| Quote (jimhanson @ Dec. 17 2004,3:59) | "Homelessness" is a problem--but note the frequent mention of mental illness in the piece. | Quote | | Forty-seven percent of homeless Minnesotans had a serious mental illness in 2003, |
| Quote | | Deborah Mitchell, president of the board of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, said many homeless people suffer from undiagnosed mental illnesses. Others have had their illnesses diagnosed, but are not taking their medications, she said. |
These people used to be cared for in institutions--asylums, care centers, nursing homes--before it became stylish to "mainstream" them and let them out.| Quote | | But among the long-term homeless -- those who have been homeless for a year or longer and/or have had multiple episodes of homelessness in the past several years -- 85 percent reported a physical or mental health problem, or a problem with substance abuse |
It might seem heartless in this holiday season to disagree with the "homeless" problem--but the reality is that there are few people that can't get the basic requirements of life by ASKING for them. There are programs for the mentally ill capable of doing work (i.e. Cedar Valley), medical centers never turn people away due to inability to pay, "mentally disabled" can collect SSI payments (I know of two people recently that are capable of working but collect payments as "vulnerable adults"),
Many of the people that work in the "missions" (as they used to be called) state that many of their "clients" refuse to avail themselves of the programs designed to help them--alcohol and substance abuse programs (which have their own living quarters), social programs, educational programs, medical programs. They just keep coming back every night.
Is there an answer to the homeless problem? What do you do if people can't/won't help themselves? |
Jim, I am old enough to remember back in the 80's when Ronald Reagan closed down many of the mental institutions and put the Mentally challenged out onto the streets. Since that time group homes have come into being that care for the mentally challenged, by providing a safe place to live and helping with their daily needs.
Many of the people who live in these types of homes do work five days a week Jim. They go to work every day just like you and I. You tell about two individuals who collect SSI as Vulnerable adults but don't work Are you sure they don't work? Maybe they clean offices during the graveyard shift. I know of a few that do this. Cedar Valley does a wonderful job with the people they work with here in town.
You make it sound as if 115 homeless people dieing each year is an acceptable number by saying that well it is only 1.315%. How may I ask would you feel if one of those people was related to you? I am not tiring to get you or anyone else work up here Jim I would like people reading this to stop and think for one minute about this problem.
We as a nation can forgive a 4 1/2 billion dollars loan to Iraqi but we can’t spend the money to care for the homeless here. Hairhertz you make a good point maybe the poor house from the passed needs to be brought back again. 
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Heck, if crazy were a pre-existing condition, the GOP wouldn't be able to get insurance. James Carville
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| Post Number: 7
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DrBombay
Group: Members
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Posted on: Dec. 18 2004,6:57 pm |
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My son lives near Luhring Park in Minneapolis, I asked him to go for a stroll through the park one day last fall. I have to admit I was surprised to see the people sleeping on park benches. They didn't all seem the "type" who I'd think of as homeless.
Because of the sheltered lives we lead (not seeing homeless persons everyday) we stereo-type what kind of people who would be homeless. Crazy people (off meds), crackheads, winos, etc. This isn't always the case, all of them are individuals with their own stories.
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| Post Number: 8
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Mamma
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Posted on: Dec. 18 2004,7:26 pm |
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I have to believe that many of the homeless people could work if they wanted to. Many years ago there was a man with a cardboard sign saying that he would work for food. My brother and I stopped and offered him a ride to Wilson's and told him we would introduce him to the personel manager and he could be working by that afternoon. He not only said no...he used alot of other words in there besides! He wanted money....not work. I saw a guy last week doing the same thing near WalMart. I'll bet he wouldn't have taken a job either.
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A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.
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| Post Number: 9
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Madd Max
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Posted on: Dec. 20 2004,9:43 am |
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| Quote (Mamma @ Dec. 18 2004,7:26,pm) | | My brother and I stopped and offered him a ride to Wilson's and told him we would introduce him to the personel manager and he could be working by that afternoon. |
I can believe that Mamma. I can also remember seeing people living under the bridge next to the railroad track who were working at Wilson’s who were working in the plant until they made enough money to get a place to live here. I agree that there are people that just don’t want to work. Then again there are others who need a helping hand to get back on there feet again. Then there are others who are Mentally Ill that are unable to care for them self’s that need help.
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Heck, if crazy were a pre-existing condition, the GOP wouldn't be able to get insurance. James Carville
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| Post Number: 10
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Maienca
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Posted on: Dec. 20 2004,12:27 pm |
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| Quote | | I saw a guy last week doing the same thing near WalMart. I'll bet he wouldn't have taken a job either. |
That guy that stands by Walmart is there like clock work everyweekend. Always has his sign... always there.... whats he getting stranded everyweekend up here? Why is he never seen anywhere else around town but by the Super Walmart. 'red flags go up quickly' First thing comes to mind : CON. Hes at either end of the road near the stoplights..... ALWAYS.
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http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/pam/
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