Comments on: “Fresno’s “Nouveaux Pauvre”" part 2

By: Ricardo N.

Ricardo N. — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:05:30 +0000

(November)
I agree with many of the responses posted regarding this article. It’s nice to see that people are willing to give suggestions and are showing concerns regarding the homeless and would like to see a difference be made within this community. But back to the subject on how anthropology could find solutions for the homeless community, as ElicetE stated “I think the best thing anthropology can do is try to understand the problem. If we can get to know the homeless community and understand their basic needs, maybe we can start finding solutions for them”. I believe this approach would be the ideal way to try and come up with a solution to this homeless situation. A way we could improve the homeless situation while applying anthropology can be by studying each person individually, locating their strengths and weaknesses. By obtaining that information we could place them in a job suitable for them and their qualifications. There they would be able to maintain a stable job and help themselves get back on their feet. As we are all aware, Fresno County has many homeless inhabitants, this task will take time and dedication but with the support of people this task could be accomplished. The reason why I believe its better helping the homeless get back on their feet by helping them get a job then rather building a housing project is because building a housing project would only be a temporary solution and not a solution to the problem. If an individual really wants to make a change and succeed then they will maintain the job. If an individual relies on others to find them a place to stay then they will continue relying on others for other needs. There are also many other resources around every corner that aim to give the homeless the basics needs in life, it’s all up to the homeless to take advantage of them.

By: Chirag Patel

Chirag Patel — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:04:33 +0000

Anthropology can help homless in many different ways. I feel anthropology put themselves in homelss shoes and studying each homless person, individually, inquire basic needs and finding their strength and wekness. Anthropolgy does a great job to understand different culture’s around world from their (culture) point of view. I feel anthropology should apply same techniquies to understand homless needs. After all this anthropolgy have better feel about homless and with that information they can help them find suitable jobs that they really would be able to be good at and able to do it. Since the decline of economy many people losing jobs and homes and that is direct cause of increase in homeless populations. I know it is impossible to get all homless from street becuase some are into drugs and they don’t want to loose that previlage. Anthropolgists are working with local goverment to desigan and build houses for homless, so they can be ourt of street. I also think local goverment should work with anthropolgists to educate homless about dangeer of drug use and some kind of motivation class or speech to turn thier life around. There are many factors to look at in homless topic, but it can be resolved with help of anthropologists.

By: Joesph A

Joesph A — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:56:26 +0000

I agree with what your saying HaliC about how homeless people are appreciative when you go up to them or give them something. I have done a couple of field trips where you go to Berkeley and talk to the homeless as well as going into San Francisco food banks to help feed the homeless. It can be scary to go up and start a conversation but, if you just sit down and have a conversation with a homeless person they will talk to you all day. They enjoy the company and like having someone to talk to. When I did this I found many things out about them. for example why they became homeless, what it is like being homeless, and I even asked that if they were given the chance to get a job and make a living would they change their lifestyle. There were only a few people out there that said they were not interested in being given a chance to change their lifes. So I also feel that if anthropologists explorer the lifes of homeless we can do something to help them becasue they are willing to talk to us about their lives.

By: Jose V

Jose V — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:49:03 +0000

I think that it is a great idea to make housing for the homeless or affordable to those in need. But this will not end the fundamental problem of homelessness. This will only get them out of the cold and terrible heat, which is good. I saw the saying on one of blogs “to give a man a fish will feed him one day, but teach the man to fish will feed him a life time” this is a great example of the quote. We should provide housing, but with the exception to help the individual succeed in his social difficulty, therefore helping the person’s reason for becoming a homeless in the first place. Treating the person’s medical, social, or mental issue, will give the individual a greater chance in re-entering society without difficulty.

By: BillyJeaneC

BillyJeaneC — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:45:17 +0000

HaliC I think one of the most beneficial things we can do for our community is by volunteering to help others in need. But your right some people just want to be left alone. There are many who like you said are very appreciative but some are also don’t have anything to do with us. I have encountered many homeless people who just go about their day to day business not bothering people and I’ve also seen some youths bothering them with taunts and insults. Its quite sad but that is the reality we live in. All we can do is try to reach out to those who want our help.

By: BillyJeaneC

BillyJeaneC — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:52:10 +0000

There is that one saying, ” Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime’ I think the efforts of the anthropology professionals are consistent in solving the problem of homelessness. Anthropologist can observe and research individual displaced people to find out what would work best for them. My concern was if we give them help in the form of money, food, and other material things, its not gonna be as beneficial for them in the long run as compared to if the government had more jobs to offer people based on their qualifications. Since the decline of the economy, we have been seeing alot of intellectually qualified and professional individuals who are loosing their jobs and their homes because the have no way of paying for their debts and other financial responsibilities. Once Anthropologist come out with possible solutions on the issue, we can then determined and hopefully solve the problem. Building houses for displaced people and assisting them with food is wonderful but helping them get on their feet and making their own income to be able to support themselves not only benefit each of the people involved but also benefits the government because there are more job markets and people who can work for companies.

By: HaliC

HaliC — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:42:14 +0000

I think this is a great answer to finding the problem. It is so important to get to really know and understand any type of community before someone takes action and tries to help. We must find out their needs to be able to help them most effectively. I believe this is a tough community to get to know the homeless people because many just want to be left alone. When I have gone to Downtown Fresno to feed the homeless and to deliver and decorate Christmas trees, there are many people that will just stay in their home and not want to talk with us. There are also some people that just want someone to talk to and were so appreciative that we came down there to help them out. I think by doing these simple acts, we can really develop relationships with some of the homeless people and get talking with them to find out what they truly need and how to help. We need to find out what they are willing to let us do so they won’t get frustrated with us feeling that we are getting into all their business.

By: Viet T

Viet T — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:10:48 +0000

The homeless issue is a good moment for us to make a distinction between anthropologists and applied anthropologists. There is a vast difference between knowing or learning about this problem and actually taking steps towards doing something. Action and organization are what’s most needed at this point. The homeless community needs help if things are to change, and “Anthropologists” can give them (and represent them) with a solid voice of reason. Individuals enter or remain homeless for individual reasons. We must identify those reasons that keep people homeless, even when certain help such as homeless shelters may be available. Researching this problem at the micro level, on an individual basis, should be part of any strategy that aims to help. Kudos to everyone involved with discussing, searching for, and implementing solutions.

By: JamieA

JamieA — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:11:15 +0000

I think that to fully understand one’s lifestyle, you have to walk in their shoes. This phrase is practical in any situation. Your own perspective may not be similar or can be mis-interpreted by the actual person in focus. In regards to the lifestyle that homeless people encounter, it would be relatively difficult to find someone who would want to alter their own lifestyle to adjust to a homeless person’s living conditions. Although, I think that this would be the best way to get practical information that would generate better responses to acquire change. In some cases being homeless is a choice and in others it is forced. Each person’s reasoning for being in that situation is unique and many attributes vary in consequence. I think that some people who are offered help choose not to take it and there are others who desperately hope for a second chance to change their circumstances. There are resources available to compensate everyone despite what their different opinions may be about their own living conditions. Regardless, we can all agree that a little help, whether it’s sought out or not, can go a long way. Because homelessness effects everyone and not just those people in particular, it should be invested upon the community to get involved and do their part to help assist another human being. We study homeless people when we see them regardless of whether we intend to do so or not by simply observing them. Why not put this to use along with field research to find a solution that can accommodate the homeless population.

By: SarahC

SarahC — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:51:44 +0000

Anyone that has made a trip to downtown Fresno and seen the “tent city” for themselves was probably not very surprised by the article and the amount of homelessness that is prevalent in our city. You cannot argue that times are a bit tougher these days with our struggling economy and increasing job cuts, but I believe that if someone has the desire and will to live a life off the streets they can. There are resources available around every corner that aim to give the homeless the basics needs in life. The article mentions the small shelter sheds used for lodging, but this is only one of the many resources offered by the Poverello House. There is a soup kitchen that offers warm meals, the Holy Cross health clinic that offers free health care, a distribution center that provides clothes, a daycare center and activity classes that teach computer skills and sewing. One of the biggest factors playing a role in homelessness is drug and alcohol abuse. The Poverello House offers a several month program for men who receive shelter and a job as a reward for staying clean. Our society views the homeless as a problem that we need to fix, but that is not at all the case. We can push and shove to try and get the homeless back on their feet, but unless thats what they want themselves, it is not going to happen. I believe anthropologists could help the situation by finding out what we can do to motivate the homeless to work hard and instill a desire to want to change.