Homeless man in Neighborhood

[Dufaeth]

An insane homeless man has set up camp down the street from my home. He has spread his stuff out all along the road and made a makeshift tent for when it rains. He dances by the edge of the road and throws sticks and mutters to himself.

I've called the police department twice( I feel bad, but what choice do I have) and they have done nothing.
What would you do? Help!

[progmom]

1. Does he present a danger to you?

Do you honestly not have any choices here, other than to call the police?

[Dufaeth]

5. AFAIK Only in being close to the road as he dances.

More a danger to himself really.

[progmom]

7. It doen't seem like there is anything you can do

...short of providing him a place to live.

[Dufaeth]

8. I'll contact the local mission later

but I have a feeling he'd rather live as he is than at the mission.

[mark414]

2. hmm

give him some food?

some money?

look for local shelters or other resources in the area to help him out?

[Webster Green]

3. Wave of the future....

We'll all be doing it before long.

Buy him a drink?:toast:

[candy]

4. Grin and bear it---not much else you can do--is he on town property!

[demnan]

6. I'd probably throw him some spare change

and forget about it.

[Quakerfriend]

9. Take him some food and show him kindness

He'll probably move on as they often do, if mentally not well.

[Dufaeth]

10. He's been there for a week and a half

Forgot to mention that in my initial post.

[Wcross]

11. Do you have a spare bedroom?

Seriously though I would get in touch with your local homeless shelter, they may even know him. For the time being, he isn't doing anything dangerous so maybe you could give him something to eat or spare change?

[ernstbass]

12. Live and let live

He's obviously mentally ill but he sounds harmless - why not offer him blankets and food?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. how do you know he is insane?

[Dufaeth]

16. His actions.

He flails about, dances wildly, swings sticks around while his face contorts into different expressions, talks to himself. I'm not a doctor though so i suppose there could be another explanation.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

17. possibly, could be an intimidation game

try talking to him. say good morning. find out his name, if there is anything he needs you can provide.

if he is truly insane, he needs help and can be dangerous

[Dufaeth]

18. People generally don't walk past him,

only drive. I hadn't considered the possibility of it being an intimidation game but it could be as sometimes he looks like he is going to throw sticks at cars but I haven't seen him actually follow through.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

19. I have found that lots of times, they want to be left alone, and

have various ways of keeping people at a distance.

Especially since he is new in the area.

Slow down, roll down the window, see if he answers civilly, if he does, it is probably a Territorial game.

[faithnotgreed]

14. i havent posted much lately but i will say this: blivet** may be insane

but those who are homeless just do not deserve to be characterized as such unless it is a clinical diagnosis and even then the body politic can be involved in that labelling. besides which there are many pivotal reasons why people get to this point. i know you know this but i just wanted to express my feelings about this issue so i say this in general and not directed at anyone.

i have never and will never understand how pushed aside so many people are. and not just those who are homeless. i include animals in that as well but i know thats another conversation

homelessness and poverty is such a deep rooted, complex issue and i understand that you and many others sometimes feel afraid (is that accurate? i dont want to speak for you) when confronted with people who act in ways we are not used to and dont know what to do with

in my heart i fel strongly they are human beings who have been discarded on so many levels.
i just am very sad to see this kind of post. i know there are all kinds of people whether they have homes or not. and people of all kinds pose a threat (depending on the interpretation) but are we ALL so detached from our humanity - and theirs - that we just cannot see how far that all of us have fallen?

i do understand that people who have real illness do act in ways that feel and are threatening sometimes so i dont want to minimize if you or anyone feel that. i know it can be startling to confront this kind of situation when its unclear what someone is about and very upsetting when someone wants to hurt you

best wishes to all our brothers and sisters who share time on this earth.
God bless....

[Dufaeth]

15. I'm not really frightened,

The city I live in has a large homeless population, a large section of which is mentally handicapped. The state doesn't have the inclination or money to care for them(red state) so they are left homeless. I assume he is insane based on his actions. I have met and had conversation with many rational homeless people and this person is definitely insane.

[progmom]

20. what a very caring post

You said very eloquently what I was feeling. Thanks. :hug: