2008 Woodie Awards
The problem of New York City homelessness
JENADY GARSHOFSKY
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Opinions & Editorials
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
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
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
John
posted 10/08/08 @ 4:20 PM EST
Dear Jenady,
As a college student, do you only spend money on school supplies? When was the last time that you spent money on something that wasn't an absolute necessity? A sweater? A concert ticket? A cab ride? Late night snacks?
Holding homeless poeple to a higher standard than yourself and your peers is unfair. (Continued…)
Read
posted 10/09/08 @ 12:45 AM EST
http://www.pacepress.org/media/storage/paper424/news/2008/10/08/OpinionsEditorials/Response.To.Nyc.Homelessness.Problem-3476666.shtml
Grumpy McGrumpster
posted 10/12/08 @ 4:30 PM EST
This was the most ridiculous schlop I've ever read from this publication.
Jenady, I pray you take a sociology class, and PLEASE pay attention in English 110. (Continued…)
anna
posted 10/12/08 @ 4:47 PM EST
LMAO!!! this paper has gone way down hill
Everyone used fake names... so I'm Barack
posted 10/12/08 @ 7:09 PM EST
I'm sorry, Jenady, but this school is obviously not prestigious enough if your grammar is still that terrible. If you want to judge people you don't even know please spell and grammar check your tirade first so that it is easier for the rest of us compassionate people to swallow. (Continued…)
Editor
posted 10/13/08 @ 11:04 AM EST
We regret than an opinion piece should, to you, reflect the entirety of the paper, but please take a moment to understand that a) this is one persons's opinion as the op-ed pages provides a forum to the community. (Continued…)
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