TexasCHLforum.com

chasfm11 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 7:55 pm

philip964 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 5:53 pm I have several relatives from two households, in another state, all under 40, they tried working, but were not very successful at it when they tried. They like the life of living indoors, relaxing, watching TV and eating regular meals. So they filed for Social Security disability. They seem quite content.

Apparently the requirements for disability are very low or they know how to work the system.

I would guess these California homeless, enjoy that life or are so mentally ill that they really can't comfortably exist any other way.

I believe the latter is most likely. Here is a private website that talks about what does and what does not qualify.
https://www.learndisability.com/
But I think that the "advocates" for people who what SS disability can work the system and get a lot of people on who probably shouldn't be on.

What I would like to see is what those payments are. I'm drawing SS. I would hate to try to live on what I get anywhere on the West Coast, given the cost of living in those areas. I don't have a mortgage or rent and it still would be tough. I don't have an extravagant lifestyle.

SS disability is easier to get in certain poorer areas of the country, I know first hand due to relatives of mine that were living off of it. I knew a guy that was local to me that legitimately needed it and could not get it. He was stuck in a wheelchair and had seizures yet they would not give it to him. Som of my relatives living in port areas easily got their doctors to recommend it and the SSA put them on disability. These particular relatives could have worked and were able but wanted to live off our tax dollars.

I spent a couple years as a religious volunteer in the local jails and prisons. During that time I did see some men with mental problems that were homeless and were in and out of jail. I have also talked with some of the local pan handlers and after a conversation with them determined they wanted to live the life they did. We have all seen the news stories where they follow the pan handlers and they are driving nice vehicles. I remember one story where the news followed a guy and it turned out he had a 4 year degree and was from Austin, he stated he made 60 grand a year tax free and would just move on to the next city. I talked with one young guy in Alvin while buying him lunch. I told him about Star of Hope and offered to help get him in there. He refused to go, people know they cannot drink or do drugs and have rules to follow so they avoid places like that. I also offered to help him find work but he refused that also. Some people are content living like that.

I think drugs, alcoholism and mental illness play a part of the homeless population but I also think a bigger part is people choosing to live that way (with drug abuse and alcoholism playing into that). There are plenty of organizations that will help the homeless in the Houston area and no reason for anyone to be homeless if they did not want to (with the exception of those with mental illness, I think they are stuck in a place that is hard to get out of). People know the liberal areas that are more tolerant and sympathetic of the homeless and they tend to go toward those areas, San Diego is one of those.

I went to San Diego last year for work. After leaving the airport a coworker and I decided to have lunch and were seated by a picture window along the sidewalk. My coworker looked out the window and said “look across the street”. There was a homeless guy “bathing” with the water fountain. I couldn’t believe it, we were eating at an expensive restaurant and had that as our view of the city. There were homeless people everywhere we went.