Homeless - surprised

[campclose]

I was really surprised that I did not see many homeless people in NYC. I mean I saw some but not a ton. Maybe I stayed in the areas where they are not. I kept hearing that I would see a ton of people. I'm glad I didn't - I would hope that means that there are not as many now.

[wvbreamfisherman]

If you want to see homeless, go to downtown San Francisco. They are everywhere! Mostly they aren't too agressive, but every alley, nook and cranny has some derelict sleeping in it.

[JeepThrills]

It may be like it is in Atlanta. A few years ago, the mayor had the police get more strict about panhandling. It sort of "pushed" the homeless people back to a less desirable area of town. They are still there, of course, but further away from the tourists.

[Grandpa]

We stayed in downtown Albuquerque back in 2000 and they were thicker than fleas. We were there again a few years later and didn't see any. The locals said they put time limits on them. If we were to come back at midnight they would be all over the place again but they had to disappear by 8 am or else.

[Greatoutdoors]

I sincerely doubt that there are less homeless in NYC today, and in fact, there are probably many more than there were say before 2008. Homeless people however, don't attract tourists so they are kept away by the police at least for part of the day. So many communities are making it illegal to even feed the homeless these days it is disgusting!

[plsargent]

They are all over Portland. They even have their own little village down there. Make their own little houses from what ever they can find. You see them on the side of the hwy or u der over passes, and just about every corner.

[ppine]

I had a landscape business at the end of my career and used day laborers. I picked them up each day and paid them cash. Mostly they were homeless even though they went to work 5 days a week. I learned a lot from them as they all had former lives before, some traumatic events and substance abuse problems. I was able to generate tremendous loyalty from those people by giving them something that is in short supply- respect and appreciation. Homeless people make great pet owners.

My guys called themselves tramps. They cannot stand the lower class of homeless people- bums. The ones that hold up cardboard signs and look sad all day. On the street the word is that bums make $150-250 a day. Tramps make much less but work for a living.

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by ppine

My guys called themselves tramps. They cannot stand the lower class of homeless people- bums. The ones that hold up cardboard signs and look sad all day. On the street the word is that bums make $150-250 a day. Tramps make much less but work for a living.

Many years ago we were in California visiting my BIL and his family. We were headed into the city and BIL said to watch the next intersection at the Bum working it. We could see him right out in the street panhandling. BIL told us to watch at the corner for the two big guys and look up the street at the blue mercedes. This Bum drove a Mercedes to that intersection every morning with two big body guards. I'm thinking he made more panhandling than I did at the rocket factory.

[shaun]

I read that the number of homeless is continuing to rise as we face the prospect of a double-dip recession more and more people are losing their homes. There are many families who have been forced to live on the streets.

I was in NY 2 years ago and I see quite a few, sadly.

[Marshmallow]

It really is hard to believe there are so many homeless people in the United States. We have much to be thankful for and much to be ashamed about. The panhandlers who make lots of money and play a pretend game make it really difficult for those truly in need.