The problem of New York City homelessness

A feeling of disgust followed by the sight and sent of decay and filth is a common sight on the streets around Pace University. It is unfortunate, but there are homeless people everywhere. Every time I walk by a homeless being, I feel inclined to help.

After all I am attending a prestigious university and they are rotting on the side of the street. But before getting sucked into the homeless trap, be aware. The homeless trap is simply when a homeless person begs and pleads for money, but then uses it for something else than what they say they need it for. How can you feel bad for someone who just wants to buy alcohol or drugs when they have no home, no food and nothing to claim to their life but a street corner? Sometimes I will respond in an attack-like attitude. "Why do you need 50 cents?" I'll ask. I know its rude, but honestly, how is 50 cents going to get anyone off the streets? It simply won't do anything.

Homelessness is a growing epidemic that never stopped. It has been around forever, and it is saddening, but people tend to forget that everyone has the power to make decisions, and sometimes people make the wrong ones. Granted they should not end up on the streets for their mistakes, but life has its setbacks.

When walking to classes on Park Row, sometimes there are homeless people racked in the corner. Even walking through City Hall Park, it is plagued with dirty people sitting in boxes covered in old newspapers.

Harsh, yes, but I did a good deed. No longer will I give these lost souls money. Instead, I give them things that they actually need. Today I gave a homeless man a bottle of water. But then he started to follow me as if he deserved to have my life savings. That I just think is rude. Can't a good deed be done and that be it? Why do people who have nothing always expect more than they should get.

As Bob Dylan says, when you got nothing, you got nothing to lose. If your feeling generous and want bums to get off the street, give them food, give them water, but refrain from money. Giving them change now and than won't let them buy a house, it won't get them a car; it won't bring back their family. So why try, why crush their morale and think that they are actually going to make it somewhere with 80 cents in their pocket. People never realize how the decisions in life you make can effect the way your life turns out.

So stay in college, stay off the streets, and lend a helping hand. Just hope that its for a good cause though, and not for something that lead them onto the street In the first place. Homelessness will never end if people don't start to help. But as the economy continues to fall lower and lower into a pool of hopelessness, it is up to the next president to turn this country around.

Can homelessness be solved? Or will the 600 million or more people living on the streets be doomed forever?

Read a response to this op-ed here:http://www.pacepress.org/media/storage/paper424/news/2008/10/08/OpinionsEditorials/Response.To.Nyc.Homelessness.Problem-3476666.shtml

Note: The opinions reflected in our OP-ED pages are not representative of The Pace Press