- James McNaughton
- Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- United Kingdom
Project Manager/Founder, Homelessness And The Arts
This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
What are your views on Homelessness?
The Facts.
-Every day in England, 30 - 42 young people under the age of 25 become Homeless.
-On any given night in England, over 70,000 children/expected children are staying in Homelessness Accommodation
-Every 2 minutes, a Homeowner finds themselves at risk of becoming Homeless.
So, I run a small Homelessness Project in Newcastle upon Tyne in England, and part of that is to research into people's views of Homelessness Internationally, and Locally, so;
What are your views on Homelessness? Are they all addicts, will they ever amount to anything in their life? Do you think they just don't receive the correct support?
Do you think that the numerous stereotypes associated with the word "Homeless" hold alot of people back from taking the small steps towards independent life?
If you have anything else you would like to say then feel free to.
If possible, include where you got these views and opinions from, whether it be the media, through your work, or elsewhere.
I'd also be extremely interested to know about any work you do with regards to Homelessness (If applicable) As I'm only 19 and still, somewhat, inexperienced with everything! I'd love to know what it is you do within the Homelessness System in your city/Country, and how you became involved with it.
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
Krisztián Pintér 200+
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
Krisztián Pintér 200+
my point was that the cause of homelessness is a mental breakdown, and not lack of work opportunities or lack of home.
in my neighborhood, i see a lot of homeless people. on my way to work, i pass by a homeless shelter. many of them have a bottle of wine, and cigarettes. plus they receive free shelter and food. which means they have an income of $2-$5 per day. it is probably more than a person gets in rural nepal. yet, they live a meaningful life with hope and dreams.
it is not an economic issue.
Helen Hupe 30+
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
Krisztián Pintér 200+
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
" the cause of homelessness my point was that the cause of homelessness is a mental breakdown, and not lack of work opportunities or lack of home."(Krisztian Pinter)
In support of that your "data" is that you walk by them in the street every day..your exact words ( I had asked you about the German model you referred to). But instead you offered your opinion ( actually your juddgments) based on walking by them in the street every day
.res ipse loquitor
Please cite one credible study on homelessnes that supports this absurd proposition that homelessness is not due to lack of work opportunities or lackof home.. This is Ted Conversations..not a place for rank opinion and memes. Do you consider your comments a respectful and dignified response to James and the issues he asks us to consider..to James only 19 himself running a homelessness project..Is the caliber of your comment a dignified , compassionate and respectful response to the plight of the growing numbers of homeless worldwide from many many causes but cief among them..economic conditions.Can you really think that these statement you have made with no credible support are a deserving and respectful response to James and his example of compassion and personal commitment.?
Jáfia Câmara 50+
People become homeless for many reasons, many times they are born homeless and it's a never ending cycle. I think that in first world countries, the main cause might be drug addiction and mental illness that lead people to become homeless, but in my home country, they are just extremely poor, they are abandoned as kids by their parents who are also homeless etc. Because of the migrations from the countryside to the cities, a lot of them had no skills, no education and no support, so they became homeless. There is not enough support and there is a stigma about being homeless, people seem to think that they are lazy and disgusting. It's so sad and heartbreaking.
Debra Smith 200+
I tooka course in Community Psychology in grad school and learned so much but a lot of it was heart breaking. Mental illness and the downloading of the mentally ill out of institutions was a major cause. Disfunction in famiies contributes. Drug use and alcoholism. Lack of basic skills in financial matters. Political systems that support the rich and do not respond to the poor. Schools that do not provide for or encourage 'at risk youth' so that they can stay in school. The fear of unsafe shelters and the experiences many have in shelters makes them prefer the streets in many cases. Exploiters who would pay for a teenager's body without a single care for them as a person.
No they are not all addicts but the grinding poverty and pain give an extra imputus for escape. Of course, they deserve support but we do not appear to have the proper mechanisms in place to give it to them in a truly helpful way. I so admire the people who are in the trenches-trying to help- persisting in helping - they are or should be our societal heroes.
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
Comment deleted
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
perhaps you have heard of my friend Dr. Debbie Little Wyman's international ministry to the homeless..Ecclesia Ministries http://www.ecclesia-ministries.org/ Debbie always says that she feels closest to God in her friendships with the homeless..perhaps because their lives have been stripped of all non essential things.She hasn't published any of her writings yet but her sermons and meditations are often inspired by and drawn from the insights of the homeless.
so I join you in your message..our first duty to the homeless as individuals is respect, compassion, dignity and one on one kindness. dare to make freinds with one homeless person. dare to sit in conversation with one homeless person. just one on one..just person to person.
James McNaughton