Tweeber good for you not many take time to care about others but in this day and age you need to be cautious about who and how much you help others. Irish_mafia78 good points I agree with you.

Allows homelessness, Weezy? I might ask you, too, are YOU serious? You might as well ask why do they ALLOW drunken driving, or even cancer. I'm long winded (text-wise) but I can't even begin to scrape the surface of why homelessness is "allowed". But, there is much info out there for the research-minded. There is also much help out there (probably not nearly enough, but it's not exactly a cut and dried project. It's like trying to keep the sand off your beach towel. Lots of people are doing much, much work toward alleviating it). And there are many things you can do, too, Weezy. Don't ask why-ask what you can do.

i can not believe this city actually allows homelessness! dont let the city of janesville fool you, they have plenty of money, a couple in the car with a child! are you serious! there is plenty of hud housing available, there are section 8 certificates available. they need to get off their seats and start helping these people, so they can help themselves, then after the help is given, if they dont attempt themselves, they should be where there at.

Agreed. The library has many homeless who dwell there daily.
I deal with the homeless often. I've discovered most suffer from mental illnesses. The stereotype is most are drunks who won't work; truth is, most can't work and drink to keep the other parts of their mind from taking over. Bipolar didorder and schizophrenia are what most I have encountered suffer from. Also, death in the family, injury, & felons with horrific records who cannot find work.
No matter how many of their stories I hear, I still feel enough compassion to ensure they have a voucher for the night and warm food. It's not my position to judge them, it's my duty to treat them like humans.
The reason they run away from the volunteers trying to give them care packages is for their own safety.

"Would be nice if they had a daycenter where the tenants could access the paper, the internet, get help with counseling, finding jobs, a phone to call for jobs, apartments, family and maybe even volunteers to transport them to interviews or to get job applications....that would actually help them to get UnHomeless."

Any person can use the Hedberg Library for the newspaper and the internet. If you ask, you can get help, even if you don't have a fixed address. The Job Center has resources for finding jobs, how to finish school, etc.

You might have to do a little work but help is out there.

Geraldine, up until the recent help for homeless men, there has only really been help for women and families...no help for the single homeless male. Places like Echo try to help, but they can only do so much.

I am deeply saddened when I hear that a couple would drag their child into homelessness...I know it happens...but Rock county DOES have places for a family with children to go to. Call Job Center, Echo, Salvation army, etc for referrals to local shelters.

My heart goes out to those without roofs over their heads. Don't be afraid or too prideful to seek help though.

I've been homeless in the past, and even now teeter on the very brink of homelessness. My eldest son has been homeless for the better part of a year or so now...it is not alway easy to fix the problem. I do wish that shelters would be more flexible in their rules as far as times. Most if you are not "in" by a certain time you lose your bed. You are booted out in the morning to wander and find somewhere to hang out until you can come back to sleep. Would be nice if they had a daycenter where the tenants could access the paper, the internet, get help with counseling, finding jobs, a phone to call for jobs, apartments, family and maybe even volunteers to transport them to interviews or to get job applications....that would actually help them to get UnHomeless.

I am not implying that people should not be helped, but I am curious...Should the focus be on helping to get through another day. Or should the effort be to help them get to not homeless???

I have been to a point in my life where I was trying to just go one more day. But there is a point if to many of those one more days are strung together maybe you just give up.

I found it curious that there was no mention of women staying in churches. Are there accomodations in the churches for the homeless women too? Are there soup kitchens in Rock County?

For what its worth, I "wasn't forcing" anyone to come stay. I was merely saying I'd open my doors and my heart to help those in need. I DO have a compassionate heart and care for those less fortunate. I AM one who cares! TCB, My home is not an "internment camp", I'd open my home to anyone in need. Maybe you don't have compassion for those in need, But I DO! You seem to ask the "what ifs" which to me doesn't address the issue. Maybe you wouldn't, But I'd gladly anyday open my hearts to them.

Thanks for your response, TCB. Those are some interesting points about homelessness on the national level. And you're right--the key IS Rock County because that's where we live and that's the homeless population we are faced with supporting as individuals, if we so choose.

However, the GIFTS task force and HITF are not proposing that "generous, wildly expensive public policies" (or any sort of policy for that matter) be put into place to help the county's homeless population. They are helping out where they can and providing the homeless with basic necessities twice a year. Yes, the article poses an interesting question about why some homeless scatter when volunteers come around, and that question is one that stopped me while reading this article. I'm not sure what good answering that question is going to do for the Rock County population, but maybe the HITF will someday find out. I don't think generalizing the problems that abound with public policies in San Francisco and San Diego are relevant to this article, or to Rock County as a whole. Thanks to the HITF and GIFTS task force, as well as numerous parishioners throughout Janesville who are supporting the homeless men's shelter during the winter months.

I have never met a Rock County resident who chooses to be homeless-the key is Rock county. Nationally my experience is much different. This week I was in San Fransisco and San Diego. Anyone who has been to SF can attest to the severe homeless problem which plagues SF. Their solution is to pay people a monthly cash stipend-guess what-there are many more homeless today than last year, and the year before and so on.

I help out when I can, but there is a population that chooses to be homeless. To deny it is rediculous. If someone chooses to be homeless, you cannot simply round up those people because you want to (in the name of help).

One question to ask is why do "homeless people scatter when they hear the volunteers coming"? Why? Its a fair question. Is i due to substance abuse (probably)-emabarassement- or perhap they just want to be left alone.

If generous, wildly expensive public policies actually worked to "cure" homelessness, then why do the most homeless-friendly cities (San Francisco comes instantly to mind) continue to boast the largest – and constantly expanding – populations of chronic vagrants?

TCB--I'd like to hear about your experiences with the homeless population. What do you think the chances are that a person or family chooses to be homeless? Have you met Rock County residents who are choosing to be homeless?

As for the freedom of a homeless person--do you think someone is forcing homeless people into accepting help? I don't think anyone is saying they know what is best for a homeless person. They are just trying to help--the task forces are made up of people who are trying to find solutions. You are making up these "what if" situations and I'm confused as to whether you see these situations happening, or if you are just making things up to learn or condemn alternate viewpoints. If you could clarify your questions and statements, perhaps I could respond more succinctly.

Teeber, et al,

What if one chooses to be homeless. Would you force that person inside? Sounds like an internment camp or prison.

What about the freedom of the homeless person? Are you really saying that you know what's best for them....?

I wish I would of known about that family with a child. I would have gladly let them stay here overnight. It's a shame this country has homeless people let alone Janesville. All the money spent in Iraq or afganistan could of gone to the citizens who are homeless regardless of the reasons.

Here's a link to a December story that includes contact information for a leading member of the GIFTS task force that organized the homeless men's shelter. I believe that you could contact the YWCA for more information about HITF, or look at their website as well--it's very basic and I don't see contact info, but other organizations that support it are listed on there as well.

http://gazettextra.com/news/2007/dec/17/...

This just rips my heart out! I wish they would have printed some contact info for donations or volunteers.

liberte, I agree. I am glad that there is a program like this. NOBODY should have to be homeless.

Leaving care packages at homeless campsites is so compassionate, it leaves me speechless.