Comments on: Innovative Mobile Shelter Gives Dignity Back to Homeless in Los Angeles

By: Uncle B

Uncle B — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:40:05 +0000

The “Homeless” Even China has them! A social phenomenon, to be sure! In a world of plenty many go to bed hungry! Distribution of wealth is the problem area, uneven distribution is the culprit, communism, socialism not the complete answer, but expect a new philosophy for the world, not from the exhausted, distorted, unsustainable American resource, but from the new Asian intelligentsia, more scholars, post graduates, with I Q’s of 130+ this year alone, multi-lingual in preponderance, rice burners – vegans in most cases, and low upkeep, as opposed to our American situation, than the U.S. has high school students, drop-outs included! These new ideas will not be presented for acceptance, but slowly and economically imposed on the whole world, and such procedures are already underway! Small mercies such as portable economical shelters, the rich Capitalists extractive ways of manufacturing even more disposables will not suffice, and a new over all regime needs to be instated, but Asian in manner, without a shot fired! The great hulking North American modern day Neanderthal and his WWII era battle plans, a folly not to be engaged, but by reaching his real soul, his economy and by controlling it, manipulating it, as he likes to do to others, Asian controls can be put in place, Asian standards introduced, enforced, the rich, affluent, undeserving, can be reduced, the downtrodden brought up, for a larger marketplace for all goods over a greater, but individually poorer, but more egalitarian population, with more similarities for ease of standardizations in production! Meritocracy principles and others will be imposed, and current religions replaced, a total remodeling of the situation, for our advantage, sustainability and human satisfaction! anew, Asian designed and controlled world to Asian standards! better in all ways!

By: James Graves

James Graves — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:07:20 +0000

All and all I think that most people see this device as helpful. I don’t really think that anyone sees this as an end all solution though. Several people thought that we should focus more on rehabilitation, education, job training etc. I think we all know how that goes. It’s one committee after another before a plan comes to be. After that it takes years to get it funded. Finally, the program is established and then poorly managed and nothing positive really gets done. That seems to be our track record with social programs. Not all of them, but many of them. In the short run, I think that the EDAR is a good idea. It reminds me of the three life saving steps I learned in the Marine Corps so long ago. Stop the bleeding, protect the wound, and treat for shock. Well, this device is a lot like that. It’s immediate action and I imagine most of those homeless would like very much to have one.

By: James Graves

James Graves — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:42:44 +0000

In spite of the negative comments I think that the EDAR is a good idea. I suppose there will always be people looking for the downside to any effort concerning the homeless. I don’t believe for a minute that the fellow who developed this did it to make his bicycle ride and the view more enjoyable for himself.
Think about it. If you were homeless doesn’t this device meet some of the important concerns you as a homeless person would have. Security, safety, mobility, and a sense of place. Maybe I should take a look at the back of my Mercedes and see if I can’t come up with a way to tow the EDAR. I’m that close right now. The economy sucks, I don’t see it getting better, and beleive me, I took a real close look at this device. That’s scary.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:01:40 +0000

Even 1 person sleeping on the ground is too many. What if it was you? Or your child?

By: Marcia-Pennsylvania

Marcia-Pennsylvania — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:56:19 +0000

More and more people are becoming homeless….in a country that values only $$$. Homes are unaffordable, our jobs have been shipped overseas for slave laborers and now we have this looming depression. Mega churches build larger and larger buildings….keeping up with the next mega church. And most christians are anything but Christ-like. If you don’t believe the numbers on homelessness……….check it out online. Homelessness in now over 1.3 million……and growing, with children being a large part. Shame on America, Shame on the GOP and DEMOCRATS!!

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:27:07 +0000

It’s interesting to see how humanity feels about humanity on all sides of an issue such as this. Some say: statistics breed fear, homeless breed jealousy, fear breeds hate, hate breeds lies, lies breed war.

People are afraid to lose their jobs, cars, homes, health, youth, looks, control, life, movies, clothes, power, ect. There is a lot of fear going on and we deny it and hide ourselves in something. Why?

Myself; I hide from love. I mean the love of being forth right, friendly and humane. Why? Fear. Fear that someone will see me as being weak and being human. Look into yourself and ask, why am I hiding? Why am I being mean? Why am I not loving? Keep asking.

I often heard people say to me while on the road and camping out, ” I wish I could do that.” And then these same people seemed resentful of me. Why? Were they afraid to leave there comfort. What are we afraid of loosing. Owning things and property, or of it owning us?

There was a time when people did not buy stocks because they were too risky of an investment. Instead they bought homes: a safe bet. Do you see what has happened with what use to be a safe bet? Wall street got a hold of it. Why?

The old models did not work. The so-called new models do not work. Fear does not work. Fear is a trap that makes us do stupid things. Like start wars and blame innocent people for things they had nothing to do with.

What model is threatened by people that are homeless? Could it be the model of cars, homes, wealth, power, fame, fortune, jewels, clothes, vacations, jets, motels, hollywood, highways, sports, facelifts, microbeers, lotteries, coupons, and discounts?

What happened to all the revolutions: bronze, agricultural, industrial, electronic. Are we working less and loving more now? Maybe our revolution needs to be in our minds into what has real intrinsic value. Like shelter, food, water ( and some place to defecate). Add love and maybe the spirit will grow.

By: Windy

Windy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:51:56 +0000

To the critics:

Slow your criticism, and sit and think about the issue for awhile, really. What are you doing to make the lives of homeless people better?

EDARs are definitely short term solutions to a huge long term problems… but they ARE solutions. Even if the gov’t began attempting to help “rehabilitate” the homeless millions of homeless people would remain homeless for years to come, it would take ages for the effect to hit. (Do not mistake my words, I am not saying it would have no effect, it is a long term problem and will therefore take a long time to work out) but in the interim EDARs would not be counterproductive, they would only give some dignity to those suffering from homelessness.

By: Chiron613

Chiron613 — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:56:36 +0000

Unless you’ve actually *been* homeless, it is difficult to grasp the complexity of that condition, and the nearly overwhelming obstacles to getting off the street. Without a fixed address, you cannot receive many government benefits. Without a phone or a computer, you cannot receive any calls for work should anyone wish to hire you. Without showers and clean clothes, you really can’t even get in the door to ask for a job. All this, even if you happen to be mentally well and drug and alcohol free.

If you have become mentally ill, or if you’ve fallen victim to substance abuse, your ability to deal with any of this is severely hampered. Unless those problems are treated, the chances of you getting off the street are almost nil.

Addiction is an illness, not a moral failing. No one decides to become an alcoholic or a drug addict. They may choose to take a drink or a drug, but they don’t expect to be one of the victims. Most of us emerge from our experimenting unscathed.

BTW, many of the homeless are veterans who were sin battle, suffering from PTSD. They served our country, were wounded (at least psychologically), and then denied benefits when they returned, because we don’t honor our commitments. Lacking the ability to function and the means to be healed, they become homeless. Then self-righteous jerks spit at them and tell them to get a job.

This problem will persist as long as we continue to claim that the homeless somehow chose their situation or deserve it. Neither is true. These people suffer terribly, and are often treated with undeserved contempt. They need to be healed, not just housed. Most can become useful, functioning members of society, if we would trouble to help them get treatment. Those who cannot recover can at least be given decent, safe housing, food, and medical treatment.

Before you go talking about how “those” people don’t deserve our compassion, remember this – “those” people are just folks, just like us. Miss a few rent or mortgage payments – a possibility more likely now than ever – and you could be out there too. It doesn’t take all that much to fall from grace, but it is unbelievably difficult to get back up.

I know this because I did it. With all the help and lucky breaks I got, I still almost couldn’t do it.

By: Hafy

Hafy — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:40:51 +0000

Maria Don’t give up on Humanity. There are a few humans left out and about in the USA. The Borgs and Zombies are best to ignore. Give up on Borgs & Zombies and keep fighting to stay human.

By: Daniel Rizik-Baer

Daniel Rizik-Baer — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:05:38 +0000

It is sad to hear that there are still so many myths surrounding the issue of homelessness. Spoilt kids running away? Many of them leave family situations that are more horrendous than most of us can imagine. Drug addiction? While it is true that drug addiction is rampant among the homeless, it is much MORE prevalent in the population that is “housed.” While job training and job skills may help, this is a “blame the victim” mentality. Homelessness is a societal problem. There are very few people who CHOOSE to be homeless. This is one step to providing comfort to people living in situations most of us have never experienced. It is by no means the end of homelessness, but it helps provide comfort. For those of you blaming homeless people for being homeless, do you truly think that the only reason you are in the situation you are in is because you were the only person in your life who got you there? No. you had help. and when you stumbled, you had help.