Freezing weather in Poland, 42 people dead in winter freeze... and no-one cares?

I've talked to a lot of homeless guys, and only a few homeless girls. For some reason it seems guys are more likely to end up homeless? Maybe this has to do something with broken relationships? Social repression? Regardless, I know most homeless people have some kind of a trauma, or just a lot of bad luck!


Some would, that much is true. But I keep hearing the exact same comment over and over, and if you ask me, I think it's a weak excuse not to help the ones who wouldn't refuse.


I've seen succesful moviestars who used to be homeless. I've seen a girl write a best-seller who used to be homeless. You have no idea how many people actually end up homeless each year, and most of these people are perfectly sane. Stress and problems can turn someone into a proper mess, and if there's no one around to help at that time, it's too easy to lose everything.

Getting back on your own two feet is much harder, trust me. They won't allow you to work, because you have no address. They won't allow you to open a bank account, because you have no work. It's a downward spiral, even for people who are perfectly sane, strong and capable. (Don't ever make the mistake of thinking these people are too lazy too work.)

Most of them are people like you and me, the only difference is, they didn't have anyone who cared when they got into trouble. Some have mental problems, and some have been beaten, threatened and chased off by people so many times, they don't really trust people anymore. Some of them are much like hunted animals.

I gave a homeless guy 50 € just a few months ago. He walked by, and after a few moments he asked me if I had something to spare. I said: Ofcourse man. I didn't look in my wallet earlier, and I thought I had some small money. I didn't. I only had 50 €. So I gave him that.

Everyone was staring at me like I was crazy. (A girl who saw it smiled though!) Anyway, some people said: What are you doing? He'll only buy drugs! I said: He doesn't look like a junkie to me. He couldn't believe his eyes, and thanked me a few times. I said: Just go on and buy something for yourself.

I stood there, and the guy couldn't believe I gave him that. He had tears in his eyes, and I watched him cross the street, go into a shop across the road, and he came out with a bottle of mineral water, a whole bread, a toothbrush, a packadge of cigarettes, (Hey, I don't blame him, I sometimes smoke!) and some meat. He came back to me and he wanted to talk a little. He said he had mental problems, and I told him I've had them myself. I told him a few things about myself. I told him he could either do nothing, and ask for money to someone else, because I wouldn't give him anymore if he didn't do something. I told him he was too young to give up so easily. I said: Look at me, I'm just a normal guy, who had some problems, like you have now. I said: You can come out of this if you really want to. I friendly pointed out that the other homeless guy across the street was beyond help, and that it didn't have to be that way for him. I said: You might have some problems, but you seem sensible enough. I gave him advice, and told him about a center for cases like him. He listened.

He promised me that he was going to use the rest of the money to go to Amsterdam to look for help. (I remember I was thinking: I don't believe a word of it, but I hope I made your evening!) Guess what? I contacted the center, and actually checked on him a few days ago.

He's doing much better now. He's recieving mental care. You know what he said? I gave him something he didn't expect. He thought everything in this world was rotten. He didn't trust anyone. I showed him some people actually want to help. I showed him not everyone is selfish. I showed him I was just like him. I gave him trust, and I gave him hope. I restored some of his trust. Enough trust to look for help.

He's doing a course now. He's going to be a mason. The guy was only one year younger than me. He also told me that if there was anything he could ever do for me, I would only have to ask.

I told him; You're already doing something for me. You're alive, and you've done exactly what you said you would do, and now you're about to make yourself useful again, and I know you will help someone else when he or she asks you.

The guy was baffled. I just smiled, asked him for a cigarette, and I walked off. I feel happy about doing this. Yes, I'm crazy, I helped someone who reluctantly asked me. I'm such a softie. I'm such a weakling. I didn't give it to him just like that though, I told him to tell me a bit of his story first, and while he was doing that I observed him a little.

He didn't smell, he looked as if he had only been homeless for a few weeks, (Most of his clothes were intact, if a bit dirty!) He didn't have a yellowish or pale grey skin, (Drug addict!) and he didn't smell of alcohol or weed. Worst of all, he was well-spoken, Dutch, blonde, and had blue eyes. Just like me. He made sense.

This is not a ******** story. It's what happened. So don't just give someone a bit of money, listen to someone's story first. Give someone advice if you think it might help. Restore some of his or her dignity. Give him or her a bit of hope. Show him or her that he or she matters. It matters a great deal. Regardless of who's fault or shortcoming it is, he or she is a human being, just like you.

I won't lie, I felt really stupid for giving him that much at first, but I'm happy for it now.

:)

These are the ones who will go to the shelters, get on a waiting list for housing, let the counselors help them find employment. Then, you have the chronic homeless who actually want to be living on the streets, apart from the shelters, in their own makeshift shelters or tent villages. You cannot convince them to go to shelters.

It's like that in NYC. People would rather live in the subway than in a shelter. How you going to talk someone like that in out of the cold? When I was in NYC, I saw a guy try to give a homeless man a piece of paper with the name of a shelter on it and the homeless man practically went ballistic about how no one could make him go to it and that shelters were horrid places. What would you do when confronted by that reaction?

Thats a great story mate , good on you...I did a very similar thing way back when i lived in London... I met a guy sat in a doorway in Blackheath , a vagrant.. Nothing unusual about a vagrant , but you don,t see them in Blackheath , its a place where people with money lived , i was one of them... The thing that drew my attention was that this guy wore an old army medal , and yes it was genuine , he was an old soldier who had fallen on hard times... I guessed if i gave him money he would have spent it on drink , so i rode my motorcycle home , and came back with some clothes for him , a whole pile of food . and yes i also gave him a fistfull of money... He said he would use the money to go to see his sister in Scotland , he had been reluctant to do so before due to his grubby appearance , but now he had the money for a hotel , some new clothes and his fare to Scotland....I wasn,t convinced he would actually do it , but i gave him my address and told him to let me know how he got on....

I didn,t hear from him untill a year and a half later , he was living in Scotland , the manager of a sports shop , and was engaged to be married....I went to his wedding later that year.... he says i saved his life , i doubt thats true , but i like to think i gave him a hand....

I'd ask him why, and I know I would try to take him seriously.


Hey, you'd be surprised about how much a simple friendly gesture can change for such people. You did more than me Wildrover, I just gave him money. It's good to know some people care.

:)

What if he's really irritated at you and walking away telling everyone within hearing distance shelters are bad places and talking about different bad experiences he had at various ones to anyone who happens to be standing on the sidelines.

You might try something like "this one is different, give it a try", hoping he'll hear it as he quickly walks away, but he will be too cynical and untrusting to believe you. That's reality of the chronically homeless.

i just came back from warsaw a few days back!-I was out shopping few nights ago in warsaw and came accross this old man who was sobbing his heart out because he was homeless and had no where to go plus he had a huge amount of bags of clothes,etc! out of the goodness of my own heart , I came up to him and said " jestem scotzia nie polski" and handed him 55 zlt and a pack of ciggarettes his eyes lit up, kissed my hand and said thank you very much in polish ( dont know how to spell it in polish lol)

people have told me you should never have done that - but im too good hearted and dont do things for self gratification! plastic pole, think yourself lucky to have a golden spoon in your mouth - I was homeless once before in scotland - slept on the streets, stayed in rather ****** ( if u pardon my expression) homeless hostels in glasgow, bed and breakfasts in many places all over scotland! No fault of my own - simply because I was an orphan and was in the care of the authorities untill i was 16 then the authorities -litterly speaking- said " honey your 16, u have to go through the homeless system to get a house, your on your own - out the door!

I got my house at 19, done many college and university courses, worked my ass off as well - trying to basically find my own feet! eventually got there!

Im 24 now and gonna be moving house again and completing my diploma in computer art and design and I hope to go to university after that and do a degree in forensic/medical art also!

If I was homeless poland - I wouldnt survive 5 mins - the amount of stories ive heard is heart breaking - theres a lot of people from all walks of life who have had some bouts of bad luck in their lives and would give an arm and a leg to get their lives back on track! The problem over there is and most parts of the world too is the old old stereotype - your homeless, your worthless, you deserve to live in the ****! you made your bed so sleep on it!

yet criminals i.e pedo's,murders can have a roof over their heads and have a bed to sleep on????
come on!! WAKE UP!!!!

I hate to sound like a tit when i say this - I'd rather be homeless in my country than in poland - at least here there are so many organisations (even though there not the best and yet we complain a lot about it but still) out there that can help people get their feet on the ground at least and have a roof over their heads! only select few have that!

I feel lucky to have been given the chance to make something out of my life rather to take it for granted! As the saying goes what makes you stronger wont hurt you!

I remember a few years back tony blair giving away £7 billion pounds of OUR TAX MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOME EU TAX FUND REBATE - we told him to spend it here and help the nhs,etc instead he gave it away to poland.czech republic,slovakia to repair their roads,improve the health care system and help the poorest of the poor i.e homeless people get their lives sorted out!...hmmmm!!...makes you wonder!!

Typical of goverments - look out for the upper,middle classes and themselves and to hell with the not so well off!

same old story - when will it ever end?

anyway! Although its not a lot - but thats like a days wages to some pole so at least it might help him get what he needs! -even if its a few beers and some food or he might be clever and put it away in the bank (if he has a bank account that is) and save it for another rainy day!

Sounds like, from your story, you would want him to give it to Eastern Europe to help the homeless out.

Those are wonderful stories, but a bit unrealistic in my neck of the woods. In my experience, the homeless have much bigger problems then a lack of roof over their heads. Vast majority of them are addicted to drugs or alcohol and have "unresolved" issues that need way more help then good-hearted laymen can provide with an occasional donation.

Now, with todays economy I do believe that some normal, hardworking people will find themselves homeless, I'm just saying that I have not met any. Also, I know about 10 homeless people, so my sample pool is pretty small.

personally! i think he shouldve at least split it fairly between us however never mind! Some of us were thinking ok, fair enough were richer than them lets do it! That money that was given to the polish and eastern european governments, theyre using it mostly for themselves and very little to help the not so well off,repairing roads,etc - ok theyve done some improvements such as cleaning up some old historical buildings in warsaw krakow,etc..woohoo!..not much!

sigh! Governments are all the same worldwide!! corrupt,devious,greedy little feckers

Remember a few years back with bono and geldoff giving it all " we can end poverty in one week" by holding a few "end world poverty" concerts in some parts of the world and all the governments around the world giving it all "yeah lets do it together we will put in some money and stop it all lalaalla"...pfffff hahaaah...whatever happend to that???

absolute prententious nonsense!

Wrong G, nobody choses to sleep on the streets or to become an alcoholic.


You hit the nail on the head.

I worked one Christmas eve giving out food to the homeless at a soup kitchen, it was one of the most humbling things I have ever done.

When the cold snap hits people die, not only homeless but also the neglected elderly, we live in developed countries, this kind of thing really shouldnt happen, but it does.

I wouldn't say it's a matter of chance, you have a choice put the bottle away or keep on drinking. And you need a lot of strong will to say "stop" and it's a choice again.

no homeless in wealthy usa, etc? tens of tousands are dying under the bridges. they aren't news, but, when a wealthy person dies in bed news are all over headlines of newspapers.

capitalism loves wealthy people who are 5% of world. if you ordinary folks (90% of world) give all resources of the wealth to these few people this is the result what you will get. homelesses will die without big news, you will work hard for them fews to live in luxury without working. no difference between top 5% and bottom 5%. the both don't work. the rest works, top 5% get the life.

by the way, religions? several years ago, local people in this town were donating money to make a new mosque. i warned them, old mosque is enough for you and you should construct social houses for homelesses etc. they attacked me calling nonreligious godless man, etc etc. the next winter, a homeless mental man died in the toilet of mosque due to the cold. however, they blamed others as usual. i know how wealthy curches, syngoges, etc are. they believe gods? i think their gods dont like their believers who are nothing but capitalist mentals.

anyway, when capitalism operate more and more you will forget the humans, feelings etc one day, do not worry.

yeah... you miss socialism? sure, it was *much* better then...

poland hasnt lived the true socialism. it was a fake socialism, russian nationalist socialism.. but, still better than capitalism which hurts ordinary folks without thinking a second. you will learn. actually, you know as you lived pre-1900, but, you forgot. weak human memory.

cant they drink outside and then go back in the shelter when they finishes drinking?

Its ridiculous that people are still dying of cold weather in this day and age.

they are so drunk that they are unable to find the shelter. it is not different than drunk hubbies who are unable to insert the key into the door lock.

Which are only a few out of thousands of people who aren't. I hope you'll always remember that.

:)


I wouldn't say everyone in the government thinks like that, but I know many who are too selfish to carry any responsibility for others. (Isn't that exactly why some people should get into politics?) It's a good thing some people realize they have a chance to do something for all the people out there in their positions, otherwise it would've been much worse than it is today.


Exactly my thoughts.

:)

"frd:
Wrong G, nobody choses to sleep on the streets or to become an alcoholic."

I read an article about a few homeless people from Poznan. some of them did choose such life; left their homes once, started living on the streets, never claimed for anything from their previous life. you will never be 100% certain, what has made these people live like that and you shouldn't.

1) In every coutries unfortunately people die when weather became extreme (hot or cold). Is bad and unacceptable but I also realised that is the sad fact and will be like this forever, perhaps worsen.

2) What made you think that Poland state care? Perhaps you watch Polish political advertisment and not the Russian one? From what you see on a daily life, you will found that it is all the same in the eastern part, hopefully this will improve....in years

3) Yes, again unfortunately some of those homeless (alcoholic ones) you can't really do much about them, as above posts said, they care only alcohol.

Is sad, but true.

#define 'true socialism'

and nope- socialism also hurts people, even more than capitalism (how many people left that 'harmful capitalism' and moved into socialistic paradises? and how many people escaped from those 'paradise'?)

I couldn't PM you, so I'm sorry if this a bit off-topic, but I've got a question for you. (Feel free to PM me!) How did you finance your study? (See, I'm still working my ass off and I really, really, really want to go to college.)

:)

I can define True Socialism very easily, very simply, but, it won't be understood by complicated chaotic minds. It is better to live step by step. Life isn't for free for people who claim capitalism is good.

Paradise? Well, before 18th century, all over the world were monarchy only and the vote/election/republicans/democracy, etc defenders were being called as paradise followers even by ordinary folks like you. About 250 years past since then. Few monarchies still alive today living in their paradise palaces now.

If you feel sorry for them, why don't you simply take them all home, eh?
And stop asking others why they can't help.

mira

say truth please. are you not sorry for them at all? or, maybe, you are sorry only when your basketball team loses a game.

umm...my basketball team?what are you on about?
I do feel sorry for SOME of them since I can understand that different things can happen to a person and you don't choose to be homeless. However, many of those people have a problem with alcohol and, when I read Amathyst's post it makes me laugh "You don't choose to be an alcoholic".Nahh, of course you don't, vodka just pours into your mouth without you being aware of it.ha. ha.

I'm not for helping those people until they decide to help themselves first.

good logic. except a small missing mistake. take spastics. they are physically spastics. do they know how to help themselves? or, take mind spastics like bush, etc who killing millions to help themselves. who are killing and being killed? ordinary folks.. and i know of many war veterans who became alcoholics and homeless people. i am not sad for suchs at all! they shouldnt have been a pinions of war kings, capitalists, etc, but, am sad for those who were against the mentality of bush and against the capitalism supporters who help themselves while they feed the capitalism monster greed more and more... basketball team players making millions of dollars for little works, and they helping themselves to make such much money or you helping them?

i think you dont understand the real homeless people who chose such a life for themselves. they just dont want to be a part of your dirty system with the monsters sucking bloods like vampires. i too could be out there with them, but, i chosed to fight against the mentality like yours. i think you too think similar things, but, you fear the capitalist monsters. stop fearing, they are cowards. really.. all they can do is to make nukes but they can NEVER use them. They must be brave to do this.

Ok, this was a rambling post, but, to understand homeless people, you need to think the global things such as capitalism, basketball players making millions of dollars while you do only a little, blood suckers, etc etc etc. similar to what your bush said: you are either with this dirty sick mentality or against this mentality and with Socialist World mentality. So simple.

If you are in a city like NYC, that's hundreds of people. All of them are exposed to the elements, so it's not safe for them, but, they choose to live that way.

In NYC, you got homeless who would rather just stay in the subway, and I am sure it's not the only city that's like that.

You are welcome to visit my offices in Poznan anytime.. Even pay your train-fare if your that hard-up...

I have a heart you see, rather than posting spiteful bile like yourself

Yes, and thousands of other homeless people who are also exposed to the elements, who simply do not choose to live that way.

I could show you something about a special newspaper we have in Holland. It's called the ''Daklozenkrant''. (The Homeless Newspaper.)

You can buy these of homeless people who are standing in crowded areas. (Such as the entrance of the shopping mall!) By buying a newspaper from them, you're actually helping them. I think this newspaper is pretty interesting, because you get to read articles about social care, and even the life stories of all kinds of people who have been homeless. (That's how I know that even moviestars and other succesful people here actually have been homeless once.)

I know the actual figures in my country, and I know only a few really choose to live that way. (I think people really aren't *that* much different overseas?)

:)

In NYC, those go to the shelters and stay there. There's a huge difference between the chronically homeless who are experiencing varying problems and people who are poor and have no money for an apartment. The ones who have no money and that's it usually find their way out, while those with other problems are the ones who are in danger of becoming chronic street people. They usually have either mental illness or substance abuse problems. Sometimes, they have terrible rap sheets which keep them from finding employment.

I keep refering to NYC, but it could be one of several major cities that fit this pattern. That one just has the most homeless because it has the most people.

If you ever want to find out for sure, visit NYC. It will give you a new perspective. Some people will not go to a shelter simply because one shelter rule is they must take a shower before they stay. They won't go just because of that.