LJWorld.com

Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…

Renee Clark makes a follow-up phone call about a job from the Lawrence Community Shelter….

While the guy lounging behind her has been homeless for over 7 years.

hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

And the Journal world continues to give this place news coverage while all the while folks are working all around town trying to make ends meet. See any of the drop in center clients at the library playing video games, smoking in front and all pretty much under 45 years old and able to walk and walk a lot but cannot do any work? pLEASE…Loring Henderson needs to go. His job is yet another patronage job….he is connected to a Lawrence family. What is he doing that is so great at the “shelter'. It is no more a shelter , it is a clubhouse!!

kmat (Anonymous) says…

Typical b.s. on here. Hate those in need instead of trying to help. Here's a story telling something good happening, and all you can do is trash it.

How many at that shelter need some mental help? There are many that because of mental conditions that can not easily find a job or do “typical” work. There are some there that do work, but have fallen on hard times and are trying to get back on their feet. I wonder if any there are part of the growing homeless Iraq vet problem.

Don't judge unless you know the stories behind why these people are there seeking help.

Of course, there will always be a few that will take advantage of the system. The majority really need help!!!

Anytime there is anything on this site about the homeless, all you ever see are nasty posts. I wonder how many of you posters actually help the homeless. My guess would be none of you do. Typical selfish Lawrence attitudes.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Ghandi

smitty (Anonymous) says…

**Lawrence Community Shelter’s board members were notified “out of the blue” and thrilled with the gesture because a $500 donation would fund a month’s stay for someone, director Loring Henderson said.**

I have often used the term poverty pimps in reference to this shelter. Above is an excellent example of why. $500 funds one month for one preson. Why does it take that amonut of money considering all are eligible for foods stamps of over $100 per month per person wwwwith no income, all are accessible to HCA or the emergency room, the overhead is stagnant re: rent and most of the utiliies, much food is provided free by many donations and the kitchens not including food stamp benefits, the city grant is funding the social worker outreach for the homeless, bus tickets donated, on and on.

What costs $500 per month. Poverty pimps are paid regardless of their competence.

If some one retires on ssi at 62 and had paid the minimum into the system they are eligible for $5-600 a month. With that mom and pop pay for rent, utilities, groceries, car expenses/transportation, clothing, etc. True this low income is subject to subsidies for rent, food stamps, and liep, commodities, HCA, etc.

Why does it take the poverty pimps more money by far to do what gramps and grammy are doing on the same amount of money?

smitty (Anonymous) says…

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Ghandi

That quote is of course taken to heart by all those in the shelter.

The typical Lawrence attitude is why our town is a sh!# magnet for the homeless from across the country and nearby cities /counties.

leadrain (Anonymous) says…

Today, I saw a guy panhandling in front of LINK, he was too lazy to make it to Mass. But I bet he could make it to the licqour store.

Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…

There are many problems. I am thinking of running for Commissioner come next election. Think about it…

I'm a formerly homeless person in favor of radical reform on the entire homeless issue, am anti-roundabout, a school drop-out, disabled due to mental illness and a normal joe.

Would be better than “I am a corrupt politician.”.

Confrontation (Anonymous) says…

Do it, Ragingbear!

Edwin (Anonymous) says…

“I will not be giving any money to the united way this year. They fund the places who keep the cycle of poverty going. I will give to whomever I choose, like the animal shelter, or maybe invest in some bus tickets to another county and give them to the shelter.”

Why don't you fund the United Way, but designate where you want your money to go? You can choose which programs you find “worthy” of your cash. Don't waste your money on the Humane Society. Humans could benefit more.

hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

Kmat, explain why able bodied adults can lay around in the gutter on the curbs next to the drop in center and drink. You claim they are mental patients. Then let's build a mental institution. Would you be the first to round them up and give them the caring place you believe they need.

Apparently you are not aware that most of the people at the drop shelter are doing just that……..dropping in. What is that metal shed at the rear? The loafing shed?

What happened to the “painting rocks” projects? While you are so in despair over the pitiful plight of some of “residents' , how bout this? How bout the ones who went to KU, got strung out on drugs and stayed and are now hanging out in Lawrence because their families had enough of their ”&*$%8t.

834 Kentucky is filled with folks on the dole. 900 block of Ohio, and the list goes on. The downtown is nothing more than a ready made center for Poverty Pimps to perpetuate their occupation.

Help is on the way all right. Go to that center that Loring Henderson runs and see if you can find someone, male or female who is willing to work 8 hours with a 15 minute break AND not want to be back at LINK. for lunch. I know , I have hired some. NOt again, the liability is too great.

So take them cookies and stuff yourself!

hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

Confrontation, about the United Way, you can designate but if they get more than they allocated to adesignated agency, you designation is re = designated. Kinda like KU endowment with unrestricted funds. I gave for years and designated until I found out the real scoop and when I found out that a certain husband of a certain commissioner was paid one year to head up the campaign, I really stopped giving. Instead chose to provide funds to a library in a small town, purchased a big screen TV for a nursing home in another state so the residents could view videos sent to them by their families.

so take them cookies and chew on them…………no more money to Lawrence for social service programs!!!!

Bassetlover (Anonymous) says…

Absolutely 100% not true, Hawkperchedattheriver! Every single United Way board member and the campaign chair(s) is a voluntary position for which zero compensation is given. This has always been the policy in Douglas County. The United Way in Douglas County is one of the most noble organizations in our community and is extremely worthy of our support. Too many viable agencies in our county will be forced to close their doors without United Way support. United Way changes lives for the better. Period.

TC (Anonymous) says…

Wow, the compassion for your fellow man is heartwarming. It's not that easy for a homeless person to “just go out and get a job”. I see many wanting to work but no one wants to give them a hand because they are just “dirty homeless people” or are pigeonholed as some of you are doing and viewed as “lazy” and deserve to be homeless or are homeless because they want to be. Your prejudice in this matter is disgusting. They can't just easily get a decent job because they have no address or contact phone number to put on an application and many places won't hire them because they have no permanent residence.

How about the veterans who have mental/emotional problems from fighting in this war, or past wars? Do they deserve a little help after serving their country and losing limbs or suffering brain injuries or having trouble coping with the trauma of war? Or do you think that while they sacrificed for our country at some point, they haven't really done anything for you lately except for just being a burden on society, so screw 'em.

Do people abuse the system? Sure. Does that mean that the entire system should be scrapped and everyone in it lumped in with those who abuse it? I, personally, don't think so. If my donation can help even one person who truly needs/wants to get back on their feet then I'm happy to do it.

Did you ever think that maybe so many homeless people drink is because they have no hope left and turn to a bottle? Getting a few hand outs and then buying a drink might look a damn sight better than trying to find work/help when there are people like some of you out there ready to spit on them and judge them without knowing or caring how or why they ended up there. Once a person hits that point, then it's hard to pull yourself out of that mindset. Some may indeed be a lost cause in some sense, but that doesn't mean that they should all be written off.

At any rate, I really don't give a damn about the “plight” of the Lawrence residents if this sentiment is indicative of the mindset towards the homeless. Why should anyone have compassion for you when you don't have any for anyone else?