All posts tagged: Homeless

Proposed Oregon legislation would allow homeless people to sue property owners if they harass the homeless or ask them to leave

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Oregon Democrats have presented a bill in the state legislature, the Right to Rest Act, that would legally allow homeless people to set up camps on public and private property, Fox News reports. But the legislation doesn’t stop there. If passed the homeless person would have the right to sue the owner of the property for $1,000 if the owner tries to remove their tent or harass the homeless person in any way. If passed the legislation basically decriminalizes these encampments in a state that is overrun by this type of behavior, which is negatively impacting people’s lives. Fox News reports: “I love Portland, and I love where I live,” Portland homeowner Jacob Adams told “Fox & Friends” in February in a plea to elected officials to do something about a homeless encampment next to his house, where fires and drug activity have terrorized his family.  “I’m asking you to please do something, so the people of the city feel safe.” Armand Martens, an 83-year-old Vietnam veteran who also lives next to Adams, told a …

How Coronado, California ended homelessness

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The city of Coronado has done what most people would think impossible, considering it’s located in California, it has ended homelessness, Fox News reports. The city, which is located in San Diego County and across the bay from San Diego, has the lowest homeless population in the state. This is because the city has taken a unique approach to the problem. Instead of feeding the homeless crisis by providing free drugs and paraphernalia, pandering to their criminal behavior and allowing them to live wherever they want, the city took a hard line. In an interview with Fox and Friends, Mayor Richard Bailey (R) stated that city policies can actually have an impact. He said there are basically two types of homeless, those who want help and those who don’t. The city, along with the police and its homeless services, has implemented policies leaving the homeless with only one option, which is getting the help they need. Along with providing services to help people ‘get back on their feet,’ the mayor said: “We also make it …

What should we do about the homeless?

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We have a dangerous cult in our society, or possibly two working together. Have you met any homeless people lately? Mentally ill, drug addicts, and criminals; that is how most of us see homeless people. I live near a city center, and homeless people are being chased out of their usual neighborhoods by new construction. I think that is why so many are moving into our community. They come with shopping carts and tents, and they settle in public parks. One couple put their tent, and large amounts of personal property, in a corporate parking lot. Imagine coming to work in the morning, and your parking spot is occupied, by a family in a tent. The ‘personal property’ was probably salvaged from garbage bins. I think the problem is growing this summer because the weather is warm. Another driver of this issue is that people, who are not good personal managers, are being chased out of their homes by high costs. When rents go up and people are evicted, they look for a new place …

How to be homeless: Coping without God

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2020 is an interesting year, so far. I don’t think we know how much the world around us is changing, mostly because of the COVID 19 pandemic. Some changes were happening slowly, but our response to a virus is making things move faster. I met some people a few days ago, and they surprised me. I was working at a site, and I took a break for lunch. For me, that’s a fast food snack. As I walked into the food outlet, I saw some young adults standing near me, and someone said ‘We need face masks to go in there.’ They wanted food, and the rules are to wear a mask inside a business. I have a government job and my employers supply me with more PPE than I need, so I gave them face masks and showed them how to use them. We talked for a while, and I remember one man saying that he needed to get a driver’s license from the Government some day. I think the whole group agreed, and …

Helping the poor. Photo Fabian Bockholt/Flickr/Creative Commons

How to best help the poor

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Michael Wooldridge of Muscatine, Iowa recently posted a message to Facebook about an incident that happened to his uncle referred to only as “Mike.” Mike was at a Taco Bell when he saw two men with signs asking for financial help. According to Wooldridge, Mike, who is also a businessman, decided instead of giving these two fellows financial assistance would provide them jobs. However, when he extended the offer the two men turned him down and continued to beg for money. Mike was shocked by their response. So he left, created his own sign, returned and stood behind these two young men with his sign that read: “Offered these guys a job. They said no. Don’t give money.” Angered the two men moved to a different location and Mike apparently joined them there. Eventually the two left. Of course the Facebook comments predictably went one of two directions those who applauded Mike and others who felt sorry for the young men begging for money. What is the Biblical response to this type of situation? As …