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-Homeless in St Pete

Page history last edited by H.I.M. 13 years, 6 months ago

                                                               

 

      Our society is faced with so many problems and endeavors that not just one person can fix them or improve it by themselves. I think we can all make a difference in the community by volunteering our time and become willing to help those who are in need or less fortunate than we are. Making a difference starts by attacking the problems around you, in your community first. Don't bite off what you can't chew and I think that's what most leaders do that end up failing or overwhelming themselves. I think our biggest issue in St. Pete is the homelessness and overall moral and outlook on the city. When I moved to Tampa all I heard people talk about was how gorgeous St. Pete is but the homeless people are so bad, they don't even like going down there to go out to the bars or restaurants. And the problem is, not just that we don't have enough shelters but that we don't have enough opportunities for them. When you see a homeless person you automatically feel bad for them and give them money; we need to stop that. Just handing them money isn't helping them or the current situation, it is actually making matters worse. What we need to do is channel that money into something good and productive for them. I'm not saying that we should stop donating to them altogether but take that money and provide funds so we can build more shelters or create job opportunities for them or keep the soup kitchen running. The way things are right now make it too easy for the homeless to just keep pestering and begging because, they make more money doing that then just living in the shelters. It's like that saying, if you give a person an ear of corn they'll eat it and be hungry later; if you teach that same person how to grow ears of corn, they will know how to do it themselves and live off that.

 

I know that our Governor has tried to resolve this issue or at least cut down the number of them by banning begging for money on the side of the road and making it illegal to be seen with a sign  or asking people for money. But that only makes them find ways around it and be more sneaky about it. I also know that the law was passed that they have to wear the orange vests so people will see them easier making it less dangerous for them on the medians or the side of the roads. Those are all great ideas but realistically, we either need to be more strict on those new laws now or try new ones because realistically, if the homeless are arrested it gives them a bed to sleep in for the night and meal or two which leads to over populating our jails and making it too crowed for the real criminals who need to be placed in there. 

 

My questions are, why, if people are giving these people so much money, there not enough shelters for them to sleep or the soup kitchens are running out of food? Why is it that the homeless are seen going in and out of the liquor stores constantly and the community isn't giving that money to the productive options the city has created for them? And why are there so many just in St. Pete? Are we supporting their bad habits so much that others are flocking? Or is it that the weather and "small town" location is just right for them? 

 

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