In Hamburg there is a place where they can spend the night but many don't use it because there they lose their belongings. As you mentioned drugs/alcohol (more the latter) is one of the causes here also. This is an image that tells a story Marsha.

It is difficult to understand why society allows this to happen!..If not for the good nature of a great many concerned people...there would be many more like this on the streets...it is happening world wide too!

very thoughtful posting Marsha

Intelligent and Demanding of Attention, Marsha! ...only the Most civilized of Nations pay regard to Infrastructure, and place a Value upon their Denizens...
Perhaps we should Alot this kind of Care towards greedy Corporations and Irresponsible money-grabbers, First and Foremost?

The problem is a complex one, universal and one of the hardest to solve. It shows your sensitiveness and alertness to social, psychological and economical problems. Myself have no idea how to treat the homeless even, whether they shall be put into one category or many different categories... Even that is difficult to start with. I have quite a number of "acquainted" guys [for people living in the centre of a big city, it is most common phenomenon], and it does not make it any easier to help - let alone any judgements or general solutions. Looks like you have touched a very painful ulcer on social organism. One thing we, on Caedes, might do would be to organise some kind of contest and in the course of posting, uploading make a brain storm to compare our experiences from various countries represented here, thus solutions might follow... Although I have serious doubts whether anybody here represents any kind of authorities. THen it would be only to ease our conscience.
SAM

Thought provoking and haunting image Marsha and one I saw way too often on the streets in the Loop where I worked for 31 years. A complex problem with no clear cut answers.

This is a huge problem, and your image speaks for itself, I think this problem will just continue to get worse, as the wealthy get wealthier. The margin gap is growing. Tigs♥ =^..^=

You have stirred up some great comments Jen-Nay.
The world is becoming so crowded that I wonder where it will end.
Each person is a separate story and cannot be pigeonholed.
I wish I were intelligent enough to give the answer but alas, I am not. I just help the ones I can.

TicK

(Viewed Full Screen)

As a victim of outsourcing of my career and livelihood myself, I can relate...These so-called "Career Counselors" say, "Well, you aren't in one of the stable or worthwhile careers or positions..." Even if you ARE, many of the jobs have been outsourced (if feasible), made temporary or P/T to combat the healthcare mandates (or just to save money), or are on a "Need to Know Basis" (i.e. reserved for relatives, friends, or cronies of those already established within a company)...

Much of this "recovery" jargon the politicians and economists spew is nothing more than whitewash...A good number of the jobs are gone and for the present, show no signs of returning...You cannot create, nor revitalize...what you no longer have...

Good presentation...Faved...

So many of them here in our small town too! So terrible!!! Great color and textures in this Marsha!!!

It's a big problem up here also, it truly is so sad to see. Wonderful shot and colour

Sad and realistic. We have that, too, unfortunately. You made nice work, Marsha.

SAME STORY HERE IN VANCOUVER CANADA!!

I haven't seen this here, but I know we have it, too. Good for you that you made this capture.

I still say there should be a photo journalism gallery here at Caedes, for photos like yours. There are homeless people here in North Dakota as well, the challenge for them being even greater as bitter winter approaches, but our state has the lowest unemployment percentage in the nation right now. Occasionally I see one of these folks at the end of an interstate ramp in Bismarck, the capital city, and I have to wonder how dedicated some of them are in looking for or finding a job in one of the healthiest markets in America. Right now there are about 1,000 job openings in central North Dakota, with starting salaries at some fast food places around $15 or more an hour—this weekend I saw a sign at a McDonalds that promised a $500 sign-up bonus. On the flip side, I've also seen these guys at the ramp sometimes toss away a cigarette (now over $5 a pack for some brands) as a car comes up the ramp, and even one guy who tucked his mp3 headphones inside his jacket so an oncoming driver wouldn't see them. There are some that are legitimately homeless and others who prefer to live this way. This is nothing new, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote in his Sherlock Holmes story, "The Man With the Twisted Lip," in December of 1891, whereupon a high-society man lived a double life, the other being that of a homeless beggar who collected more than the national average salary by the good will of his peers.

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/TwisLip.shtml

Nonetheless, this is a human condition that will present a challenge forever, I'm afraid.

-Nik

In Britain the media is completely concealing the news of Americas new homeless population. However my sister in Canada knows about it while I discovered it on YouTube. I've seen documentaries about evicted families sleeping in their cars, & partners separated from one another while chasing temporary jobs. If comfortable American citizens fail to complain about the selfish neglect of employers/government responsibilities towards the unemployed watch out. Who will be the next? your aunty, your son or maybe even you!