At last, some more stupidity from the left. Mayoral candidates spending a homeless night in Nashville because they promised advocacy groups for the homeless that they would. I’m thinking they now will be able to solve the homeless problem?
By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press WriterWed Jun 20, 5:41 PM ET
One man tried in vain to sleep on a park bench. Two others swallowed their pride as they went into restaurants, broke but hungry. With no bathroom available, another one used the woods.
All four men agreed to be homeless for a night before returning Wednesday to their real lives —
as candidates for Nashville mayor.
The candidates promised advocates for the homeless that they would spend one night on the streets before the Aug. 2 election. The Nashville Homeless Power Project hopes the experience makes them more sensitive to the hundreds of people in the city with no place to live.
So it’s insensitivity that causes homelessness? I was under the strange impression that it’s related to alcohol / drug abuse mixed with a little laziness. (Of course there are always exceptions to the rules — so don’t get all self righteous and indignant:)
“I was struck by the number of people I saw sleeping in downtown Nashville,” said candidate Karl Dean, the city’s former law director. “There’s no simple answer, but we’ve got to do something.”
The National Coalition for the Homeless has been organizing similar experiences for college students and others for the past 25 years. But the group’s executive director, Michael Stoops, said it was the first time political candidates agreed to take part.
“I think all people who run for office should be in touch with people living in poverty,” Stoops said. “I think it should be a requirement.”
Really? Why? It’s funny because some politicians in Washington think they need to get in touch with prostitutes. What logic.
The participants, chaperoned by current and former homeless people, were supposed to find a legal place to stay the night, spend at least 20 minutes sleeping on a park bench and ask strangers for spare change.
As opposed to getting a job.
Much of that was more than the candidates could handle. Dean and David Briley, a city council member, didn’t panhandle, and all four men wandered the streets until Wednesday morning rather than attempt to find a shelter.
“I never really got a chance to rest,” said Buck Dozier, another council member. He tried sleeping on a slab of concrete.
Homeless people got a chance to ask the candidates questions about the experience Wednesday. The first question caught them a bit off guard: Where did you use the bathroom?
Isn’t that cute? Panels of homeless people.
Briley said he never got the urge. Dean and Dozier said they used the same restaurants where they asked for water and food. Howard Gentry, the city’s vice mayor, had a more typical experience: “I went one time in the grass and one time in the woods.”
More than 1,500 homeless people stay in the Nashville area on an average night, according to recent data from the National Coalition for the Homeless. Nationally that number is more than 744,000, the coalition says.
Other politicians around the country have done similar experiments to better understand issues surrounding poor and homeless people.
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and his wife recently took part in the “food stamp challenge” — spending just $3 a day each on their meals to match the amount spent by the average food stamp recipient in Oregon. A state senator from Connecticut also spent three weeks living on food stamp funds.
Former Nashville Mayor Bill Boner went undercover as a homeless person while he was a Democratic congressman in 1986, one year before he became mayor. He said the experience opened his eyes.
“The true value of a city is how we treat the homeless, those who aren’t as well off,” said Boner, who now teaches a high-school government class.
Two other Nashville mayoral candidates — former U.S. Rep. Bob Clement and businessman Kenneth Eaton — have agreed to spend a night homeless at a later date. A seventh candidate, Cheryl Lynn Tisdale, did not make the promise.
About two years ago, Nashville implemented a 10-year plan to set up 1,800 units of housing for chronically homeless people, and all the candidates say they support the plan.
Tommy Howard, who is homeless, said the experience was good for the candidates, even for just one night.
“It let them see what we go through,” Howard said. “It’s a struggle.”
33 Comments
June 21, 2007 at 6:24 am
I’m impressed with the woman that refused to play their little homeless game. Yes, we should try to help the homeless - help them get jobs and become unhomeless - but this whole plot is a little ridiculous.
June 21, 2007 at 6:54 am
Fraternities and sororities all over the country do this (sleep on the streets as charity drives), so it’s not like this idea has arrived to Tenn out of the blue. If you believe that homeless people can and should be helped, and there is strong evidence to support that they can and why you should, then you should be happy that consciousness on the issue is being raised. The mayoral candidates didn’t sleep on the streets so they could “feel what it was like.” They did it show their commitment to a worthwhile cause that would not only help homeless people but also the people who live under an economy strained by a homeless population.
June 21, 2007 at 7:36 am
I always laugh when I see the depth politicians will go to pander to constituents. In private, each probably scrambled to find a way to get out of it, but none proved smart enough to find his way home.
Other than an adventure or a glorified camping trip, I fail to see how it does anything to put any of the candidates in touch with homeless people. In fact, I must question their judgment by even participating in such a stunt.
June 21, 2007 at 7:47 am
Hi JimPanzee,
Fraternities and sororities all around the country also drink themselves oblivious and have all sorts of different parties. Maybe this is why they relate so well to the homeless - if their parents didn’t have money, they might actually wind up on a park bench somewhere
I apologize if I gave the impression that this Tennessee incident just happened out of the blue. I realize liberal do gooders do this sort of thing regularly. Many of them have been raised with money and must feel guilty about it in some bizarre way, and by helping the homeless they just feel better about themselves.
I guess I’d feel better about it too if the problem could actually be solved by something as simple as spending 1 night sleeping on a bench or peeing in the park. I guess I’m more of a realist, because I think this represents your typical homeless person. I have that old fashioned mentality that we are responsible for our own actions and if the majority of homeless people were really bothered by it, they could do something about it.
I believe there are ministries and other organizations out there who actually do help the homeless by training them with skills to get a job and showing them ways to manage finances.
I don’t think you actually have to join the homeless to recognize that they exist. I don’t have to walk a mile in their shoes to know full well that the closest I want to come to sleeping outside is in a tent while camping — and even then, not too often for me thanks.
I appreciate your opinion, but mine still stands. These candidates going homeless is nothing more than a liberal do gooder publicity stunt and the homeless problem is not solved because of it. If they really wanted to help or understand the homeless — why not just take them food or work in a shelter or soup kitchen?
June 21, 2007 at 7:49 am
Hi LC,
Yeah — I would have a hard time casting a vote for a politician that pulls this sort of publicity stunt. I guess they wouldn’t really need my vote though, as they would get the lady’s in the picture;)
June 21, 2007 at 7:59 am
Rubbish! Such clearly, morally bereft pandering to attract liberal votes aimed at solidifying their positions. What do you think the masqueraders did first after daylight broke and they were no longer faced with sleeping somewhere “safely” in public? They went home and tucked themselves into their warm, snuggly beds. Blatant hypocrits!
This is so empty and obvious it never ceases to astound me as to the number of bandwagon jumpers and shallow sympathizers.
Tieki Rae is spot on (again… normal…). Motivate them to corner some self respect, some determination to seek a path to self reliance. Get a job, even it is not the corporate CEO position you envision for yourself! I’d shovel manure before I would ask for/take handouts. There is nothing that makes these people any less subject to the most basic rules of responsibility… except their own hollow declaration of being “special”.
Think. Plan. Do. (…and don’t look back.)
June 21, 2007 at 8:11 am
Hi DI,
Thanks for your input:) . It’s always spot-on.
That tieki rae is a keeper
June 21, 2007 at 8:55 am
I don’t want to imply that I think these candidates solved the problem. I just think this particular criticism is misdirected. I don’t think the point is “Let’s show these pols how awful it is to homeless so they wake up and do something about it.”
Everyone here agrees that homelessness is a problem. Homeless people are (exceptions aside) drug addicted and/or drunks and/or mentally challenged. But they are also a public nuisance that sometimes, if not often, leads to crimes (above mere drug use but onto muggings and burglary).
And everyone here agrees that something has to be done about it. Now, sleeping in the streets one night is not that thing but…it does get people talking about the issue. In that talking maybe someone is inspired to act as counselor to help get them a job, or straighten out their drug problem. Heck, maybe someone just decides to put more police on the street and put more cots in the jail. Solving crime and protecting citizens rights is not just a “liberal do gooder thing.” But sometimes in order to get people to act we have to raise their awareness of the issue. Homelessness, like it or not, is one of these issues that many people don’t treat as important. Or if they hear someone talking about the homeless its caged as “something only liberals care about.” Not true. Creating a life of decency for everyone is a bipartisan issue. And I’m not talking about handouts. I’m talking about getting homeless people off the street.
And guilt is not the only reason to help people. Working to end poverty and homelessness can have a very self-serving aspect to it. More people with jobs buy more stuff and pay more taxes. They steal less and take less in welfare. You can’t kill them, so what are you going to do?
June 21, 2007 at 10:40 am
Wow.
“some more stupidity from the left”
You have a pretty strong reaction to this.
what do you think a better idea would be?
June 21, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Hi w,
Actually, most homeless people are in that condition because they are, too a modest extent, crazy. Back during the Reagan Administration, the glorious and all knowing ACLU managed to win them their right to live on the street in court, and since then, anyone who is not deemed to be a danger to themselves or others can refuse medication or residence in a psychiatric hospital. Of course, not playing with a full deck, thousands of them do just that every year.
the Grit
June 21, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Hi ariahfine,
Something besides an overnighter on the street and peeing in the park.
The only real way to help the homeless is to motivate them to help themselves. Job training would be a good start. As DI says above, not everyone can start out as the CEO, maybe bagging groceries, stocking shelves, anything to make someone feel a sense of accomplishment or doing something for themselves.
Hi Grit –
I believe it. What do you think a solution to the problem might be?
June 21, 2007 at 7:11 pm
“I’m thinking they now will be able to solve the homeless problem?”
Are they going to reopen the state mental institutions? Every statistic I have ever seen about homelessness claims that roughly 60-75% of them suffer from serious mental disorders. Many of these people were let out during the 80’s when the movement against housing them in mental institutions (due to their poor treatment) flourished.
June 21, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Hi TT,
That’s a point that Grit also makes. So, do you think institutionalizing many homeless is a solution?
June 21, 2007 at 7:37 pm
“So, do you think institutionalizing many homeless is a solution?”
If they have serious mental disorders- then yes.
June 21, 2007 at 7:39 pm
[...] I think it’s a good idea. When I read about what other bloggers were writing I came across this blogger who thought the idea of an urban plunge was “stupidity from the left.” I think [...]
June 22, 2007 at 8:57 am
You Wrote: “I believe there are ministries and other organizations out there who actually do help the homeless by training them with skills to get a job and showing them ways to manage finances.”
If you actually took a “plunge” not for a night but for a week or more, and presented youself as homeless to any number of homeless service providers, you would learn first hand that your statement isn’t true. And that’s one of the great things about plunges. Another is that once you do get back into your nice comfy bed, you appreciate it a great deal more. And then you might consider how much a homeless person would like have all that you have. And then you might begin to see that no person, unless he was suffering a great deal, would ever give up such luxury. And then, you may actually have some empathy for the homeless.
As for laziness, 50% of all homeless people work at least 20 hours a week at a real job. Besides, fulfilling all the requirements of obtaining shelter and food from homeless service providers is quite a chore in itself. As well as trying to combat the weather elements when you can’t find shelter. The strain of homeless life is very real as proved by the much higher mortality rate for homeless people as compared to non-homeless people.
I remember my first days being homeless. Becoming homeless was the scariest thing to ever happen in my life.
June 22, 2007 at 9:52 am
[...] I refer you to this post: http://wytammic.wordpress.com/2007/06/21/tenn-candidates-go-homeless-for-night/ [...]
June 22, 2007 at 10:02 am
You know… it doesn’t really help an argument to make up things that you wish to be true. Do you have any statistical evidence to support this?
Maybe because poverty is a major issue, and it is important to understand the underlying issues of poverty?
June 22, 2007 at 10:23 am
“You know… it doesn’t really help an argument to make up things that you wish to be true. Do you have any statistical evidence to support this?”
Since it is kind of hard to measure aspects of the homeless population that is a wide margin of error in any statistics dealing with homelessness. The estimates range from those of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services
“As many as 700,000 Americans are homeless on any given night. An estimated 20 to 25 percent of these people have a serious mental illness, and one-half of this subgroup also have an alcohol and/or drug problem. Minorities, especially African Americans, are over-represented among homeless persons with mental illness.”
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/Homelessness/
“The most methodologically sound studies performed thus far indicate that among the total population of homeless persons, there is a prevalence of about 40% with major mental illness (that is, schizophrenia and major affective disorder).”
http://www.bethesda-mission.org/report.htm#mental
Estimates for Canada’s homeless population are very interesting. They show that a majority of the females who are homeless suffer serious mental illness.
“30-35 percent of the homeless in general, and up to 75 percent of homeless women specifically, have a mental illness.”
http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/content/about_mental_illness/homelessness.asp?cID=3975
I can’t explain the disparity between men and women, anyone want to take a stab at it?
I have seen stats as high as 65-75% mental illness before (back when I was researching this subject for an article ten years ago). But if you go by the above citations you see that somewhere between 25 and 35% of the homeless have a SERIOUS mental illness. When you throw in drug addicts and alcoholics you see that this group is clearly not well represented by the common picture of the family who loses their home and fall on hard luck. Most of the homeless seem to have the inability to cope with life that results in them losing their housing situation. Since they have the right to refuse treatment for their mental illness and their addictions many of them will remain homeless.
June 22, 2007 at 10:25 am
“As for laziness, 50% of all homeless people work at least 20 hours a week at a real job.”
So, 50% of homeless people work 50% of a full work week. And you wonder why there’s a problem? Perhaps if these individuals would try to work 100% (or more) of a 40 hour work week, they wouldn’t be… what’s the word I’m looking for? … homeless!
I’m all for the type of charity that wants to help people help themselves. Provide job training, personal hygiene training, and a cheap (but not free) room for individuals who are making a concerted effort to work. Besides cases of mental insanity (which are truly sad and unfortunate) I believe there is no legitimate excuse for long-term homelessness. In the case of mental insanity, surely there must be homeless shelters geared especially toward those people? If not, there absolutely should be.
Criticizing this “plunge” does not show a lack of compassion. Rather, it shows annoyance with useless political dog and pony shows. There is no substitute for action and homeless people are no exception to that rule.
June 22, 2007 at 10:27 am
Hi Dave,
I’m not going to try and speak for Grit — though I honestly don’t believe he meant that as an insult. I took it as though he was saying that a large percentage of homeless people actually need professional psychiatric help. He didn’t say all were crazy — just many. Totaltransformation also makes mention of the same thing.
I will state once again, that a person does not have to live in poverty to be able to understand it. I stand by my opinion that this was nothing more than a publicity stunt by the candidates participating and homelessness is not any more or less recognized because of their efforts.
June 22, 2007 at 10:27 am
And just to add to my last comment, I really don’t like the idea of “institutionalizing” all of our mentally ill members of society. There absolutely must be a more compassionate and less cold way to help people who are physically or mentally incapable of helping themselves. If only families would take more responsibility for their own family members. I have the same outlook on shoving the elderly in nursing homes as soon as they become an inconvenience. What ever happened to genuinely caring for our weaker society members, even when it’s not always “easy” for us? It’s sad that we’ve become that selfish.
June 22, 2007 at 10:35 am
Hey Tiek,
Agreed. I wish families would take responsibility for their less fortunate loved ones. I think it is that socialistic mentality that society is responsible instead of us being directly responsible for our family members.
June 22, 2007 at 10:44 am
Thanks for the links TT. Of course they got hung up in that nasty moderation queue, but I have rescued them:)
June 22, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Well tieki, you really do prove a point of mine about conservative people. Look back at my sentence you quoted. I refer you to the part where I wrote “at least.” Even though it was there for you to read, and cut and paste it, you totally disregarded that bit of information so to justify your incorrect, and very negative slant towards homeless people.
You may claim your positions to be “fair and balanced” but you are a far far distance from actually achieving it.
As a homeless guy, I spend ‘at least’ 4 hours a day tracking down food and shelter. Add to that all the time I spend as a homeless advocate, and take on odd jobs for cash, and I come of with a total far exceeding 40 hours a week.
There are many homeless people who have full time jobs who in addition spend 4 hours or more a day trying to secure food and shelter - and all the other necessities of life.
June 22, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Dear homeless guy,
No offense, but you are absolutely full of crap. I have no doubt that I could go anywhere in the country, take a crappy job, find a crappy room, and get off the street. So, stop being such a lazy leech off of society, get a hair cut and get a real job, and stop hanging around my mom’s awesome blog.
Seriously, I stand fast to my belief that unless a person is seriously mentally/physically ill, there is no excuse for long-term homelessness. If it’s your pride standing in your way, get over it. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like in order to survive. It’s a fact of life.
Perhaps, at this point in your life, you should spend less time advocating for homeless people and more time getting yourself into a position where you are more capable of helping these homeless people.
Sincerely,
Tieki Rae
June 23, 2007 at 8:53 am
So Tieki,
You are a great expert on things homeless? You have a degree in psychology? sociology? You’ve been seriously studying homelessness for how long? Been working with the homeless for how long? Your opinion is qualified by what? Just your opinion? And you say I’m full of crap? Oh, and you know me? You know my mental and physical conditions, my life history, what actually motivates me? If you think that you understand me by reading my blog, you’re wrong. There is very little information about me on that website. Learn to be real - as in deal with reality as it is, not as you’d wish it to be.
June 24, 2007 at 6:51 am
why do so many people think that the homeless enjoy being homeless, that they’re just too lazy to get up on their feet and want to take advantage of the government? i work at a homeless shelter, and nearly all the people who come to us do not collect the government “handouts” they’re entitled to. 60% of them have serious mental illness. about that same number have a substance abuse problem.
a small percentage of the people i encounter are comfortable with their situation vying for shelter beds or finding enough cardboard to get comfortable elsewhere. the rest want a normal life, and even the “clean” and “sane” ones scrub themselves to a shine, go to the gas station in their sunday best for a job interview, but have to take their belongings with them. the potential employers see their duffel and plastic bags and immediately reject them. but then miraculously some do find a job! they pay off outstanding debts and loans from friends, find a one-bedroom apartment in the ghetto but realize they cannot afford the giant security deposit (in new haven, ct, the average one bedroom apartment is $700/month, so the security deposit is $1050–would you be able to come up with that?).
i grew up in casper. there is no understanding homelessness in wyoming. “live and let live” is just a nice way to say “i don’t care about your story and you don’t have to care about mine.” so long as we don’t have to put a story to the faces, we don’t have to be responsible for the problems in our communities. not a way i want to live.
June 24, 2007 at 8:12 am
Hi puttysauce,
I really don’t think I have to experience homelessness in order to understand that it exists. And who says I’m from WY? Just because I live here now doesn’t mean I’ve been here all my life.
I honestly hope that there is help out there for the 60% of homeless that you say have serious mental issues — but read some of these other comments — you cannot force a person to get help. I guess the ACLU can be thanked for that
. Then again, it seems like some on your side take issue with the idea of the homeless being mentally ill at all. For the drug addicts, you’re right, I don’t care much.
I’ll say it again, listen close, people are responsible for themselves and are not entitled to anything except for life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This doesn’t mean that the government is going to pursue your happiness, but you have the right to do so. Many people are gifted and enjoy helping others who are down on their luck. It’s just a matter of how many times they’re willing to help the same person over and over. If people want to help, I think that’s great. But, don’t be telling others that homeless people are their responsibility because it simply is not the case.
June 25, 2007 at 7:42 am
A little compassion is in order.
Homelessness is rooted in poverty and the lack of affordable housing options.
The housing wage here is currently $15.68 (the rate of pay one must obtain in order to afford a modest, non-luxury apartment.)
The top four employment industries in this county (the sectors employing the most people) compensate workers at less than this housing wage.
That means that most of our workers must put in greater than forty hours a week just to afford a place to live. The average renter will be required to work 55 hours per week to house themselves.
A minimum wage earner must work 86 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, to afford our typical rental unit.
June 25, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Hi sequoia,
There have been many instances in my life that I’ve worked 60 - 80 hours a week just to be able to make ends meet. It was well worth it to have a roof over my head.
You are commenting on someone’s blog that believes that compassion actually amounts to helping people be resourceful and do things for themselves. Giving someone something for nothing on a continual basis is very harmful to the person on the receiving end. It establishes a mentality of entitlement and the principle of stewardship is never gained.
Thanks for your input — though implying I am not compassionate is a bit out of line.
July 15, 2007 at 3:09 am
To Sequoia 101. Have you ever heard of roommates? There are tens of thousands of illegal aliens who arrive in California every week. You don’t see many of them as homeless. They arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs and they find work, below minimum wages, cash only, no benefits and they are actually living in houses and even buying them. If they can do it why can’t people like “thehomelessguy” do it? I think I know. Homeless people want to have the freedom to say “NO”, No to benefits, no to mental health treatment, and NO TO A PROSPECTIVE BOSS. ” How dare anyone tell me what to do—so I think I’ll go be homeless”. Yeah most of us at one time or another have bosses who are a$$holes, but we suck it up and deal with it. I have been “homeless” twice, no problems, I recently got laid off and will soon be collecting unemployment insurance, no problem. I live in an area which has a very high cost of living (California) and I live on less than $40/month for groceries which is only $1.33/day for food. Theoretically. If I were on food stamps at $3.00/day I could save $1.67/day for a savings account (around my area foodstamps are sold like cash so dopers and alcoholics can get their fixes). Lets see $1.67 x 365 days/year = $609.55 a year. Just saving this amount in ten years I know I could save at least $6,099.55 and adding interest would give me a nest egg of over $10,000! AND I AM A HOMELESS! Food: A McDonald Double cheesburger with no charge for tomato lettuce mayo is only $1.08. On the tough days when I want to save more I can spend $1.08 and save .59 for my savings account.
I have to say, NONE of this is a joke. Please don’t feel sorry for me, please. Nine years ago I lost EVERYTHING, HAD NO JOB—NOTHING but literally the clothes on my back and a change of underwear. Before this emergent situation I was paying off a monthly “nut” of about $7,000 month. I learned to no longer use plastic. I have not had ONE steady job in the last 9 years. I AM NOT COMPLAINING! I now have over $500,000 in liquid cash reserves and investments (combined). In my last job I was praying that I would be let go - WHY? I was making too much money. SO far this year I earned over $89,000 AS of last month. I HATE the idea of paying AMT - Alternative Minimum Tax, so the government can thow it away at homeless programs. I am on a temporary vacation until Jan 2008 when I can start making money again. Mr. Homeless Dude, why don’t you do the work I did? I don’t care, just a hint. If you ever want a REAL JOB, don’t go through Human Resources - Those people are the ones who should be homeless. Anyway, I have enjoyed two cross country vacations in the US nice HOTELS and three trips to Europe during my “homeless recovery period” of the past 9 years. I have NO references, and don’t play the HR game. My motto is DOers get paid, everyone else get out of my way. Right now I am relaxing, and NOT looking for shelter or food. BTW I am not a dumpster diver or a FREEGAN, or a salesman, I do however know the value of an aluminum can properly traded for coin. I forgot - I have full health insurance NOT AN HMO with COPAYS! I used the COBRA scam and make sure I can bridge the 18 months between REAL paying jobs. I would never trade my non-jobs for a regular 9-5 EVER, I am making too much money and having too much fun with my 6 months per year “vacations”. Why kiss butt all year for a measly 2-3 week vacation? NOT ME! BTW It is essential to hire a good accountant and financial advisor. I like to dabble in stocks and sold all my REITS, and am buying WALMART and getting ready to buy my first class A stock from Berkshire Hathaway. Its over $100,000 per share! Not many homeless have BERK A stock. My goal next year is to meet Warren Buffett. He is the second richest man in the world and only makes $100,000/year. He still lives in the first house he bought for under $60,000. He still drives an old clunker and prefers to eat at Dairy Queen. Last year he gave many billions to the Gates foundation as CHARITY. Hearing the homeless bleat and whine makes me want to puke. A gentleman this year won a bid to have one dinner with Mr. Buffett. The winning bid was over $650,000. I wonder what Mr. Buffett would say about the voluntarily homeless? Having fun in the Sun in California—and watching the DJ (Dow-Jones) every day.
July 15, 2007 at 8:05 am
Hi Sasquatch,
I think your story is like the eagle’s eggs.
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