Did I neglect the poor?

[YADA]

Catholic Charities? And for the time being, that’s all I will say.

Fair enough, we will leave it at that.

And your feelings of dislike for all charities that are “Catholic” in origin is obvious from your threads and posts …

I recall in another post you made - you don’t feel called to help the homeless but have much disdain for Catholics who do - as if they are some anomaly - and only praise for non-Catholics …

Many homeless people are not addicted nor prone to illegal activities like theft, assault, etc. … however, people who exist within the homeless community fall victim of these crimes on occasion - just as we do at all levels of society. … While some [not all] addicts may have physical characteristics- thieves and rapists do not … three piece suit or dirty rags -

No woman nor man should intentionally place themselves in a situation like giving this person a ride to an unknown address. If giving this woman a ride really was he best and only option - she could have called someone - informed them of the lady’s name and the address she was giving her a ride to - with a promise to check in via phone every 30 minutes … until the lady was dropped off and a final call at that time.

You should never place yourself in jeopardy while helping another - that is foolish … it is not a reflection of the homeless community …

Oh yes - I volunteer in a “Warming Center” where people without homes often come for a warm safe place to stay … a shower, some food and an opportunity to wash their clothes … we require two volunteers to man the center … why two and not one … well - two is SAFER … not only for the volunteers safety but also for those that are depending on us to provide a safe welcoming shelter …

 

[WilT]

And your feelings of dislike for all charities that are “Catholic” in origin is obvious from your threads and posts …

I recall in another post you made - you don’t feel called to help the homeless but have much disdain for Catholics who do - as if they are some anomaly - and only praise for non-Catholics …
…
No woman nor man should intentionally place themselves in a situation like giving this person a ride to an unknown address. If giving this woman a ride really was he best and only option - she could have called someone - informed them of the lady’s name and the address she was giving her a ride to - with a promise to check in via phone every 30 minutes … until the lady was dropped off and a final call at that time.

(wishful thinking Yada)

Oh yes - I volunteer in a “Warming Center” where people without homes often come for a warm safe place to stay … a shower, some food and an opportunity to wash their clothes … we require two volunteers to man the center … why two and not one … well - two is SAFER … not only for the volunteers safety but also for those that are depending on us to provide a safe welcoming shelter …

(so how many volunteer hours **do you put in **per day and how long have you done this for?)

Yada, I’m not sure what your talking about. And Yada if your fearful of the homeless and the disadvantaged out on the streets then don’t spread that irrational fear you have to others.

 

[YADA]

(so how many volunteer hours **do you put in **per day and how long have you done this for?)

Not that it is any of your business - I work full time but in addition to working and family - In support of homeless - currently I am serve from early Friday afternoon until mid morning on Saturday - about 17 hours straight in our parish sponsored warming center … When available I serve additional days - usually Saturday and Father can call me when he needs another volunteer. I also financially support several ministries - two of which are JOIN and St Vincent de Paul.

Yada, I’m not sure what your talking about. And Yada if your fearful of the homeless and the disadvantaged out on the streets then don’t spread that irrational fear you have to others.

I am not fearful of the homeless and the disadvantaged - never said I was …

But a person should not take risks with their safety - that is common sense.

Allowing someone - especially one unknown - into a car with you is dangerous - even to do them a favor - even if you are a police officer. I knew an Oregon State police officer who made a DUI stop - he arrested the driver and then agreed to give his two passengers a ride to a nearby residence … Those two were not being arrested - just being given a ride. One of those passengers shot him in the back - killing him …

Not all homeless people are criminals. Not all homeless people are addicts - however, there exists higher numbers of addiction and criminal activities among those who live on the streets. Homeless people are often victims of crime - rape, theft, assault … like the bullies on the play ground - there are bullies both within the homeless community and outside it that prey on people who are struggling … but that does not mean you put yourself in harms way unnecessarily …

We do not allow drugs, alcohol or weapons in our shelter and we have two volunteers present at all times … that is not being fearful - its being safe - safe for the volunteers and those seeking a safe play to rest

 

[WilT]

Not that it is any of your business - I work full time but in addition to working and family - In support of homeless - currently I am serve from early Friday afternoon until mid morning on Saturday - about 17 hours straight in our parish sponsored warming center … When available I serve additional days - usually Saturday and Father can call me when he needs another volunteer. I also financially support several ministries - two of which are JOIN and St Vincent de Paul.

I am not fearful of the homeless and the disadvantaged - never said I was …

But a person should not take risks with their safety - that is common sense.

Allowing someone - especially one unknown - into a car with you is dangerous - even to do them a favor - even if you are a police officer. I knew an Oregon State police officer who made a DUI stop - he arrested the driver and then agreed to give his two passengers a ride to a nearby residence … Those two were not being arrested - just being given a ride. One of those passengers shot him in the back - killing him …

Not all homeless people are criminals. Not all homeless people are addicts - however, there exists higher numbers of addiction and criminal activities among those who live on the streets. Homeless people are often victims of crime - rape, theft, assault … like the bullies on the play ground - there are bullies both within the homeless community and outside it that prey on people who are struggling … but that does not mean you put yourself in harms way unnecessarily …

We do not allow drugs, alcohol or weapons in our shelter and we have two volunteers present at all times … that is not being fearful - its being safe - safe for the volunteers and those seeking a safe play to rest

You still read fearful of the homeless and once again, in my area, the violence is coming from those in homes and not the streets. Kids who watch violence on tv come out to beat up the homeless because it’s being seen on the tube or video games. On the videos kids rack up points for injuring homeless individuals.

 

[YADA]

You still read fearful of the homeless and once again, in my area, the violence is coming from those in homes and not the streets. Kids who watch violence on tv come out to beat up the homeless because it’s being seen on the tube or video games. On the videos kids rack up points for injuring homeless individuals.

Well - you do not read well then, I feel sad for you -

 

[Elena321]

I didn’t say homeless people “just explode”. My point was that the homeless are not the only people on the street. People with undiagnosed/untreated mental health issues, people with substance abuse issues, people who get violent, prostitutes, etc. are also on the streets. I don’t advise anyone to engage in inner-city outreach of any type without training and accountabilities. Feel free to show this thread to staff at Catholic Charities and get their (name removed by moderator)ut.

By the way; the homeless are very aware of the various people on the street. They expect shelter staff to make sure that neither they nor their homeless family members are placed at risk by letting any of the above other catagories of people be admitted to shelters.

Sorry, but there’s not enough information for anyone to know much of anything. Sounds like a homeless lady? Sitting on the ground, smoking cigarettes, and trying to hitch a ride also sounds like my college career. There’s far more information missing than there is known.

Right you are. Hence my statement, " I’m all in favor of people working with the homeless population at the level of their training and expertise."

Right again. The place you and I diverge is that I believe that any of our Catholic efforts, especially at the street level, need to be informed, prudent and have safety considerations built in. To do anything less is to function on sentimentality and to do a disservice to the clientele and the mission of the Church (and maybe get ourselves in a lot of hot water).

My primary concern and as I understand it, 1Ke’s concern, is the safety of the original poster. I think people on the CA forums are bright enough to take from this thread what they need.

I think that a middle ground can often be found between the two extremes.
Ie:EXTREME 1.Allowing anyone into your car.
EXTREME 2.“Referring them on” to someone else.Eg:hospital staff or police.

While it’s true some people on the streets with mental illness can have severe psychosis that could make them “dangerous”,the way to respond is with caution NOT with fear or stigma.
It’s equally true that MANY of the people have been “failed” by Hospital staff who display very uncaring attitudes towards them so in some instances they are looking for love or a hug from “everyday people” and not looking for another person to “fob them off” and call someone “qualified” to help them under the deluded perception that they are helping them.
This often doesn’t help them and just causes more of a societal seperation between them and every body else and adds to their loneliness and feelings of stigma.
As Catholics i believe we should love and help them,even if it’s challenging,and not “refer” them to someone else.

Often just by talking to someone,in an open public safe place,for a few minutes you can gage if they are approachable or if they are angry sounding etc.
I wouldn’t recommend driving a stranger somewhere but even then,there’s potentially little harm due to them being two women but my greater concern would be that a woman could be “working” with her male partner in some way.

 

[WilT]

I think that a middle ground can often be found between the two extremes.
Ie:EXTREME 1.Allowing anyone into your car.
EXTREME 2.“Referring them on” to someone else.Eg:hospital staff or police.

While it’s true some people on the streets with mental illness can have severe psychosis that could make them “dangerous”,the way to respond is with caution NOT with fear or stigma.
It’s equally true that MANY of the people have been “failed” by Hospital staff who display very uncaring attitudes towards them so in some instances they are looking for love or a hug from “everyday people” and not looking for another person to “fob them off” and call someone “qualified” to help them under the deluded perception that they are helping them.
This often doesn’t help them and just causes more of a societal seperation between them and every body else and adds to their loneliness and feelings of stigma.
As Catholics i believe we should love and help them,even if it’s challenging,and not “refer” them to someone else.

Often just by talking to someone,in an open public safe place,for a few minutes you can gage if they are approachable or if they are angry sounding etc.
I wouldn’t recommend driving a stranger somewhere but even then,there’s potentially little harm due to them being two women but my greater concern would be that a woman could be “working” with her male partner in some way.

yes. caution is good but not fear. Many are very nice and do need acknowledgement and care.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

If someone’s afraid if the poor, steer clear of them. Pretend not to see them if you aren’t ready to deal with them on a personal basis.

But at least help them even if it’s just a sterile check you write in a clean office with heat and running water. Or one thing we do, is sponsor a child in a Catholic mission; that’s another way to join with others to be Part of the Solution if you aren’t yet prepared to get “down and dirty” with Christianity.

And by the way I have nothing to say about any shortcoming in the OP. The OP was awesome afa I’m concerned.

They told me I was “mentally ill” because I had this urge to go out in the middle of the night and find homeless people and put them up in motels rooms – two nights because at 4 in the morning it’s almost check out time already. Did I fix their lives? No. Could I afford more than just a few times? No, really I couldn’t then but I felt like it had to be done to be in my repertoire of experience. Did they have one day and most of two nights of warmth and a bathroom? Yes.

But there are real dangers on the street, and helping someone who seems to be homeless is always a risk. You may lose your life, but you also may gain entrance into heaven. I didn’t care at the time because I was sure the spirit was leading me more obviously than any star in the east. Because I’m not an astrologer to notice the star, but I’ve been a “societal leper” and yes it is a risk but not a great one unless you’re stupid about it.

MS

 

[WilT]

If someone’s afraid if the poor, steer clear of them. Pretend not to see them if you aren’t ready to deal with them on a personal basis.

get “down and dirty” with Christianity.
MS

Get down and dirty with Christianity?..Nice.