r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Garey_Coleman • 10d ago

Where are the homeless supposed to go?

Cities have been cracking down on homeless people so they can’t have encampments or stay on sidewalks. At the same time usually the shelters are full. So those who are unable to get into a shelter, where are they supposed to go?

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u/Irishish Hey, Paramedics! 9d ago edited 8d ago

I know that, speaking as an alcoholic, utter destitution would totally have shamed me into changing my life, and definitely not driven me to say "fuck it, I don't want to care anymore" and just scrounge enough for food and gutter vodka. After all, when you're addicted to something and you are convinced nothing can make you feel as good as that thing, like your life will be meaningless without that thing, it's super easy to just go "well I gotta give this thing up to sleep in a crowded dorm where people might steal my stuff."

EDIT: Sigh. /s.

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u/IDontStealBikes 9d ago

I don’t believe you

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u/panaceaXgrace 9d ago

I've been following a YT channel called Vasya in the Hay, about a Russian man who goes to these places to help people. Many are children of parents who are dead or checked out mentally due to alcohol consumption. I know in the US we have drug and alcohol problems but some of the people in this place in Russia, my god. Children with easily treatable conditions that take their lives because their parents would rather them be disabled to collect a small check instead of getting them care, and all of it spent on alcohol.

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u/suoretaw 9d ago

That unfortunately happens everywhere.

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u/panaceaXgrace 9d ago

Oh yes definitely, I'm just saying the other poster says "I don't believe you" but it's sadly not uncommon for people to live in the dirt and choose alcohol over food. My father was a drug addict and he chose drugs over everything and everyone else. He was a drifter, and he was a scammer who told people he was a disabled Vietnam vet to get sympathy and handouts.

It just made me think, what Irishish said. Reminded me of that channel I'm watching. It happens to be in Russia, but I know it's bad here in the US too.

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u/suoretaw 9d ago

I live in Canada and am a recovering addict. I’ve seen all sorts. It’s really sad. I know I hurt a lot of people when I was using drugs and alcohol, but thankfully no kids. Both my parents are/were alcoholics though so I know how hard it is to be on that end of things, and I hope you’re doing well, and healing, if applicable.

Also, coincidentally, I know an old guy who told me and everyone else he was a vet, for the same reasons. It wasn’t until we naturally lost touch that I learned it wasn’t even close to being true.

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u/pinksocks867 9d ago

I am addicted to nicotine, and when I smoked cigarettes, i absolutely chose them over food on the few occasions that I had to make that choice

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u/panaceaXgrace 8d ago

You know I think I did that a few times too. I smoked for 22 years 2 packs a day but I got the book Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking and quit just like that 15 years ago. I would have bought cigarettes over food if I had to choose, definitely.

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u/IDontStealBikes 8d ago

Congratulations for making that decision carrying it out. That had to be difficult and you had to become very strong. That’s really impressive.

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u/panaceaXgrace 8d ago

Oh thank you! :) I think it just hit me how he talked about how we were all being scammed by the tobacco companies and how they invest so much in keeping us addicted I vowed never to give them another penny. He said by the end of the book I'd be a former smoker, and I was ready at that moment. It sucked for a few weeks but I quit just to spite them for making me so miserable!