I talked to some people about the Homeless

[Hexen]

I was talking to few people recently and there was a news entry on their TV that brought up the subject of evicting homeless squatters and I made a comment that they have no place to go and the people I was with actually applauded they got kicked out saying they should "stay in the shelters and follow the rules and they have diseases from rats" and I replied saying that the reason why they don't stay in the shelters is because they don't want to get into fights and other reasons and I also said they had contempt towards the homeless but one of them retorted saying they donated money....

Is there any response towards these people? Is this a perfect example that class society spits on the homeless people? Well it kinda actually hit me deep inside.

[MustCrushCapitalism]

My best friend used to live in a homeless shelter. My family has almost been kicked out of this mobile home park multiple times, in which case I'd be in the same position. Homeless shelters are absolute shitholes... people shouldn't be living in these places. We have over 24 empty houses for every homeless person in the United States, yet we don't solve the fucking problem because it doesn't profit the banks that own these houses.

It's disgusting that people can view the homeless like that... there are many things in the world that bother me, but a lack of empathy for the homeless is just something that hits me in a personal way. Anyone who can applaud homeless squatters being evicted can fuck off...

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

The ideology of capitalism breeds lack of empathy. Solidarity is a threat to the system, so it tries to destroy it at every turn.

[ArrowLance]

In my experience homeless shelters are often way over capacity.

[Grenzer]

The homeless aren't of particular concern to capitalists, but they are a critical part of the system of capitalism. The homeless and unemployed are crucial in putting a downward pressure in wages and living standards; and as such, the problem will never be solved in capitalism.

[Regicollis]

Also, the homeless are an example of warning to the working class: "This is how you will end up if you don't conform to our rules". Homelessness is yet another tool the bourgeoisie uses to discipline workers.

[brigadista]

the way things are going here - those who show disdain to the homeless are just one step away themselves - just dont realise it -yet....

[Left Leanings]

the way things are going here - those who show disdain to the homeless are just one step away themselves - just dont realise it -yet....

Yep.

And I'm tempted to say it would be poetic justice - but I wouldn't wish homelessness on any one.

All the above posters have pretty much covered it, about destituition and homelessness being a weapon capital weild over workers to keep us in line. same scenario with the dole queue: don't ask for better wages and conditions, or face the sack cos some desperate person on welfare will replace you.

In the UK, Thatcher actively prevented councils building public/social housing, at the same time as giving tenants the 'right o buy' (at very, very generous discounts). So a lot of housing stock has been lost, and not replaced. The waiting list for the allocation of social housing is absolutely enormous.

There are many empty properties belonging to private landlords. Often the rents are too high for people to afford, even if they are in work cos the wages are so low. And many landlords have a policy of not renting to people on Housing Benefit. Even if they did, in most cases it wouldn't meet the full cost of the rent, and the tenant would have to make good the deficit out of their subsistence money.

And homeless shelters are the pits of hell. One of my mates stayed at one after getting out of jail. He is a confident and 'handy' lad, who can 'look after himself' - and even he felt uncomfortable in there.

And charities like the Salvation Army are a fucking joke. My mate went to one of their shelters, and they asked him for £25 for the night. He didn't have it ffs, having just got out of jail.

Also, there is another problem here: hidden homelessness.

There are lots of people who have a roof over their heads. But only cos they doss down on mates' sofas, and do a stint here and there. I had a friend who lived like this for FIFTEEN years. Plus many younger peeps in work, are staying at home longer. There are couples with kids in work, who can't afford to buy or rent, who spend time at one parental home, than the other.