Help for the homeless

You may want to contact danieljude. I know that he does a lot of work in so many areas, and he may be familiar with the guy that you are speaking of.

Check this post https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?5,127811,128388#msg-128388 for information regarding some of his work.

It's just a place to start, but it might help.

Bratt,

I understand that the fellow that you are talking about doesn't have substance abuse issues but I did want to mention the Crossroads Center that Eric Clapton founded in Antigua for the homeless that are struggling with this issue. They offer free residential treatment for any caribbean islander from any country for those seeking help. I'm not for certian but I do think that they have a special program set up to help pay travel expenses. They also offer placement into a halfway house after the initial month of treatment is completed for those needing to rebuild life skills. What a generous man and foundation!

Molly

And are you sure he is homeless?

First I try to buy them food or offer to take them to one of the thrift shops for clothing. Most refuse so I just give them a few dollars and try to have a chat. There was an idea just recently to establish a voucher thing to redeem for food and personal stuff. It's a great idea but I haven'theard that it is happening yet. My SO gets annoyed with me as as we walk down the street we are always approached by "my friends" looking for something.

Hi, Bombi,

Certainly what you are doing for the homeless is meritorious and I admire your concern and kindness. Ten thousand Helpers in Fredriksted has a program, by the way.

I agree with your SO's attitude, however. Only here two months and I'm shocked by all the charity appeals and requests for donations. Why can't the VI Government do something instead of us (me) all the time? Money spent on the continual succession of parades and festivals could be better used funding mental health and homeless outreach...and did I also mention I'm a charter member of the Scrooge Club, USVI Chapter?

But really, you're doing the most any individual can do. In my jaundiced opinion just keep it up is all you have to do and a way will open to go forward.

Thanks,
PT

pt,
A few years back, a Federal Court ordered the VI Govt to release the homeless from Jail. Jail was the VI Govt solution for the Homeless! I'M wondering what position the scrooge club thinks of that.*-)

Where does the scrooge club generally meet up??

Thanks everyone, I will keep you posted. I would love to be the one that reached out and made a difference in his life.

Hi, Lizard,

I've consulted the membership and the general opinion is "Are there no Workhouses?". This means to me "Yes," being in jail is better than being on the street. Crazy people are regularly incarcerated, if only temporarily, to protect others and themselves. Dreadful things happen to homeless people on the street and at least in prison you are fed and receive a basic amount of care. Being begged for money is common. Pausing for a stop sign, putting stuff in the car after shopping - a woman even begged from us in church after service was over as we were leaving.

Our Founder was a conservative man and desired good order in Society. Of course, this was so he could make more money in business, a prerequisite also wished for today among merchants. My experience has been that while on vacation even being accosted by beggars can subsequently be turned into a funny or curious story for folks "at home" but that if one lives here it's a different matter entirely.

The VI government took the correct course, in our opinion. A naive course, by today's standards. But today's standards are arguably crueler because now the homeless are ignored while in the past they got official recognition, grudgingly, but attention nevertheless.

PT

The homelessness here is a condemnation of the VI people. All of us. It is inexcusable that we allow these people to wander aimlessly, begging from all who pass by. The US provides money for medicaid, social security. Our job is to provide safe homes, mental health care, and life lessons to help these unfortunates get back into life. We could buy them all plane tickets to Florida or Texas, I suppose, like the Mexicans do, but we are not absolved of the responsibility to care for all the people here.

Handing out meals, or money only prolongs and worsens the problem. It enables beggars to continue to harrass visitors and islanders alike. I work hard for the money I have and I hate like anything to have the same people, day after day, harrassing me as I go to work while they just sit around limin' drinking and smoking dope. I would tell them that if they want money, they should get a job, but they are incapable of working. What we need is a shelter for them to stay in, work for them to do, mental health workers to diagnose and treat whatever illnesses they have, teachers to help them learn to live in society fruitfully. Once that is in place, we can arrest beggars and "sentence" them to live there until they are cleaned up and able to move out on their own. If the "native islanders" and their joke of a government won't do it, and are too busy "getting theirs at the expense of everyone else" with their greed, graft and corruption then the rest of us should step up to the plate and put them to shame.

Vote TRW in 2012

Putting a homeless person in jail for being homeless and panhandling doesn't help the homeless person. It may make you feel better if you don't see them and don't have to deal with them. Stats which I hate because they can be skewed for a certain agenda, that being said 90% of all homeless have some type of chemical abuse combined with physical and mental disorders. The homeless population is going to be a growth business with the poor economy, we don't have the poor house system or the almshouse system in ST Croix or the USA for that matter. A lot of people are one paycheck away from being homeless and they have no chemical/physical/mental disorders. Welfare as a safety net doesn't work ,unemployment is short lived, social security if your disabled or older doesn't pay enough. Charities are out of money. Which brings me to this question" Where the hell are the families" for these people. I don't' have the answers or the solutions, but I have had family members with bad problems and we (the family and extended family) never let them live on the street.:X

I have an adult nephew back home who has made a career out of making bad choices. His problems have almost done in my sister and brother-in-law. It is easy to say "where are the familys?", but I know from personal experience that some of these folks have just worn their families out. Every time I see my nephew I feel like shaking him!! My sister has worked hard for many years and just when she should be enjoying the fruits of her labors, she is dealing with an expensive, frustrating, heartbreaking problem she can't fix.

These people are mentally ill, which is why they abuse substances and panhadle on the working folks. The problem is serious and as noted above is going to get worse. The churches are providing food and clothing, but many do not avail themselves of it. Some are too schizophrenic to know what to do. I wonder if there is an empty building we could confiscate from the government to use to shelter these folks and begin their rehabilitation?

Didn't the senators all pledge 20% of their income to help the homeless a few months ago? Or did I dream that?

No I didn't dream it............................... http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2009/08/07/senators-officials-say-they-support-pay-cut-fund-homeless-service

LindaJ,
My following statement is not meant to be sarcastic or argumentative, I can be empathetic and sympathetic of your sisters past and present challenges. However there is no expiration date on the responsibilities of being a parent. A child becomes emancipated at age 18 or earlier by Court Order, That doesn't mean their on their own, its just a legal term. Some need a leg up years after the so called adult status becomes effective. I understand an alley cat will take care of her kittens until they reach a certain age and then they are on their own. We are not alley cats.The words, I'M worn out, it's expensive, frustrating, heartbreaking, I can't fix it are only words or statements, they do not give you a free pass to walk away. My Grandfather use to say the first 100 years are the hardest. The Johnson&Johnson family recently lost their daughter (they cut her off) now she is dead.

there is this homeless man downtown christiansted. (carrys sticks around and hes old) and OMG does he ever stink. i could smell him a block away.... wish someone would clean him up. i feel for him but then again not sure if he is harmless or not.

Sorry, but a 38 year old man, who has sucked at the familial tit for almost his whole adult life has no right to expect more. Nor should society as a whole expect it for him. This man's problems are entirely of his own doing. He is not mentally ill, at least not in the traditional meaning of the word. His parents have done all they could. My father has "lent" him money he couldn't afford to lose but did. Should they re-mortgage their home (for the second time) to bail him out of jail? My answer is no. If he were mine, he'd be on the streets right now. I'm probably the most liberal person you'd ever meet, but I believe strongly is personal responsibility. Help yes, but for how long? What has this man learned, or what is he likely to learn from further help?

Hi, all,

I do know Ten Thousand Helpers had a benefit dance to help homeless people a few weeks ago. Reports of it were in St. Croix Source. The pronlem is out there in the public conciousness. TTH has a half-way house for the homeless in Frederiksted across the street from St. Patrick Church.
I admire the concern people show for the homeless. I myself never give money when begged for it and always heard it just perpetuates a bad situation. I agree with you all, though. Nobody should have to live like that. People go to warm climates to bum around easier but there is something immoral and disgraceful that it should continue and be ignored. TTH seems to be on the right track, as I've heard. They need people to do psychotherapeutic intervention as a start and have no funding now but expect some - I've also heard - in the New Year just beginning.

PT

LindaJ,
We do what we have to do as a Parent Regardless of cost or time.

It's impossible to walk in another's shoes. I can't even go to the idea of casting out my children, but then my children have never been a problem for me, only a joy. I don't give to panhandlers; my husband does. I believe this is an issue that people with strong beliefs should address, and hopefully some others will follow. I personally don't mind that some of my tax dollars goes to help the indigent, but I certainly understand why someone would object when the family doesn't step up or the cause is drug/alcohol related. This world we live in is not fair.