Kylyssa Shay was homeless for over a year in her youth; it lead to her activism involving homelessness. She thinks, feels, and has opinions.

When I was homeless, I spent a lot of my time sleeping "in the rough," which is another way of saying outdoors. Many homed people assume the homeless don't use shelters because they're drug users (and drug use is against the rules) or refuse to follow some other aspect of the shelter's rules. But no, I was neither using drugs nor too defiant to obey the rules.

I've been asked why I didn't just stay in shelters. The issue is pretty complex, but here is my answer, my reasons for sleeping in the rough, and also some of the reasons I've seen others avoid shelters. Some of these might surprise you. I know I was shocked to discover a few of them myself.

Please keep in mind that not all facilities have all or even any of these downsides. Still, these are the things many homeless people have experienced at some facilities in the U.S. which may have caused them to later avoid using them at all. There are good ones out there, too. They can just be hard to find sometimes.

Note:

As someone who has worked in homeless shelters, I am very aware that the vast majority of these workers are good people who are doing their best. I am glad that these facilities exist to help people without homes. However, it would be an injustice to pretend that shelters in America are plentiful enough or that they're all safe enough, or free from other downsides.

photo by Beverly Lussier

19. No Pets Allowed

Trading faithful companionship for somewhere legal to sleep is not an option for some. Think about your family dog, the one you've loved for years who is a member of your family. Now imagine that you become homeless and all you have left of your old life is that faithful, lifetime friend. He is your only source of affection and companionship. Could you abandon him without a second thought?

Pets are usually not allowed into shelters, so their owners often choose to sleep outside with the only friends who haven't deserted them: their pets.

18. Denied Entry Due to Mental Illness

Some people are denied entry due to mental illness, even if caregivers have given them paperwork stating that they are not a danger to themselves or others.

Since most workers and volunteers are not trained to distinguish between violent criminals and harmless people with mental illnesses, the tendency is to be overly cautious and refuse anyone with any mental health issues entry at some (but thankfully not all) shelters. Workers and organizations cannot be blamed for being ill-equipped to handle mentally ill clients because they simply don't have the resources to train volunteers or workers.

17. Discrimination Against LGBTQ People

40% of homeless teens and youth identify as LGBT and often don't use shelters because many of those places, like the parents who discarded them, discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless,

"LGBT youth are also disproportionally homeless due to overt discrimination when seeking alternative housing – widespread discrimination in federally funded institutions frequently contributes to the growing rates of homelessness among LGBT youth. Once homeless, these youth experience greater physical and sexual exploitation than their heterosexual counterparts."

Shelters are often infested with lice or other parasites. Photo of a louse by Dr. Dennis D. Juranek.

16. Fear of Contracting Parasites like Lice, Scabies, Pubic Lice, or Bedbugs

No matter how clean a facility is kept, the danger of getting parasites there is still very high. Mind you, this is not the fault of staff or organizations running shelters, it is simply a hazard of having sleeping arrangements that hundreds of people cycle through; bedbugs are now even fairly common in high end hotels. Homeless people tend to carry a lot of parasites, likely because they tend to sleep in lots of different places. So if you sleep every night in a different bed that a long string of other people have slept in, or if you sleep too close to an ever-changing assortment of people, eventually you are bound to get head lice, pubic lice, or scabies, and it's hard as heck to get rid of parasites when you have no home.

Bedbugs are a biting parasite that can easily infest a bedroll, backpack, clothes, or other possessions. Homeless people don't want to infest the homes of people who give them a place to stay for the night or to bring bedbugs to work with them. Volunteers and employees also need to take precautions to avoid bringing bedbugs home with them.

The parasites commonly present in shelters were my second most important reason for avoiding them. I'm itching right now just thinking about the nasty things.

15. Hours of Operation Incompatible with Work Hours

Contrary to popular belief, many homeless people have jobs. Because check-in hours for shelters are often rigid and the process of waiting in line and checking in usually takes hours, many working poor cannot use them. Others work evening or night hours which don't allow them to get inside before curfew. People who work from nine to five usually can't use them, either, since by the time they get off work, it's usually too late for them to get in line for check-in.

Another reason some shelters are incompatible with employment is that they require people to attend AA or other drug abuse rehab classes, often held during normal work hours, every day or most days they use the facility, whether they have a drug or alcohol problem or not. Others require those who use their services to take rudimentary job skill classes or other life-skill classes during business hours even if employed and already well-educated on those topics.

By the time I had a regular job, I had decided to sleep outside exclusively, so this was not a problem for me.

Shelters attract predators. photo by Sanja Gjenero, SXC

14. Danger of Rape or Assault

Homeless shelters and the areas around them are often hunting grounds for human predators. Some of the craftier ones get jobs at the charities while most others just watch for individuals departing in the morning or arriving in the evening. It's not just rapists, either. Predators in search of "excitement" will track a lone person leaving a facility so they can beat him or harass him for fun.

Also, although there are usually attendants of some kind on watch, almost none of them are trained to deal with violent behavior, leaving users vulnerable. Volunteer workers honestly cannot be expected to put themselves in the sort of danger intervening in such situations requires, nor can they have eyes on the backs of their heads or keep watch over everyone. Lack of sufficient staffing is common and people can only do so much.

For me, this was the number one reason to avoid them. Once you get raped or assaulted in a shelter or because you were trailed after leaving one, you just don't want to try it again, no matter how hot or cold or rainy or otherwise unpleasant it is outside.

Criminals are well aware that police seldom take complaints from people without homes seriously. Many people avoid shelters because pretending to not be homeless (which means avoiding shelters, missions, and soup kitchens) is one of the most effective ways to avoid such predators.

13. Fear of Contracting Disease

Diseases spread easily in close quarters. There's always at least one person with a cough. One reason it's hard to fall asleep in a shelter is the almost endless coughing. Many of those with coughs have chronic illnesses or transmissible diseases. Tuberculosis is frighteningly common among people living on the street. When you may have to sleep out in the elements on any given night (there's no guarantee you'll get into a shelter every night), even the flu can be a life-threatening disease to contract.

If you know that many people are homeless due to ill health or chronic illnesses, you'll see why accommodations full of sick people pose an even greater risk to them.

12. An Invasive and Disrespectful Check-In Process

This answer has brought me a lot of flack, but even though it played only a minor part in my decision not to use shelters, I feel it is important to mention: The check-in process in some but not all of these places is sometimes humiliating and dehumanizing.

On more than one occasion, I was asked questions such as, "Do you have any sexual partners you could stay with?" as well as other questions about my sex life. One worker even said that I find a boyfriend to stay with, basically suggesting I exchange sexual favors for a place to sleep. Keep in mind that I, like most women homeless more than a few weeks, had already been the victim of sexual assault. It made me feel horrible, like I was less than a person and had nothing else to offer anyone.

Many shelters don't offer accommodations for the handicapped. photo by Craig Toron, SXC

11. Lack of Handicapped Accommodations

While I was waiting to talk to someone about volunteering at an associated soup kitchen, I was shocked to see someone turned away because he was in a wheelchair. Another person and I offered to pull his chair up the stairs and help him inside if he needed it, but they told us it had to do with insurance concerns and said that they were sorry but, no, he couldn't stay.

That was the first time I saw a handicapped person turned away from a homeless shelter but sadly, it was not the last. Many of these organizations make use of old buildings re-purposed to fit a bunch of beds. Sometimes their beds are located above the first floor and they have no elevators. Some don't have railings in the restrooms or ramps into the rooms or buildings either. While it is not the fault of those who run them, some facilities are unable to accommodate people in wheelchairs.

Regardless of what the Americans with Disabilities Act says, some places that provide temporary housing turn away people in wheelchairs or with other mobility limitations such as the need to use a walker or crutches to get around. While sometimes they will offer a hotel voucher to the disabled person, that doesn't always happen. Not every organization has the funds to do this and a shelter can get shut down if they break the rules. They truly don't want to turn away disabled people, but they may have no choice.

10. Drug Addictions

Yes, some people avoid shelters because of drug addictions—their own or others'.

Since many locations have signs insisting they are drug free zones, some drug users will avoid them. However, many drug users and dealers do not, making some of them hot spots of drug activity, and those frightened by drug related activity may come to avoid shelters because of this, quite reasonably fearing for their or their children's safety. Still others are themselves trying to get off drugs and being around other users makes it very difficult for them to do so, so they avoid staying there while trying to kick their drug or alcohol habits.

9. Separation of Family Members

This is a biggie and it's pretty horrible when you think about it: Most homeless shelters separate families.

Women can bring their pre-teen children into most women's facilities, but teenage male children (as young as 13) may be required to go to a men's shelter which they may not even get into. Can you imagine a mother leaving her young teenage son to sleep alone on the street without her protection while she sleeps inside? Most parents will not leave their children, so instead, the whole family sleeps in their car or outside.

Men and women usually cannot stay in the same place, so husbands and wives are separated, knowing their spouse might not get a bed somewhere else. These people are often elderly or disabled and depend on each other for safety and care. So again, most of them will forgo the use of temporary emergency housing so they can take care of each other.

Also, children cannot stay in the vast majority of men's shelters. This leaves single fathers in a very difficult spot, one that is not only heartbreaking but criminal. While some may say the children should just be taken away, the homelessness is usually temporary and the loss of a parent or parents will probably affect a child more deeply than a month or so living with insecurity and discomfort.

photo by Betta5, SXC

8. Some Service Dogs are Barred from Entry

Service dogs, other than seeing eye and hearing assistance dogs, are sometimes denied entry to homeless facilities. Mobility dogs (that help you stand or get into your wheelchair, assist you up stairs, etc.), dogs that provide assistance for mental conditions such as anxiety or agoraphobia, and other service dogs are even more often denied entry.

People frequently lose their own identification papers, often through no fault of their own, so it is no surprise that they often lose identification papers for their service animals. Even in the case of seeing eye and hearing assistance dogs, if the person has lost the dog's paperwork or doesn't have an official harness, the dog will not be allowed inside. Few people in that situation will abandon a service dog.

While it is perfectly understandable that facilities will not allow animals, especially those that are not service animals, it's also perfectly understandable that disabled people would not be willing to part with an animal that increases their ability to function, especially at the risk of having that animal die from exposure or get lost or stolen. Many people who rely on animals for independence and safety are unwilling to be separated from them for any reason.

7. Staff Assumptions about Drug Use and Criminality

While it was not often said aloud, many shelter employees and volunteers regard all people who need their services as drug addicts and criminals. To avoid being perceived as such, many avoid using those services.

When you are homeless, many people will automatically treat you as a criminal and a drug user. They are unable to comprehend that a person without a home may just be someone down on his or her luck without any wrongdoing on his or her part.

While I'm sure they mean well, many organizations and their employees or volunteers take it upon themselves to cure people of their sometimes non-existent addictions and criminal ways. Some put a lot of pressure on homeless people to attend alcohol and drug abuse counseling even if they are not alcohol or drug abusers.

I remember the smirks and questioning looks I got when I insisted I had no drug or alcohol abuse issues. One employee actually asked me, "Well, then, why are you so skinny?"

Forced participation in substance abuse counseling takes time away from job searches and current employment which the average person in such a situation cannot afford, causing most employed homeless people and those actively seeking employment to avoid shelters that require it.

6. Danger of Theft

While most homeless people are not thieves, a few of them are. It only takes one to spoil it for everyone else. When you have no home, your little bit of stuff is precious; it's all you have.

While I was not robbed inside a shelter, I heard stories from many who were. They stopped using shelters to protect their few meager possessions from theft.

Shoes are among the most commonly stolen items. Foot care is incredibly important and the loss of your only pair of shoes can be life-threatening. It can also be extremely difficult to replace them if they get stolen.

5. Religious Differences

Most shelters and kitchens have some sort of religious service people are required to sit through to eat or sleep there. I'm an atheist, but this didn't bother me much. Frankly, I was pleased to be in a climate-controlled room and sitting at rest somewhere without fear of getting harassed by gangs or police, no matter what I had to pretend to believe. It didn't even bother me that I had to give lip-service to the notion that I was being punished by God for being a bad person.

However, some people object to this, often people with strong religious beliefs of their own who believe they already have a good relationship with God. I've met a fair number of people unwilling to sit through the services and pretend their situation is a just punishment from God for being a terrible person. Very religious people might get extremely offended when someone looks down on them and tells them they don't have a good enough relationship with Jesus to deserve a place to live.

4. Lack of Privacy and Fear of Crowds

Many homed people would argue that people who are down on their luck are not deserving of privacy. However, the complete lack of privacy can be especially hard on people with mental disorders that make them fear crowds. I encountered several crowd-phobic people who could not be convinced to use a homeless facility even though they were sickly and ill-suited to outdoor sleeping even when the weather was good.

Deserving of privacy or not, people with mental illnesses that cause a fear of crowds or even a fear of a moderate number of people packed into close quarters are genuinely terrified of such conditions, even in the safest of circumstances.

Charities understandably try to make the most of their square footage by squeezing as many beds into their facility as possible. Unfortunately, that can make them frightening to people with PTSD, claustrophobia, social anxiety, or fear of crowds.

3. Lack of Control

By the time a person is on the street, his or her life is usually already careening out of control. That feeling can be enhanced by the regimented check-in times, eating, prayer, sleep times, and check-out in a shelter. Some people stay out-of-doors so they can feel like they have some vestige of control over their own lives.

photo by Xfigpower

2. Rules That Unfairly Endanger Disabled Individuals

Walkers, crutches, and canes are sometimes taken away from users at some organizations during check-in. Sometimes, even appliances such as leg braces are taken away for "safe keeping." While I can understand that the danger of theft is very real, and that some people who are mentally ill might hit people with their crutches, braces, or walkers, it is frightening to be left without mobility in a strange place. So some who have need of medical appliances or mobility assisting devices forgo the use of homeless facilities.

1. Lack of Available Beds

There is not enough safe, legal shelter for everyone. No matter how many people choose not to use them, there are still not nearly enough beds available for those who would like to sleep indoors despite the risks involved.

In most cities in the US, there's space for less than 25% of the homeless people living in that city. In some cities, there is room for less than 5% of their homeless population.

Additionally, many cities have made ordinances limiting the number of people a charity may serve. In some, they may not provide beds for more than 20 people! Additionally, some cities have created ordinances barring services from being located in or near the downtown area (where the churches and other organizations likely to provide such services are most likely to own property) or laws preventing two shelters from being within a certain distance of each other.

This is why lines to check in form so early in the day and staff is often so quick to deny entry to people for the most trivial of reasons. This may be why some facilities have made their requirements for use so restrictive. In fact, some of them have made their requirements so strict that, in some cases and despite a long line of people trying to get a place to sleep, they don't even fill the number of beds they have.

In my opinion, the ordinances are a bigger issue than the lack of funding because the ordinances have prevented people with funding from opening or expanding existing shelters. What you can do about it is find out what your local laws are regarding homeless facilities and write to your congresspeople and representatives as well as donating to local charities and helping to fund new ones.

Are Current Shelters Perfectly Adequate to Serve the Unhomed Population?

Do you think that current shelters are sufficient in number, quality, and dignity to serve the needs of the American homeless population?

Yes Comments

Kylyssa Shay : While this comment by Camden Reed is off-topic, I decided to allow it to be published to help illustrate how misguided religious people can interfere with helping homeless people while acting as if their efforts to stop the spread of information are somehow divinely inspired. Because such comments are rarely civil, I'd like to take the opportunity to publish those that aren't profanity-stuffed so that others can see that such attitudes really do exist.

Dear Camden Reed,

What gives you the idea that Jesus wants you to stop writers from spreading information about what homeless people experience and how they can escape homelessness by "politely" asking them to stop thinking and to stop trying to find solutions?

The Jesus my Christian friends and family members worship is a lot different from your Jesus if yours actually did put you on a quest to silence voices that make you feel uncomfortable. My friends' and family members' Jesus is all about speaking with honesty, helping poor people, and reducing suffering, so they are in full support of my activism. Why don't you tell us about your Jesus and why He doesn't want me to think or help other people with their struggles and explain why you think He's better than the Jesus my loved ones worship?

By the way, I only published the comment from this particular sock puppet. Your IP address always gives you away when you try to pretend you're more than one person.

While this comment by Camden Reed is off-topic, I decided to allow it to be published to help illustrate how misguided religious people can interfere with helping homeless people while acting as if their efforts to stop the spread of information are somehow divinely inspired. Because such comments are rarely civil, I'd like to take the opportunity to publish those that aren't profanity-stuffed so that others can see that such attitudes really do exist. Dear Camden Reed, What gives you the idea that Jesus wants you to stop writers from spreading information about what homeless people experience and how they can escape homelessness by "politely" asking them to stop thinking and to stop trying to find solutions? The Jesus my Christian friends and family members worship is a lot different from your Jesus if yours actually did put you on a quest to silence voices that make you feel uncomfortable. My friends' and family members' Jesus is all about speaking with honesty, helping poor people, and reducing suffering, so they are in full support of my activism. Why don't you tell us about your Jesus and why He doesn't want me to think or help other people with their struggles and explain why you think He's better than the Jesus my loved ones worship? By the way, I only published the comment from this particular sock puppet. Your IP address always gives you away when you try to pretend you're more than one person. Camden Reed: Hi, my name is Camden Reed, and I'm a high-schooler, and I'm reading this article to help strengthen my essay on homelessness. I know this might be the last thing you would want to read, but I would feel guilty if I didn't take an opportunity to express Jesus with you! Jesus saved my life a while back, and I know what it feels like to be without him. In my opinion, no one should ever go their life separated from God. I understand what you may be thinking. "Why is this Christian imposing his beliefs on me?" or "Why can't I just live my life and you live yours?" you might ask. Well, it's the role of the Christian to share the good news of Jesus Christ to "all 4 corners of the Earth". I know it's hard to be an atheist when people like me are always ranting about God, but I think (from former-atheist to atheist) every atheist fears that there actually is a God. It's natural. Atheists try to make everything in the world make sense, but they can't. I sure couldn't...

God is on the move, and He's reaching out to you. If you accept Jesus into your heart, you will never go through your struggles, alone. God will never stop reaching out to you, but don't wait until later to become a believer in Christ. If you choose Christ, today, you'll have one less thing to think about, tomorrow! I believe God is calling you, and as a former-atheist, I think the best advice I can give you is to stop trying to make sense of everything.

“I am not a genius, I am just curious. I ask many questions. and when the answer is simple, then God is answering.”

― Albert Einstein

“But maybe it's what the world needs. A little less sense, and a little more faith.”

― Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Hi, my name is Camden Reed, and I'm a high-schooler, and I'm reading this article to help strengthen my essay on homelessness. I know this might be the last thing you would want to read, but I would feel guilty if I didn't take an opportunity to express Jesus with you! Jesus saved my life a while back, and I know what it feels like to be without him. In my opinion, no one should ever go their life separated from God. I understand what you may be thinking. "Why is this Christian imposing his beliefs on me?" or "Why can't I just live my life and you live yours?" you might ask. Well, it's the role of the Christian to share the good news of Jesus Christ to "all 4 corners of the Earth". I know it's hard to be an atheist when people like me are always ranting about God, but I think (from former-atheist to atheist) every atheist fears that there actually is a God. It's natural. Atheists try to make everything in the world make sense, but they can't. I sure couldn't... God is on the move, and He's reaching out to you. If you accept Jesus into your heart, you will never go through your struggles, alone. God will never stop reaching out to you, but don't wait until later to become a believer in Christ. If you choose Christ, today, you'll have one less thing to think about, tomorrow! I believe God is calling you, and as a former-atheist, I think the best advice I can give you is to stop trying to make sense of everything. “I am not a genius, I am just curious. I ask many questions. and when the answer is simple, then God is answering.” ― Albert Einstein “But maybe it's what the world needs. A little less sense, and a little more faith.” ― Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Kylyssa Shay: I'm delighted if the information I have provided helps you in any way, even if it just helps you to feel better about the difficulties you are facing.

The one thing you can do that will give you the greatest possibility of safety is to hang onto your car if you have one. If you don't have a car, find someone you trust who is also homeless to exchange sleeping watches with you.

I'm delighted if the information I have provided helps you in any way, even if it just helps you to feel better about the difficulties you are facing. The one thing you can do that will give you the greatest possibility of safety is to hang onto your car if you have one. If you don't have a car, find someone you trust who is also homeless to exchange sleeping watches with you. Richard Sittig : I got off-track. What I wanted to say is thank you for posting these articles, they are helping me plan ahead and brought up several things I didn't even consider! I'm terrified for the future but I'm doing what I can despite my own issues to try and ensure I'm not on the streets longer than a month, and your work has helped build the foundation of which I will launch from when that time comes. Thank you!

I got off-track. What I wanted to say is thank you for posting these articles, they are helping me plan ahead and brought up several things I didn't even consider! I'm terrified for the future but I'm doing what I can despite my own issues to try and ensure I'm not on the streets longer than a month, and your work has helped build the foundation of which I will launch from when that time comes. Thank you! Richard Sittig : I got off-track. What I wanted to say is thank you for posting these articles, they are helping me plan ahead and brought up several things I didn't even consider! I'm terrified for the future but I'm doing what I can despite my own issues to try and ensure I'm not on the streets longer than a month, and your work has helped build the foundation of which I will launch from when that time comes. Thank you!

I got off-track. What I wanted to say is thank you for posting these articles, they are helping me plan ahead and brought up several things I didn't even consider! I'm terrified for the future but I'm doing what I can despite my own issues to try and ensure I'm not on the streets longer than a month, and your work has helped build the foundation of which I will launch from when that time comes. Thank you! Richard: @Kylyssa Heck, I wish there were more people like you here in Missouri. I started out earlier reading your exhaustive article on what to buy if you are/for the homeless, and wound up here because I had concerns about the shelters especially in my area because it seems my state has some of the worst programs and shelters around. I could be wrong. If you hadn't already guessed, I'm essentially homeless myself; I'll be out on the streets at the end of the month (my birthday, no less. Joy :/). I had a turn of bad luck with former roommates stealing everything I had when I went on a temp work job trip doing landscaping. I sent them most of the money I was making to work on the house which needed a LOT of work, and then come to find out I go home and every single thing was gone except for a couple tore up couches and useless furniture. No idea whatever happened to these guys but it left me with next to nothing and I had already moved there because I lost my landscaping job of 12 years due to the owner selling the business. So yea, I'm down in the dumps.

I got off-track. What I wanted to say is thank you for posting these articles, they are helping me plan ahead and brought up several things I didn't even consider! I'm terrified for the future but I'm doing what I can despite my own issues to try and ensure I'm not on the streets longer than a month, and your work has helped build the foundation of which I will launch from when that time comes. Thank you!

@Kylyssa Heck, I wish there were more people like you here in Missouri. I started out earlier reading your exhaustive article on what to buy if you are/for the homeless, and wound up here because I had concerns about the shelters especially in my area because it seems my state has some of the worst programs and shelters around. I could be wrong. If you hadn't already guessed, I'm essentially homeless myself; I'll be out on the streets at the end of the month (my birthday, no less. Joy :/). I had a turn of bad luck with former roommates stealing everything I had when I went on a temp work job trip doing landscaping. I sent them most of the money I was making to work on the house which needed a LOT of work, and then come to find out I go home and every single thing was gone except for a couple tore up couches and useless furniture. No idea whatever happened to these guys but it left me with next to nothing and I had already moved there because I lost my landscaping job of 12 years due to the owner selling the business. So yea, I'm down in the dumps. I got off-track. What I wanted to say is thank you for posting these articles, they are helping me plan ahead and brought up several things I didn't even consider! I'm terrified for the future but I'm doing what I can despite my own issues to try and ensure I'm not on the streets longer than a month, and your work has helped build the foundation of which I will launch from when that time comes. Thank you! Thomas: When I grow up I hope that will be able to help all the homeless people by making a place that they might like to be.

When I grow up I hope that will be able to help all the homeless people by making a place that they might like to be. Kylyssa Shay : Please explain how it would benefit, say, your own mother, if your father passed away and she became too ill to work and support herself for you to practice tough love and let her die on the street as older people tend to do when ill? Would you just sadly say, oh, she made her bed, now she has to lie in it, when you found out she'd been beaten and raped as most women suffering homelessness are? Because that is exactly what you are advocating for. You are advocating for the abandonment and suffering of people who are out of their depths and unable to help themselves.

Please explain how it would benefit, say, your own mother, if your father passed away and she became too ill to work and support herself for you to practice tough love and let her die on the street as older people tend to do when ill? Would you just sadly say, oh, she made her bed, now she has to lie in it, when you found out she'd been beaten and raped as most women suffering homelessness are? Because that is exactly what you are advocating for. You are advocating for the abandonment and suffering of people who are out of their depths and unable to help themselves. Guess Who: I think people are right, enough is enough. Tough love is the key to ending homelessness. Yeah, sure it sucks, but if you're homeless cuz of choices in your life that u made then you need to suffer the consequences and if that means being homeless then that means being homeless. Don't get me wrong it's not that I have no compassion, I do but I do believe that in order for you to turn your life around you need to suffer all consequences for the choices in life that you make. Tough love is the key whether it's homelessness or addiction. God helps those who help themselves..

I think people are right, enough is enough. Tough love is the key to ending homelessness. Yeah, sure it sucks, but if you're homeless cuz of choices in your life that u made then you need to suffer the consequences and if that means being homeless then that means being homeless. Don't get me wrong it's not that I have no compassion, I do but I do believe that in order for you to turn your life around you need to suffer all consequences for the choices in life that you make. Tough love is the key whether it's homelessness or addiction. God helps those who help themselves.. Kylyssa Shay : You and I both know what I've said on this page is true. I'm actually glad people make comments like Irrelevant's because many decent people just don't comprehend the level of hatred some individuals have towards people who are homeless. There's frequently little logic normal people can see in anything people warped by hatred say.

You and I both know what I've said on this page is true. I'm actually glad people make comments like Irrelevant's because many decent people just don't comprehend the level of hatred some individuals have towards people who are homeless. There's frequently little logic normal people can see in anything people warped by hatred say. The Truth Speaks: This comment is for Irrelevant:

In your comment of 2 years ago, you said that a lot of the stories you've read or heard about the shelters are fabricated,, & HOW THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO USE ONE!!



Rhoda: Many people in homeless shelters are coerced into saying that they have a "disability" solely to be able to receive aid. This is true in North Carolina and in Tennessee. I was told "if you do not sign this form saying that you have a disability, we will not help you at the Bethesda Center in North Carolina and at the Bread Of Life Center in Tennessee.

This comment is for Irrelevant: In your comment of 2 years ago, you said that a lot of the stories you've read or heard about the shelters are fabricated,, & HOW THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO USE ONE!! Many people in homeless shelters are coerced into saying that they have a "disability" solely to be able to receive aid. This is true in North Carolina and in Tennessee. I was told "if you do not sign this form saying that you have a disability, we will not help you at the Bethesda Center in North Carolina and at the Bread Of Life Center in Tennessee. Kylyssa Shay : It's also actually cheaper. It costs less to house a person than to maintain a single cot in most homeless shelters. It's safer, cleaner, healthier, and allows for the growth of self-esteem and confidence. It aids in getting more work hours or regaining employment if the person is unemployed.

But folks don't want the "undeserving poor" to get things they don't feel they are human enough to have.They'd rather have more money spent keeping people in lousy conditions on the theory that if homelessness sucks enough, people will escape it. They don't realize that homelessness already sucks immensely and if people saw the way out, they'd take it.

Most of the folks I've helped find homes have done brilliantly all on their own once the money issue has been solved. A huge percentage are on the streets for losing everything to medical bills or illness (their own or a dependent's), getting kicked out for being gay, being disabled Veterans the government refuses to help, working at exploitative businesses that do not pay living wages, or due to losing a job from downsizing

It's also actually cheaper. It costs less to house a person than to maintain a single cot in most homeless shelters. It's safer, cleaner, healthier, and allows for the growth of self-esteem and confidence. It aids in getting more work hours or regaining employment if the person is unemployed. But folks don't want the "undeserving poor" to get things they don't feel they are human enough to have.They'd rather have more money spent keeping people in lousy conditions on the theory that if homelessness sucks enough, people will escape it. They don't realize that homelessness already sucks immensely and if people saw the way out, they'd take it. Most of the folks I've helped find homes have done brilliantly all on their own once the money issue has been solved. A huge percentage are on the streets for losing everything to medical bills or illness (their own or a dependent's), getting kicked out for being gay, being disabled Veterans the government refuses to help, working at exploitative businesses that do not pay living wages, or due to losing a job from downsizing Speth: People need homes and the support to learn or remember how to live in them. Providing those homes, and the rent to enable keeping them would be an infinitely better solution.

People need homes and the support to learn or remember how to live in them. Providing those homes, and the rent to enable keeping them would be an infinitely better solution. Thomas: Yes, the current housing of homeless people is fine. I'll let the author of this article in on a little secret. The accommodations are not supposed to be pleasant, easy to deal with or anywhere on par with a person's actual home. That might encourage them to want to stay in the homeless shelter, rather than re-integrate into regular society with the rest of us. Homeless shelters are not places where people should keep coming back to again and again. Personally, I think that people should be banned from homeless shelters after staying for more than a month. If you can't rebound by then, you're not trying hard enough!!!!!!

Yes, the current housing of homeless people is fine. I'll let the author of this article in on a little secret. The accommodations are not supposed to be pleasant, easy to deal with or anywhere on par with a person's actual home. That might encourage them to want to stay in the homeless shelter, rather than re-integrate into regular society with the rest of us. Homeless shelters are not places where people should keep coming back to again and again. Personally, I think that people should be banned from homeless shelters after staying for more than a month. If you can't rebound by then, you're not trying hard enough!!!!!! Irrelevant : A lot of what I've read on here about why people don't stay in shelters are fabricated. And secondly, In Livermore there aren't any shelters for women, unless you have a big fat maggot, then u might get priority to be on the waiting list.

A lot of what I've read on here about why people don't stay in shelters are fabricated. And secondly, In Livermore there aren't any shelters for women, unless you have a big fat maggot, then u might get priority to be on the waiting list. Anonymous: Yes, there should be 24 hour services for homeless. However, some of the churches and shelters are adding baking soda to the clients food. Which causes them to not only get full immediately, but causes bloating and high blood pressure. Families are also separated in some situations, due to age. MUCH CORRUPTION takes place through that of circles including staff and advocates slowing you down or stopping you from getting out of these shelters. They assign people to fraternize with family members that are adulthood. They need more professional staff and advocates. These people are unprofessional and disrespect the homeless clients. The clients do not receive much help, staff etc.keep much of the donated items themselves and they do not drive the clients for appointments unless your one of the few that are favored. I have had numerous problems in the shelter. The workers are extremely corrupt. Yes, they need more shelters, but they need investigators on the staff/advocates.

Yes, there should be 24 hour services for homeless. However, some of the churches and shelters are adding baking soda to the clients food. Which causes them to not only get full immediately, but causes bloating and high blood pressure. Families are also separated in some situations, due to age. MUCH CORRUPTION takes place through that of circles including staff and advocates slowing you down or stopping you from getting out of these shelters. They assign people to fraternize with family members that are adulthood. They need more professional staff and advocates. These people are unprofessional and disrespect the homeless clients. The clients do not receive much help, staff etc.keep much of the donated items themselves and they do not drive the clients for appointments unless your one of the few that are favored. I have had numerous problems in the shelter. The workers are extremely corrupt. Yes, they need more shelters, but they need investigators on the staff/advocates. Kylyssa Shay : @anonymous: What a rare and wonderful shelter you manage; you have no idea what a good organization you are in charge of if you think it is typical. You should feel extremely proud to work where you do as your shelter displays a degree of excellence uncommon in American homeless shelters. My "irrational" ideas about homeless shelters came from both being homeless once upon a time and using assorted shelters across the US and volunteering in them later when I was in much better circumstances. Some of the things you mention are downright illegal in some cities. Some American cities limit homeless shelters to a certain number of beds far less than 400. A shelter that is allowed to provide beds outside of the night-time hours is extremely rare.Please leave a link to your shelter's information page and I will be sure to promote it in the hopes it will help donations to an excellent homeless shelter. I'm working on a page full of good American homeless shelters to give them the credit that is due and to illustrate how it ought to be done.Just ask the people you serve if your homeless shelter is typical of shelters they've stayed in. I'll bet your shelter is the best any of them have ever found or heard of. I'm not sure how personal experiences count as irrational but I'll bet most of your clients have had similar "irrational" personal experiences in other shelters. Especially ask the lgbtq people you serve if they've ever experienced discrimination or violence outside of or inside of other shelters. You have no idea of what a good job you are doing in comparison to what's out there.

@anonymous: What a rare and wonderful shelter you manage; you have no idea what a good organization you are in charge of if you think it is typical. You should feel extremely proud to work where you do as your shelter displays a degree of excellence uncommon in American homeless shelters. My "irrational" ideas about homeless shelters came from both being homeless once upon a time and using assorted shelters across the US and volunteering in them later when I was in much better circumstances. Some of the things you mention are downright illegal in some cities. Some American cities limit homeless shelters to a certain number of beds far less than 400. A shelter that is allowed to provide beds outside of the night-time hours is extremely rare.Please leave a link to your shelter's information page and I will be sure to promote it in the hopes it will help donations to an excellent homeless shelter. I'm working on a page full of good American homeless shelters to give them the credit that is due and to illustrate how it ought to be done.Just ask the people you serve if your homeless shelter is typical of shelters they've stayed in. I'll bet your shelter is the best any of them have ever found or heard of. I'm not sure how personal experiences count as irrational but I'll bet most of your clients have had similar "irrational" personal experiences in other shelters. Especially ask the lgbtq people you serve if they've ever experienced discrimination or violence outside of or inside of other shelters. You have no idea of what a good job you are doing in comparison to what's out there. Anonymous: I have worked at a homeless shelter for many years and can say this person has irrational ideas about homeless shelters. I'm sure there are people who shouldn't be working in a shelter because they lack the compassion needed. We serve roughly 400 a night in a clean, safe environment. We have zero tolerance for any aggressive behavior. We make accommodations for physically challenged. We don't discriminate for any reason. We make accommodations for those working third shift to sleep during the day even though we are a night shelter only. We allow people who are impaired due to drugs and alcohol to stay as long as they behave. We have an extremely clean facility, no bug infestation. Our intake process is very respectful. We always strive to treat our guest with respect and dignity.

I have worked at a homeless shelter for many years and can say this person has irrational ideas about homeless shelters. I'm sure there are people who shouldn't be working in a shelter because they lack the compassion needed. We serve roughly 400 a night in a clean, safe environment. We have zero tolerance for any aggressive behavior. We make accommodations for physically challenged. We don't discriminate for any reason. We make accommodations for those working third shift to sleep during the day even though we are a night shelter only. We allow people who are impaired due to drugs and alcohol to stay as long as they behave. We have an extremely clean facility, no bug infestation. Our intake process is very respectful. We always strive to treat our guest with respect and dignity. Kylyssa Shay : @kadymitchell: Many people who are poor now had children when they were not. Many upper-middle class people such as yourself think it is impossible to lose a job or to have a child or spouse get ill or injured enough to wipe out their savings but they are wrong; insurance does not cover what you think it does. Unless people have a few million dollars in the bank there's really no way to be sure they will always have money. That is how people such as yourself end up homeless. You are one major illness or accident from homelessness now or in the future unless you have at least a million dollars in the bank. Everyone is very shocked when it happens to them, especially the folks such as yourself who think poverty equals moral bankruptcy. I hope you never face the situation but the only way many people dead set on the idea that poverty equals being a bad and stupid person is when they experience it themselves. If an upper-middle class family becomes poor after they have children, what do you suggest be done with those children? It isn't as if God makes the children "didn't happen" or magically whisks them off to a rich family when a spouse dies or leaves, or if a child or parent gets so ill or injured that savings get wiped out, or when jobs get lost when the jobs cease to exist. Would you give up your children if you suddenly became poor?The truth is that many families do not step up. They believe poverty equals stupidity and moral bankruptcy. They tell even their sick, elderly parents, "you made your bed, now lie in it" after those parents did things like putting them through college, giving them the down payments on their first houses, and providing free childcare to their children. In working with homeless people, I encountered very few people who had children after they were poor and many who had children before illness, tragedy, or a rotten economy struck. Most were earning middle-class or upper-middle-class wages just like the folks you think should be allowed to have children when they chose to have children. They were just like you before really rotten stuff happened in their lives- no better, no worse.

@kadymitchell: Many people who are poor now had children when they were not. Many upper-middle class people such as yourself think it is impossible to lose a job or to have a child or spouse get ill or injured enough to wipe out their savings but they are wrong; insurance does not cover what you think it does. Unless people have a few million dollars in the bank there's really no way to be sure they will always have money. That is how people such as yourself end up homeless. You are one major illness or accident from homelessness now or in the future unless you have at least a million dollars in the bank. Everyone is very shocked when it happens to them, especially the folks such as yourself who think poverty equals moral bankruptcy. I hope you never face the situation but the only way many people dead set on the idea that poverty equals being a bad and stupid person is when they experience it themselves. If an upper-middle class family becomes poor after they have children, what do you suggest be done with those children? It isn't as if God makes the children "didn't happen" or magically whisks them off to a rich family when a spouse dies or leaves, or if a child or parent gets so ill or injured that savings get wiped out, or when jobs get lost when the jobs cease to exist. Would you give up your children if you suddenly became poor?The truth is that many families do not step up. They believe poverty equals stupidity and moral bankruptcy. They tell even their sick, elderly parents, "you made your bed, now lie in it" after those parents did things like putting them through college, giving them the down payments on their first houses, and providing free childcare to their children. In working with homeless people, I encountered very few people who had children after they were poor and many who had children before illness, tragedy, or a rotten economy struck. Most were earning middle-class or upper-middle-class wages just like the folks you think should be allowed to have children when they chose to have children. They were just like you before really rotten stuff happened in their lives- no better, no worse. Kadymitchell: Yes, no matter how many are built there will never be enough...so many people have just given up. Families have to stick together and help one another. People have to learn if you cannot afford to have children, then don't because it's not the governments responsibility to raise them.

Yes, no matter how many are built there will never be enough...so many people have just given up. Families have to stick together and help one another. People have to learn if you cannot afford to have children, then don't because it's not the governments responsibility to raise them. Anonymous: No. God says to help those in need. Also you never know when that stranger comes along in need of a meal or a warm coat. Could be Jesus in disguise

No. God says to help those in need. Also you never know when that stranger comes along in need of a meal or a warm coat. Could be Jesus in disguise Anonymous: I say that, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, and all you people in homeless shelters treat all the homeless people very, very badly it just needs to stop people are dying everywhere because all of you workers in homeless shelters are selfish, I may be a 16 Year old but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I say that, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, and all you people in homeless shelters treat all the homeless people very, very badly it just needs to stop people are dying everywhere because all of you workers in homeless shelters are selfish, I may be a 16 Year old but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Mannasugar : Shelters treat people very badly, and they do this to discourage people from wanting a free ride.

Shelters treat people very badly, and they do this to discourage people from wanting a free ride. Anonymous: Esvoytko is a man after my own heart. There is no reason why someone, especially a family, should be homeless. What a disgrace. Whatever happened to the common good? I live in NYC and there are thousands of working families who are homeless. This is a very complex problem and only a person with pathology problems would prefer panhandling to permanent shelter. No wonder we are in this situation. Public policies must address the social and economic issues that creates this problem instead of focusing on a few miscreants and punishing those who really need help.

Esvoytko is a man after my own heart. There is no reason why someone, especially a family, should be homeless. What a disgrace. Whatever happened to the common good? I live in NYC and there are thousands of working families who are homeless. This is a very complex problem and only a person with pathology problems would prefer panhandling to permanent shelter. No wonder we are in this situation. Public policies must address the social and economic issues that creates this problem instead of focusing on a few miscreants and punishing those who really need help. Mowug1776 : S ome people have given up hope completely. I myself at times have as well the problem is not that there's enough beds find that the American people have lost their love for each other we are too greedy to see that we should wait and help others out there for buying the brand-new Mercedes-Benz that we may not be able to afford in a couple months. Also that excuse could also be put out because they don't want to help themselves I have started to help out at a mission. I find that many of them may have even shows the lifestyle in actuality at the mission there is one man that comes in who actually is a real estate investor and quite frankly because of his sorrows drains himself to the point that he himself is homeless. He happens to be a veteran Delta force I believe if we can help the road may be harder than he may have a will to change. What we need is more family helping family.

ome people have given up hope completely. I myself at times have as well the problem is not that there's enough beds find that the American people have lost their love for each other we are too greedy to see that we should wait and help others out there for buying the brand-new Mercedes-Benz that we may not be able to afford in a couple months. Also that excuse could also be put out because they don't want to help themselves I have started to help out at a mission. I find that many of them may have even shows the lifestyle in actuality at the mission there is one man that comes in who actually is a real estate investor and quite frankly because of his sorrows drains himself to the point that he himself is homeless. He happens to be a veteran Delta force I believe if we can help the road may be harder than he may have a will to change. What we need is more family helping family. Kylyssa Shay : Math alone proves that more than 10% of homeless people successfully re-integrate into society because otherwise, we'd be overrun with tens of millions of homeless people! There are far more formerly homeless people than homeless people living in America. Over 80% of Americans who experience homelessness get into homes and do not experience homelessness again. Math alone also shows us that there are not enough homeless shelters. When there are more homeless people than beds, there will be homeless people who can't use them no matter how much they might want to. I don't know if you've driven past any homeless shelters lately but here in Grand Rapids the lines for them wrap around the buildings. The number of shelters and beds also keeps decreasing all while the number of homeless people increases. Math also shows us that some people will inevitably be left without jobs (and become likely to become homeless) when the number of adults in our country exceeds the number of jobs that exist. That's not even taking into account the number of jobs out there that are too part-time to live on.Over a period of about eighteen years I took in seventeen homeless teens and young adults, three couples, a man in his fifties and a woman in her sixties. Out of those twenty-five people, twenty-one succeeded in re-integrating into society. That's around the typical 80% mark. Perhaps you are having such a terrible success rate because you are focusing on panhandlers and chronically homeless folks? And, since you gave an anecdote about a couple refusing to stay with you because you separated them, you just backed up one of the reasons I listed.I'm secure in the knowledge that what I say here on this page about homeless shelters is true. I've personally witnessed most of these problems and, on occasion, I had to enforce some of these policies I disagree with while volunteering in shelters. I've learned of the other issues from other volunteers and from homeless and formerly homeless people.

Math alone proves that more than 10% of homeless people successfully re-integrate into society because otherwise, we'd be overrun with tens of millions of homeless people! There are far more formerly homeless people than homeless people living in America. Over 80% of Americans who experience homelessness get into homes and do not experience homelessness again. Math alone also shows us that there are not enough homeless shelters. When there are more homeless people than beds, there will be homeless people who can't use them no matter how much they might want to. I don't know if you've driven past any homeless shelters lately but here in Grand Rapids the lines for them wrap around the buildings. The number of shelters and beds also keeps decreasing all while the number of homeless people increases. Math also shows us that some people will inevitably be left without jobs (and become likely to become homeless) when the number of adults in our country exceeds the number of jobs that exist. That's not even taking into account the number of jobs out there that are too part-time to live on.Over a period of about eighteen years I took in seventeen homeless teens and young adults, three couples, a man in his fifties and a woman in her sixties. Out of those twenty-five people, twenty-one succeeded in re-integrating into society. That's around the typical 80% mark. Perhaps you are having such a terrible success rate because you are focusing on panhandlers and chronically homeless folks? And, since you gave an anecdote about a couple refusing to stay with you because you separated them, you just backed up one of the reasons I listed.I'm secure in the knowledge that what I say here on this page about homeless shelters is true. I've personally witnessed most of these problems and, on occasion, I had to enforce some of these policies I disagree with while volunteering in shelters. I've learned of the other issues from other volunteers and from homeless and formerly homeless people. ClifRad: Yes. I work with the homeless and I've had over 100 live in my house with my family over the last ten years. They were right off the street.Very few want to get back into the mainstream. Probably only 10% I've dealt with. It is way too easy to make it on the street with pan handling, feeding programs, food cards, SSI, state programs, hotel vouchers...And the reasons you gave for them not using shelter is bogus. They are most generally rebellious and anti-social, that's is a great generalization. Like I said 10%.We had a couple, rather than be at our house where couldn't sleep with one another in there on room, choose an outhouse in town. Go figure.They need help and that help needs to given rightly. You work you eat. You want to play the game your on your own.

Yes. I work with the homeless and I've had over 100 live in my house with my family over the last ten years. They were right off the street.Very few want to get back into the mainstream. Probably only 10% I've dealt with. It is way too easy to make it on the street with pan handling, feeding programs, food cards, SSI, state programs, hotel vouchers...And the reasons you gave for them not using shelter is bogus. They are most generally rebellious and anti-social, that's is a great generalization. Like I said 10%.We had a couple, rather than be at our house where couldn't sleep with one another in there on room, choose an outhouse in town. Go figure.They need help and that help needs to given rightly. You work you eat. You want to play the game your on your own. Donnette Davis : I'm not in USA so I am not qualified to comment, but here in SA there are very few shelters.. in fact I cannot even think of one in the city in which I live - and it is the State Capital!

I'm not in USA so I am not qualified to comment, but here in SA there are very few shelters.. in fact I cannot even think of one in the city in which I live - and it is the State Capital! Tropicalmonsoon1 : Well, I don't live in the USA, but here in New Zealand you don't see homeless people having to sleep on the streets. Except for the famous ones!

: Well, I don't live in the USA, but here in New Zealand you don't see homeless people having to sleep on the streets. Except for the famous ones! FuzziesFriend : "The poor, ye shall always have" No matter what's done, it'll never be enough.

"The poor, ye shall always have" No matter what's done, it'll never be enough. Ghandisbrothercarl: I understand why people always defer to the "starving people in Africa have it worse" line when they hear a fellow American complaining about anything regarding their living conditions, but I swear (rather than coming from compassion and consideration) it actually contributes to treating homeless and down-on-their-luck types heartlessly, and perpetuating the ignorance of the considerations you've just listed.

I understand why people always defer to the "starving people in Africa have it worse" line when they hear a fellow American complaining about anything regarding their living conditions, but I swear (rather than coming from compassion and consideration) it actually contributes to treating homeless and down-on-their-luck types heartlessly, and perpetuating the ignorance of the considerations you've just listed. MargoPArrowsmith: I worked for a while on Saturdays doing intakes in the local state mental hospital. The men who came in without a discharge home would be discharged 'to the street' but they wouldn't do that with women. The doctors would keep them there sometimes for months, just because they had no place to go. So they would discharge crazy men and sane(r) women would be kept there as an involuntary homeless shelter.

I worked for a while on Saturdays doing intakes in the local state mental hospital. The men who came in without a discharge home would be discharged 'to the street' but they wouldn't do that with women. The doctors would keep them there sometimes for months, just because they had no place to go. So they would discharge crazy men and sane(r) women would be kept there as an involuntary homeless shelter. Speth: People need homes and the support to learn or remember how to live in them. Providing those homes, and the rent to enable keeping them would be an infinitely better solution.

People need homes and the support to learn or remember how to live in them. Providing those homes, and the rent to enable keeping them would be an infinitely better solution. Thomas: Yes, the current housing of homeless people is fine. I'll let the author of this article in on a little secret. The accommodations are not supposed to be pleasant, easy to deal with or anywhere on par with a person's actual home. That might encourage them to want to stay in the homeless shelter, rather than re-integrate into regular society with the rest of us. Homeless shelters are not places where people should keep coming back to again and again. Personally, I think that people should be banned from homeless shelters after staying for more than a month. If you can rebound by then, you're not trying hard enough!!!!!!

Yes, the current housing of homeless people is fine. I'll let the author of this article in on a little secret. The accommodations are not supposed to be pleasant, easy to deal with or anywhere on par with a person's actual home. That might encourage them to want to stay in the homeless shelter, rather than re-integrate into regular society with the rest of us. Homeless shelters are not places where people should keep coming back to again and again. Personally, I think that people should be banned from homeless shelters after staying for more than a month. If you can rebound by then, you're not trying hard enough!!!!!! Irrelevant: A lot of what I've read on here about why people don't stay in shelters are fabricated. And secondly, In Livermore there aren't any shelters for women, unless you have a big fat maggot, then u might get priority to be on the waiting list.

A lot of what I've read on here about why people don't stay in shelters are fabricated. And secondly, In Livermore there aren't any shelters for women, unless you have a big fat maggot, then u might get priority to be on the waiting list. Anonymous: Yes, there should be 24 hour services for homeless. However, some of the churches and shelters are adding baking soda to the clients food. Which causes them to not only get full immediately, but causes bloating and high blood pressure. Families are also separated in some situations, due to age. MUCH CORRUPTION takes place through that of circles including staff and advocates slowing you down or stopping you from getting out of these shelters. They assign people to fraternize with family members that are adulthood. They need more professional staff and advocates. These people are unprofessional and disrespect the homeless clients. The clients do not receive much help, staff etc.keep much of the donated items themselves and they do not drive the clients for appointments unless your one of the few that are favored. I have had numerous problems in the shelter. The workers are extremely corrupt. Yes, they need more shelters, but they need investigators on the staff/advocates.

Yes, there should be 24 hour services for homeless. However, some of the churches and shelters are adding baking soda to the clients food. Which causes them to not only get full immediately, but causes bloating and high blood pressure. Families are also separated in some situations, due to age. MUCH CORRUPTION takes place through that of circles including staff and advocates slowing you down or stopping you from getting out of these shelters. They assign people to fraternize with family members that are adulthood. They need more professional staff and advocates. These people are unprofessional and disrespect the homeless clients. The clients do not receive much help, staff etc.keep much of the donated items themselves and they do not drive the clients for appointments unless your one of the few that are favored. I have had numerous problems in the shelter. The workers are extremely corrupt. Yes, they need more shelters, but they need investigators on the staff/advocates. Kylyssa Shay: @anonymous: What a rare and wonderful shelter you manage; you have no idea what a good organization you are in charge of if you think it is typical. You should feel extremely proud to work where you do as your shelter displays a degree of excellence uncommon in American homeless shelters. My "irrational" ideas about homeless shelters came from both being homeless once upon a time and using assorted shelters across the US and volunteering in them later when I was in much better circumstances. Some of the things you mention are downright illegal in some cities. Some American cities limit homeless shelters to a certain number of beds far less than 400. A shelter that is allowed to provide beds outside of the night-time hours is extremely rare.Please leave a link to your shelter's information page and I will be sure to promote it in the hopes it will help donations to an excellent homeless shelter. I'm working on a page full of good American homeless shelters to give them the credit that is due and to illustrate how it ought to be done.Just ask the people you serve if your homeless shelter is typical of shelters they've stayed in. I'll bet your shelter is the best any of them have ever found or heard of. I'm not sure how personal experiences count as irrational but I'll bet most of your clients have had similar "irrational" personal experiences in other shelters. Especially ask the lgbtq people you serve if they've ever experienced discrimination or violence outside of or inside of other shelters. You have no idea of what a good job you are doing in comparison to what's out there.

@anonymous: What a rare and wonderful shelter you manage; you have no idea what a good organization you are in charge of if you think it is typical. You should feel extremely proud to work where you do as your shelter displays a degree of excellence uncommon in American homeless shelters. My "irrational" ideas about homeless shelters came from both being homeless once upon a time and using assorted shelters across the US and volunteering in them later when I was in much better circumstances. Some of the things you mention are downright illegal in some cities. Some American cities limit homeless shelters to a certain number of beds far less than 400. A shelter that is allowed to provide beds outside of the night-time hours is extremely rare.Please leave a link to your shelter's information page and I will be sure to promote it in the hopes it will help donations to an excellent homeless shelter. I'm working on a page full of good American homeless shelters to give them the credit that is due and to illustrate how it ought to be done.Just ask the people you serve if your homeless shelter is typical of shelters they've stayed in. I'll bet your shelter is the best any of them have ever found or heard of. I'm not sure how personal experiences count as irrational but I'll bet most of your clients have had similar "irrational" personal experiences in other shelters. Especially ask the lgbtq people you serve if they've ever experienced discrimination or violence outside of or inside of other shelters. You have no idea of what a good job you are doing in comparison to what's out there. Anonymous: I have worked at a homeless shelter for many years and can say this person has irrational ideas about homeless shelters. I'm sure there are people who shouldn't be working in a shelter because they lack the compassion needed. We serve roughly 400 a night in a clean, safe environment. We have zero tolerance for any aggressive behavior. We make accommodations for physically challenged. We don't discriminate for any reason. We make accommodations for those working third shift to sleep during the day even though we are a night shelter only. We allow people who are impaired due to drugs and alcohol to stay as long as they behave. We have an extremely clean facility, no bug infestation. Our intake process is very respectful. We always strive to treat our guest with respect and dignity.

I have worked at a homeless shelter for many years and can say this person has irrational ideas about homeless shelters. I'm sure there are people who shouldn't be working in a shelter because they lack the compassion needed. We serve roughly 400 a night in a clean, safe environment. We have zero tolerance for any aggressive behavior. We make accommodations for physically challenged. We don't discriminate for any reason. We make accommodations for those working third shift to sleep during the day even though we are a night shelter only. We allow people who are impaired due to drugs and alcohol to stay as long as they behave. We have an extremely clean facility, no bug infestation. Our intake process is very respectful. We always strive to treat our guest with respect and dignity. Kylyssa Shay : @kadymitchell: Many people who are poor now had children when they were not. Many upper-middle class people such as yourself think it is impossible to lose a job or to have a child or spouse get ill or injured enough to wipe out their savings but they are wrong; insurance does not cover what you think it does. Unless people have a few million dollars in the bank there's really no way to be sure they will always have money. That is how people such as yourself end up homeless. You are one major illness or accident from homelessness now or in the future unless you have at least a million dollars in the bank. Everyone is very shocked when it happens to them, especially the folks such as yourself who think poverty equals moral bankruptcy. I hope you never face the situation but the only way many people dead set on the idea that poverty equals being a bad and stupid person is when they experience it themselves.If an upper-middle class family becomes poor after they have children, what do you suggest be done with those children? It isn't as if God makes the children "didn't happen" or magically whisks them off to a rich family when a spouse dies or leaves, or if a child or parent gets so ill or injured that savings get wiped out, or when jobs get lost when the jobs cease to exist. Would you give up your children if you suddenly became poor?The truth is that many families do not step up. They believe poverty equals stupidity and moral bankruptcy. They tell even their sick, elderly parents, "you made your bed, now lie in it" after those parents did things like putting them through college, giving them the down payments on their first houses, and providing free childcare to their children.In working with homeless people, I encountered very few people who had children after they were poor and many who had children before illness, tragedy, or a rotten economy struck. Most were earning middle-class or upper-middle-class wages just like the folks you think should be allowed to have children when they chose to have children. They were just like you before really rotten stuff happened in their lives- no better, no worse.

@kadymitchell: Many people who are poor now had children when they were not. Many upper-middle class people such as yourself think it is impossible to lose a job or to have a child or spouse get ill or injured enough to wipe out their savings but they are wrong; insurance does not cover what you think it does. Unless people have a few million dollars in the bank there's really no way to be sure they will always have money. That is how people such as yourself end up homeless. You are one major illness or accident from homelessness now or in the future unless you have at least a million dollars in the bank. Everyone is very shocked when it happens to them, especially the folks such as yourself who think poverty equals moral bankruptcy. I hope you never face the situation but the only way many people dead set on the idea that poverty equals being a bad and stupid person is when they experience it themselves.If an upper-middle class family becomes poor after they have children, what do you suggest be done with those children? It isn't as if God makes the children "didn't happen" or magically whisks them off to a rich family when a spouse dies or leaves, or if a child or parent gets so ill or injured that savings get wiped out, or when jobs get lost when the jobs cease to exist. Would you give up your children if you suddenly became poor?The truth is that many families do not step up. They believe poverty equals stupidity and moral bankruptcy. They tell even their sick, elderly parents, "you made your bed, now lie in it" after those parents did things like putting them through college, giving them the down payments on their first houses, and providing free childcare to their children.In working with homeless people, I encountered very few people who had children after they were poor and many who had children before illness, tragedy, or a rotten economy struck. Most were earning middle-class or upper-middle-class wages just like the folks you think should be allowed to have children when they chose to have children. They were just like you before really rotten stuff happened in their lives- no better, no worse. Kadymitchell: Yes, no matter how many are built there will never be enough...so many people have just given up. Families have to stick together and help one another. People have to learn if you cannot afford to have children don't because its not the governments responsibility to raise them. anonymous: No. God says to help those in need. Also you never know when that stranger comes along in need of a meal or a warm coat. Could be Jesus in disguise.

Yes, no matter how many are built there will never be enough...so many people have just given up. Families have to stick together and help one another. People have to learn if you cannot afford to have children don't because its not the governments responsibility to raise them. No. God says to help those in need. Also you never know when that stranger comes along in need of a meal or a warm coat. Could be Jesus in disguise. Anonymous: I say that, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, and all you people in homeless shelters treat all the homeless people very, very badly it just needs to stop people are dying everywhere because all of you workers in homeless shelters are selfish, I may be a 16 Year old but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Mannasugar: Shelters treat people very badly, and they do this to discourage people from wanting a free ride....

Shelters treat people very badly, and they do this to discourage people from wanting a free ride.... Anonymous: Esvoytko is a man after my own heart. There is no reason why someone, especially a family, should be homeless. What a disgrace. Whatever happened to the common good? I live in NYC and there are thousands of working families who are homeless. This is a very complex problem and only a person with pathology problems would prefer panhandling to permanent shelter. No wonder we are in this situation. Public policies must address the social and economic issues that creates this problem instead of focusing on a few miscreants and punishing those who really need help.

Esvoytko is a man after my own heart. There is no reason why someone, especially a family, should be homeless. What a disgrace. Whatever happened to the common good? I live in NYC and there are thousands of working families who are homeless. This is a very complex problem and only a person with pathology problems would prefer panhandling to permanent shelter. No wonder we are in this situation. Public policies must address the social and economic issues that creates this problem instead of focusing on a few miscreants and punishing those who really need help. Mowug1776: some people have given up hope completely. I myself at times have as well the problem is not that there's enough beds find that the American people have lost their love for each other we are too greedy to see that we should wait and help others out there for buying the brand-new Mercedes-Benz that we may not be able to afford in a couple months. Also that excuse could also be put out because they don't want to help themselves I have started to help out at a mission. I find that many of them may have even shows the lifestyle in actuality at the mission there is one man that comes in who actually is a real estate investor and quite frankly because of his sorrows drains himself to the point that he himself is homeless he happens to be a veteran Delta force I believe if we can help the road may be harder than he may have a will to change. What we need is more family helping family.

some people have given up hope completely. I myself at times have as well the problem is not that there's enough beds find that the American people have lost their love for each other we are too greedy to see that we should wait and help others out there for buying the brand-new Mercedes-Benz that we may not be able to afford in a couple months. Also that excuse could also be put out because they don't want to help themselves I have started to help out at a mission. I find that many of them may have even shows the lifestyle in actuality at the mission there is one man that comes in who actually is a real estate investor and quite frankly because of his sorrows drains himself to the point that he himself is homeless he happens to be a veteran Delta force I believe if we can help the road may be harder than he may have a will to change. What we need is more family helping family. Kylyssa Shay : Math alone proves that more than 10% of homeless people successfully re-integrate into society because otherwise, we'd be overrun with tens of millions of homeless people! There are far more formerly homeless people than homeless people living in America. Over 80% of Americans who experience homelessness get into homes and do not experience homelessness again.Math alone also shows us that there are not enough homeless shelters. When there are more homeless people than beds, there will be homeless people who can't use them no matter how much they might want to. I don't know if you've driven past any homeless shelters lately but here in Grand Rapids the lines for them wrap around the buildings. The number of shelters and beds also keeps decreasing all while the number of homeless people increases.Math also shows us that some people will inevitably be left without jobs (and become likely to become homeless) when the number of adults in our country exceeds the number of jobs that exist. That's not even taking into account the number of jobs out there that are too part-time to live on.Over a period of about eighteen years I took in seventeen homeless teens and young adults, three couples, a man in his fifties and a woman in her sixties. Out of those twenty-five people, twenty-one succeeded in re-integrating into society. That's around the typical 80% mark. Perhaps you are having such a terrible success rate because you are focusing on panhandlers and chronically homeless folks?And, since you gave an anecdote about a couple refusing to stay with you because you separated them, you just backed up one of the reasons I listed.I'm secure in the knowledge that what I say here on this page about homeless shelters is true. I've personally witnessed most of these problems and, on occasion, I had to enforce some of these policies I disagree with while volunteering in shelters. I've learned of the other issues from other volunteers and from homeless and formerly homeless people.

Math alone proves that more than 10% of homeless people successfully re-integrate into society because otherwise, we'd be overrun with tens of millions of homeless people! There are far more formerly homeless people than homeless people living in America. Over 80% of Americans who experience homelessness get into homes and do not experience homelessness again.Math alone also shows us that there are not enough homeless shelters. When there are more homeless people than beds, there will be homeless people who can't use them no matter how much they might want to. I don't know if you've driven past any homeless shelters lately but here in Grand Rapids the lines for them wrap around the buildings. The number of shelters and beds also keeps decreasing all while the number of homeless people increases.Math also shows us that some people will inevitably be left without jobs (and become likely to become homeless) when the number of adults in our country exceeds the number of jobs that exist. That's not even taking into account the number of jobs out there that are too part-time to live on.Over a period of about eighteen years I took in seventeen homeless teens and young adults, three couples, a man in his fifties and a woman in her sixties. Out of those twenty-five people, twenty-one succeeded in re-integrating into society. That's around the typical 80% mark. Perhaps you are having such a terrible success rate because you are focusing on panhandlers and chronically homeless folks?And, since you gave an anecdote about a couple refusing to stay with you because you separated them, you just backed up one of the reasons I listed.I'm secure in the knowledge that what I say here on this page about homeless shelters is true. I've personally witnessed most of these problems and, on occasion, I had to enforce some of these policies I disagree with while volunteering in shelters. I've learned of the other issues from other volunteers and from homeless and formerly homeless people. ClifRad: Yes. I work with the homeless and I've had over 100 live in my house with my family over the last ten years. They were right off the street.Very few want to get back into the mainstream. Probably only 10% I've dealt with.It is way to easy to make it on the street with pan handling, feeding programs, food cards, SSI, state programs, hotel vouchers...And the reasons you gave for them not using shelter is bogus. They are most generally rebellious and anti-social, that's is a great generalization. Like I said 10%.We had a couple, rather than be at our house where couldn't sleep with one another in there on room, choose an outhouse in town. Go figure.They need help and that help needs to given rightly. You work you eat. You want to play the game your on your own.

Yes. I work with the homeless and I've had over 100 live in my house with my family over the last ten years. They were right off the street.Very few want to get back into the mainstream. Probably only 10% I've dealt with.It is way to easy to make it on the street with pan handling, feeding programs, food cards, SSI, state programs, hotel vouchers...And the reasons you gave for them not using shelter is bogus. They are most generally rebellious and anti-social, that's is a great generalization. Like I said 10%.We had a couple, rather than be at our house where couldn't sleep with one another in there on room, choose an outhouse in town. Go figure.They need help and that help needs to given rightly. You work you eat. You want to play the game your on your own. Donnette Davis: I'm not in USA so I am not qualified to comment, but here in SA there are very few shelters.. in fact I cannot even think of one in the city in which I live - and it is the State Capital!

I'm not in USA so I am not qualified to comment, but here in SA there are very few shelters.. in fact I cannot even think of one in the city in which I live - and it is the State Capital! Tropicalmonsoon1 : Well, I don't live in the USA, but here in New Zealand you don't see homeless people having to sleep on the streets. Except for the famous ones.

Well, I don't live in the USA, but here in New Zealand you don't see homeless people having to sleep on the streets. Except for the famous ones. FuzziesFriend : "The poor, ye shall always have" No matter what's done, it'll never be enough.

"The poor, ye shall always have" No matter what's done, it'll never be enough. Ghandisbrothercarl: I understand why people always defer to the "starving people in Africa have it worse" line when they hear a fellow American complaining about anything regarding their living conditions, but I swear (rather than coming from compassion and consideration) it actually contributes to treating homeless and down-on-their-luck types heartlessly, and perpetuating the ignorance of the considerations you've just listen..

I understand why people always defer to the "starving people in Africa have it worse" line when they hear a fellow American complaining about anything regarding their living conditions, but I swear (rather than coming from compassion and consideration) it actually contributes to treating homeless and down-on-their-luck types heartlessly, and perpetuating the ignorance of the considerations you've just listen.. MargoPArrowsmith: I worked for a while on Saturdays doing intakes in the local state mental hospital. The men who came in without a home would be discharged 'to the street' but they wouldn't do that with women. The doctors would keep them there sometimes for months, just because they had no place to go. So they would discharge crazy men and sane(r) women would be kept there as an involuntary homeless shelter.

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Evan R. Murphy: Very good article that sheds light on some of the realities of homelessness and shelters. Helps folks like me who have never been homeless understand better, and could be used by people working to create better shelters or to improve the conditions of existing ones. Thank you!

Very good article that sheds light on some of the realities of homelessness and shelters. Helps folks like me who have never been homeless understand better, and could be used by people working to create better shelters or to improve the conditions of existing ones. Thank you!

EM: If you are in a position to need a shelter bed, chances are you have burned your bridges with family and friends due to drug abuse, violence and untreated mental health issues.

If you are in a position to need a shelter bed, chances are you have burned your bridges with family and friends due to drug abuse, violence and untreated mental health issues. Kylyssa Shay: The problem with using the police to determine identities is that most homeless people aren't criminals so they aren't in the system.

Loss of ID is a terrifying experience for people without homes. It causes all the problems you mentioned plus it presents an additional danger to Americans of Mexican or Hispanic descent; they could potentially get deported if they can't prove their citizenship.

The problem with using the police to determine identities is that most homeless people aren't criminals so they aren't in the system. Loss of ID is a terrifying experience for people without homes. It causes all the problems you mentioned plus it presents an additional danger to Americans of Mexican or Hispanic descent; they could potentially get deported if they can't prove their citizenship. Claudia: I challenge anyone to walk into the county clerks office without any personal identification give them your name and SS# and have them issue you new ones .

This poses a serious and in many cases life threatening problem for the homeless. Without the proper Identification they are not able to get any assistance, such as shelters, food, housing, cash and medical care. Even job applications require ID"s

Would it be possible for local police departments to set aside a day or two a few times a year where homeless people could come in and get their identity verified by either fingerprints police files or even a police officer that has seen proof of their id . Then give each person a temporary photo id that they could use to get a permanent state Id

I challenge anyone to walk into the county clerks office without any personal identification give them your name and SS# and have them issue you new ones . This poses a serious and in many cases life threatening problem for the homeless. Without the proper Identification they are not able to get any assistance, such as shelters, food, housing, cash and medical care. Even job applications require ID"s Would it be possible for local police departments to set aside a day or two a few times a year where homeless people could come in and get their identity verified by either fingerprints police files or even a police officer that has seen proof of their id . Then give each person a temporary photo id that they could use to get a permanent state Id Resident: Homeless shelters do falsely accuse people of drug use and criminal activity. I was assaulted by a woman in the Bethesda Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her name is "Valeria" and her case manager lied for her and took her side just so that the social worker (case manager) could have the money credit for placing her in a new apartment. She is a sexual predator and the case manager is as well. The manager of the shelter also took the side of the female assailant.

Homeless shelters do falsely accuse people of drug use and criminal activity. I was assaulted by a woman in the Bethesda Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her name is "Valeria" and her case manager lied for her and took her side just so that the social worker (case manager) could have the money credit for placing her in a new apartment. She is a sexual predator and the case manager is as well. The manager of the shelter also took the side of the female assailant. Jason: I'm homeless right now, after spending 10 years working abroad I became ill and was repatriated to the United States.

I was happy for the medical treatment I received, but after 3 weeks and a clean bill of health— thank you sir, goodbye! I had to leave with nowhere to go. After being gone for ten years, I had to start from scratch. 35 degrees outside and all I had was the t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops I wore when I was returned to the States.

What I, and probably many others truly need are: A place to take a shower, an address to use for mail, canned food that we can store. No "shelter emloyees" ruining your job search. Or ruining your job, for that matter. Do they not understand that it's not a good thing to go to your new boss and ask for a note so you can go back to your homeless shelter after hours so you can work a normal shift?

The problem is, shelter employees know that in order to expand their operations (and get more government grants) is to house a larger homeless population. Now although they can't "make" more people homeless, they can "keep" more people homeless by not letting them have a job. Or throwing them out as soon as they get one. I've seen it happen twice now (once to me).

We need clothes, a place to shower, and an address to use for mail. That's pretty much it. I won't stay in a shelter for the reasons listed above as well as in the article. A big thing for me is theft, and being around people who use drugs increases the chance of me losing stuff like work shoes -- and ultimately losing my job.

I'm homeless right now, after spending 10 years working abroad I became ill and was repatriated to the United States. I was happy for the medical treatment I received, but after 3 weeks and a clean bill of health— thank you sir, goodbye! I had to leave with nowhere to go. After being gone for ten years, I had to start from scratch. 35 degrees outside and all I had was the t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops I wore when I was returned to the States. What I, and probably many others truly need are: A place to take a shower, an address to use for mail, canned food that we can store. No "shelter emloyees" ruining your job search. Or ruining your job, for that matter. Do they not understand that it's not a good thing to go to your new boss and ask for a note so you can go back to your homeless shelter after hours so you can work a normal shift? The problem is, shelter employees know that in order to expand their operations (and get more government grants) is to house a larger homeless population. Now although they can't "make" more people homeless, they can "keep" more people homeless by not letting them have a job. Or throwing them out as soon as they get one. I've seen it happen twice now (once to me). We need clothes, a place to shower, and an address to use for mail. That's pretty much it. I won't stay in a shelter for the reasons listed above as well as in the article. A big thing for me is theft, and being around people who use drugs increases the chance of me losing stuff like work shoes -- and ultimately losing my job. ionkosmic: BIG NO unfortunately . Just take a look at Greece. Things are really difficult there for homeless people and refuges because very simply the people that create the government are useless and not human. I really feel shame and pain for what is going there.

BIG NO unfortunately . Just take a look at Greece. Things are really difficult there for homeless people and refuges because very simply the people that create the government are useless and not human. I really feel shame and pain for what is going there. anonymous: It varies quite a bit by place within the US. In Ft. Lauderdale FL they were impossible to get into. In Indianapolis IN I got forced to use a men's shelter (hurrah transphobia) when I finally got into one, in which I was robbed and raped, of course. Meanwhile deaths and mutilations from cold were ongoing outside. To my chagrin, I'll very shortly find out what being homeless in New York is like.

It varies quite a bit by place within the US. In Ft. Lauderdale FL they were impossible to get into. In Indianapolis IN I got forced to use a men's shelter (hurrah transphobia) when I finally got into one, in which I was robbed and raped, of course. Meanwhile deaths and mutilations from cold were ongoing outside. To my chagrin, I'll very shortly find out what being homeless in New York is like. anonymous: Definitely NOT! I didn't know of the ordinances preventing expansion... it seems like cities would rather house people and to keep their cities looking good, than to force people to live in the streets...

Definitely NOT! I didn't know of the ordinances preventing expansion... it seems like cities would rather house people and to keep their cities looking good, than to force people to live in the streets... lilydanne: You speak the truth sadly a few of these people who still feel like the homeless deserve it even if they were to become homeless they would still possibly feel this way I think it a coping mechanism

You speak the truth sadly a few of these people who still feel like the homeless deserve it even if they were to become homeless they would still possibly feel this way I think it a coping mechanism Kylyssa Shay : @ajtyne: People are not usually required to convert, just to sit through a service and look interested and/or to say "Amen" at the appropriate points. They also usually won't escort a person out for not saying "Amen" or for not looking interested during the service but they will often question them intensely. I usually just sat through the service about what bad people homeless people are and looked interested and said whatever they wanted me to. But I don't have a religion so it wasn't anything terrible. It was mostly Christians with other beliefs (like that Jes