Wichita religious leaders who regularly deal with the city’s homeless population told The Eagle editorial board last week that they’re frustrated and fed up with the community’s inaction on this problem. They’ve announced a “Purple Tent Project” to set up purple tents and ribbons on church grounds as a visible protest of the uncaring status quo — and as a call to action.
What’s needed, they say (and we agree in our editorial on today’s Opinion pages), is a permanent 24/7 one-stop shelter where the city’s homeless can find not only shelter and food but also treatment and resources to get back on their feet.
Wichita can largely end chronic homelessness — but only if ordinary citizens get involved and pressure our city and county leaders to fund a solution.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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78 Comments
As Joe would say, they’re homeless because they smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and take drugs.
How can all these people be homeless? I thought there were hundreds of thousands of republicans that object to welfare donating money through their churches to take care of the poor. Could it be that the “faith-based initiative” isn’t working? Heaven forbid!
That’s great as long as no tax dollars is used. The churchs are the ones who should be supporting this project. For the size of Wichita the amount of homeless is low.
I wonder if Joe Wrights Central Christian ( don’t know) or Immanuel Baptists Terry Fox (the place was dark the last time I went by at 8 o’clock) are taking in the homeless this evening.
Professor Matson who teaches Sociology at WSU did a study on the homeless.
He shared with us in class about his experience living with the homeless for a while.
He said that many of them choose to live the way they do. That is their life. I don’t remember all the specifics, but the overall point of it was that many of them had no intention or desire to be “normal” working citizens with homes or get back on their feet.
As usual any opportunity to bash Christians or particular church leaders is never missed even when the topic had little to do with them.
JR,
What exactly are you doing for the homeless this evening?
So, I wonder what the avowed Liberals are doing to get city leaders to start taking care of these human beings in need of dire help?
XXX, you’re not helping the problem by making sarcastic remarks about “faith based” initiatives. I believe it’s the churches in Wichita that are trying to do something about it.
Keith, “Not my (government) money”, huh? Let em die on the street, then sweep em up and dump em in the trash? Ya got a big heart there fella.
JR, gee, did you stop by and ask them if they were doing anything about the problem? Offer to volunteer some time to maybe make life a bit better for these human beings? Drop off a bag of groceries at a church?
My point is, it’s easy to say what others are not doing, it’s more difficult to do what needs to be done ourselves. I’m as guilty as the next. Maybe it’s timew for me to rethink, do something positive and help out. Like the opinion piece says, it will take us all to fix it.
I took a couple of classes with Dr. Matson. I respect him a lot. I’m sure many of them do prefer the homeless lifestyle, but I highly doubt that most of them would be living like that if they had a way out.
It’s the little things, piled up, that make breaking the cycle of homelessness daunting. Things we take for granted. Like, suppose you get cleaned up and go somewhere to fill out an application. What address do you put on the application? What phone number? If someone does hire them, and they work about two months to get enough money to afford an apartment, can they get one with no credit, previous address or references? If they do find an apartment, it needs to be within walking distance of the job because Wichita’s public transportation system is crap.These seem like little problems, but there are thousands of them like this that make the prospect of getting out of a rut like homelessness impossible.
I love the idea of a 24/7 shelter. Something that includes services like Dress for Success and tips for getting a job or going back to school. The churches are doing an excellent job with charity work, but I think this problem is big enough to warrant some big government.
Edit to correct: there are thousands of little problems like this that make the propect of getting out of the rut SEEM impossible. It’s not impossible, but I could see how it could appear that way.
One thing that’s not being addressed is that many of the homeless struggle with mental illness. The population increased when the state institutions were shut down. There was a “safety net” implemented to help them live independantly in the community, but many slipped through the cracks. Now the “safety net” is being threatened with cutbacks (again). Churches can only do so much, and until we address the problems of drug addiction and mental illness with workable solutions, we will always have people living on the streets. It’s a very difficult problem. Many of the homeless are unwilling (or unable, due to cognitive problems and severe mental illness) to take advantage of resources that are offered now.
Walker,”XXX, you’re not helping the problem by making sarcastic remarks about “faith based” initiatives.”
Listen to the pot call the kettle black. You’re one of the most sarcastic posters on this blog.
Randy claims that Wichita can end chronic homelessness? What planet is he living on?
If the city were to fund a 24/7 homeless center…do you really think that the number of homeless in Wichita will decrease? Heavens no, word travels, and we will become a mecca for homeless from around the country. Free room and board for all homeless, just imagine it.
And, who will pay to staff it? Heat it? Light it? Provide meals? Phones? Supplies? Clothing? Nice pie in the sky idea…any clues on how many millions such a program would cost?
Forget illegal immigrants as a problem, Wichita would become a magnet for homeless people. Some of which have criminal pasts, some have no desire to work, some have alcohol/drug problems. All would require extensive treatment and counseling.
Maybe Randy has a magic wand to make the millions appear?
I thought that Lawerence, the leftist mecca of Kansas, were the ones that was meanist to their homeless population.
The undesirables in our society. Leftist look the other way. They rather attack and punish the rich, instead of helping the poor.
XXXUuuu . . . touch a nerve, did I? What you call sarcasm, I call humor. But you missed the point, which was about THIS blog. Whatcha done, are doing or are going to do to help the homeless?
JM,
This was just another opportunity to bash Christians for some people.
Could a purple homeless tent be erected on the Douglas Street sidewalk up against the north wall of the Wichita EAGLE building? Perhaps some Beacon Restaurant patrons would toss doggie bags that way.
Because, in the event the EAGLE is sold this week — the tent people reminiscent of the dustbowl/depression days, in raggedy clothes and huddled over a half barrel of burning wood, might be our five EAGLE editorial writers. Perhaps they could burn some of their unused cartoons and editorials for a less smoky fire!
Bushytail’s solution could be implemented for the homeless.Get an education!If that is the solution for people loosing their jobs to out sourcing, why can’t it be the solution for the homeless.It makes no difference if it’s practical or not, that’s the only one offered.
There was no such thing as the homeless until Bush came to office. It’s the Bush economy I tell ya!
Acctually, a large portion of homeless people DO choose to be so. They ARE suffering from physical or metal difficulies. That large percentage also just hapens to be mostly veterans and long term collateral damage from the Viet Nam war. That fact should give every single one of us pause.
Oh by the way Joe? Homelessness did exist before bush. It was in fact largely brought about by policies implemented by RONALD REAGAN. This in particular regard to the state homes being shut down as Damoon cited.
Not doubting you JR, but some of the homeless “vets” are frauds. They have clothing and sometimes medals they bought at pawnshops.
I forget his name, but a true combat vet in Dallas went on a “mission” a few years back to expose these frauds.
Not saying they all are, by any means, but the stereotype “homeless vet” has a lot of myth to it.
Walker, it’s not “Uuuu”. it’s “Eewwww”. Try to get it right next time.”Whatcha done, are doing or are going to do to help the homeless?”
I could say, same as you, polishing my golf clubs.
(I’m not going to go into my work with United Way, Community Action Team, or Tree for Life.)
Hit a nerve? You know better.
XXXLOL:-)
Raptor, I have to admit you have a good point. There is a major difference between enabling people and helping them, but many good hearted people don’t distinguish between the two.Ever since the opening of the Lord’s Diner, the food banks, and the homeless shelters and halfway houses downtown, the homeless and transient population there has increased. It has driven down property values and made the neighborhood more dangerous. I used to see patients who lived in that area and there was lots of drug traffic and other criminal activity. One of my schizophrenic patients got beat up and raped, we had no choice but to move her to a nursing home, because she wasn’t safe living there on her own anymore. That neighborhood has become probably one of the worst in Wichita, partly due to the large number of transient people living there now.
Nathan–
That’s one helluva weird thing for sociology professor to say: homelessness is a lifestyle people “choose”? Kinda like Paris Hilton, Donald Trump, the Koch brothers, and GW Bush “chose” to be born into immensely rich families?
I remember Ronald Reagan saying something like this, but I’d be surprised if a professor would get paid to mouth the convential “blame the victim” mentality.
I’m going to e-mail your comment to him and see if he would characterize his position the way you did.
I never said that he said that “homelessness is a lifestyle people “choose”?”
I said that he said many do choose it.
Do you have any reading comprehension at all?
“I never said that he said that “homelessness is a lifestyle people “choose”?”
“I said that he said many do choose it.
“Do you have any reading comprehension at all?”
Nathan, The homeless people “choose this lifestyle” is the most lame reason for doing nothing about the problem that anyone could come up with. It is the first (note the order of your blog) reason that people with non-thinking brains can come up with. Pathetic. And, to think that you were a product of Goddard High School. Shameful.
Nathan is less a product of any school and more so a product of Rush Limbaugh.
“People who suffer choose to suffer” is such a sick credo promoted by people who have never suffered.
This is in the same vein with folks who see homosexuality as a “choice”….. wow it is the same people as regards “choice” as to homelessness.
Re Homelessness and not alternative lifestylesHey Nathan? If there is a fire would you help fight it? Or would you argue that you didn’t light it and thus have no responsibility to fight it? The fire is the fires fault?
Are all of you incapable of actually comprehending a written statement?
Do you like to build your straw men so you can feel good about yourselves tearing them down?
I was talking about what someone else said… yet here is DD and Jr. trying to attack me.
If I remember correctly he was also talking about how what we perceive to be “normal” is not what everyone agrees with.
Is it so hard a concept to grasp that just maybe some people in this world choose to live that life?
I am not saying all nor was my teacher.
I am not even saying we should do nothing DD. Yet again, how is it going beating down those straw men?
Both of you want to argue with me so much you have to invent imaginary argument topics now. I am flattered.
And of course, Lib has all the answers, and swears that it is a Republican plot to claim that anyone would ever choose to be homeless.
Check out Ted Hayes, Lib. He was a homeless man in LA in the late 1990’s..got active in the ‘dome village’ concept in 2000.
What isn’t published much is that prior to his activist status and his homelessness, he had a job, a wife, a home/mortgage and 3 kids in Riverside, CA. According to published reports quoting his wife, he got fed up with the “grind” and left to go live on the streets.
Nope…nobody would ever choose to go live on the streets..right, Lib??? All it takes is one example to prove you are wrong in that one.
Awww Raptor and Nathan. Retreating to the “I got one example so I must be right” arguement. Do some people choose to be homeless? Yup. I already acknowledged that. Do all people choose to be so because you can cite one example? Hardly.
If that is your premise I have another example on a different topic. I knew a guy who joined the military specifically because he wanted to kill people and blow things up. If I use your reasoning then I would have to conclude that all people who join the military do so out of a desire to kill people and blow things up.
Homeless people exist for many reasons, and yes, some choose to live on the streets, others have mental, physical problems, addictions, lack of common sense, you name it. ALL of them have basic human needs.. food, water, warmth and someone to care.The idea that downtown has become a crime infested, dirty, dangerous area because of transients is a myth. Because of the police crackdown after some incidents last year, the homeless population has migrated outward to more secluded suburban areas. They tend to come to town to eat, gather supplies and return to their “camps”. They are far from dangerous when their basic needs are met.. any “criminal” activity is usually caused by hunger, cold, or the fact that their possessions have been taken, and they are forced to do what they must to survive. That is why a proper program of stability and accountability that provides basic needs is extremely important, and will solve a multitude of downtown problems.
The solution begins with individuals who care and can earn their trust. Unfortunately, even that solution will not be 100% effective because of lack of funds.
None of you are doing anything about the problem, so get off your high horse. Particularly all JR wants to do is point fingers at churches, when churches do more for for the poor in this town than the so-called democrats ever have.
Ever heard of The Lord’s Diner?
Thank you for pointing that out Todd.
I did take a shot at churches, I was hardly alone.
I will state that churches are probably trying harder than any other entity to address this issue. Indeed, the base of the post is concerned with churches calling the community at large to action on this matter.
And yes Todd, I have been by the Lords diner and thank you for mentioning it.
I took my son by the Lords diner on Thanksgiving eve 2004. I wanted to show my son that on the night before Thanksgiving that there were folks with a lot less to be thankful for than he and I are. I wanted to show him the folks lined up around the building waiting for a meal; both to show him the need and to let him know that there are good folks trying to meet it. I wanted it to be educational for him.
It turned out to be edcational for me.
After showing my son the Lords diner we drove south. A few blocks on, we passed a great big church with what I would call an outsized lighted cross. The cross was lighted, the church was dark. The parking lot was empty. On the night before Thanksgiving, this church at least appered to be closed.
Now I am open minded enough to second guess myself here. Perhaps the folks of that church were helping out somewhere else.I’ll allow that.
Still, that image sticks with me.
The churches are calling out to the community to address the homelessness issue. Good, they should. But as long as a big warm church is closed and dark on a cold night, I think “what ye would do the the least you do unto me” is getting lost in translation.
Amazingly, people who go to church also have lives outside the church. What shocking news this is.
Why not let the homeless live in city hall, after all, after 5 o clock nothing is happening there, either.
Todd..Don’t you think the new arena with showers and lockers would be a great place for the homeless to hang out? They could even hire them to clean up the place!
The Lord’s diner is run by the Catholic Church. Not bad for a religious organization that is bad mouthed constantly because of their beliefs.http://www.thelordsdiner.org/
Todd if you mean by your last that people should only feel the need to do the “Lords work” while they are actually in the building or that that building is only a House of God while the folks are there, I’d say that’s a fair assessment of a lot of church goers, not all or even most. But a lot.
How many homeless are living in your house, JR?
Just trying to get a handle on how much action is backing up your stone-throwing.
Well Todd I am here advocating that something be done about the problem.
SOME churches are advocating that something be done about the problem. That was the subject of the thread.
What are you doing Todd? All 3 of your posts take issue not with the issue but with my take on the issue.
If you feel like you gotta defend the church (now I’m not insinuating anything) but is it perhaps you feel it needs defending?
Well, I have a food handlers license that I got specifically so I could work at the Lord’s Diner 3 times per month.
Gosh, I sure am sorry that I don’t work there 24/7, like you seem to think people should.
I think the recent article by Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker best expresses the correct answer for ending homelessness — and why people have such a hard time accepting it. A 24/7 shelter is a bad idea. Let’s house these people — it produces a lot better results and it’s cheaper than maintaining a person’s homelessness. It’s the nasty, partisan disputes as evidenced by this blog that hinder progress on these kinds of issues. Check it out:
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060213fa_fact
Zra,Thanks for the link to the Malcom Gladwell article. His take, as usual, was an interesting one.
People used to literally spend their lives in State Hospitals. Length of Stays of over 10 years were not uncommon. Deinstitutionalization was a cause championed (for different reasons) by both liberals and conservatives and thus became the accepted paradigm rather quickly.
As this article suggests it could be that treating former mental patients in the community is neither cheaper nor automatically conferring a better quality of life.
Very interesting.
EDIT: probably should say “’some’ former mental patients . . .”
JR,
“But as long as a big warm church is closed and dark on a cold night, I think “what ye would do the the least you do unto me” is getting lost in translation.”
Churches are not doing anything to the homeless to cause them to be where they are.
Once again, just your chance to take a shot at the church.
Where is that verse in the Bible JR?
If you are going to read the Bible lets read all of it. How about the parts talking about what Christ did for you? The parts where God has called on us to follow him?
Do you follow those verses or do you just like to try and pick out the ones you can use to bash Christians with?
Huh JR?
Nathan..I believe JR is referring to Matthew 25:31-46. Indeed many of the modern churches have forgotten their first love.
JR, the church buildings are ill equipped for housing homeless people, but each individual Christian should be doing anything he/she can to support the agencies or church organizations that do assist the poor and homeless. It is our righteous obligation and duty as commanded by Christ. JR, thank you for anything that you do to benefit these brothers and sisters of mine!
Matthew 25:31-46.31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41″Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44″They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45″He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46″Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
The reason churhes don’t house the homeless are complex. Obviously, theft and vandalism are a concern, as are offensive actions (perhaps like peeing in a corner).
Churches are able to do what they can now in large part because of the generosity of their patrons. However, these patrons want to attend a clean, well-maintained church. I’m sure that attendance and contributions would dry up if the church reeked. This may be a bit sanctimonious on the part of the average congregation member but it is a fact.
Kansassam, I have a great deal of respect for you and your opinions and beliefs and the way you illustrate what true Christianity consists of, but I spent over 3 yrs working in the downtown area after dark and I also volunteered at the Lord’s Diner for over a year, I know all too well the problems in the neighborhood and I’m glad I no longer have to go there. All my clients are living elsewhere now, because it’s not a place where vulnerable people can be safe.
Damoon..I understand.. we get warned all the time… but the problem people tend to be the gang or drug crowd. Most of the transient folks I know are fairly harmless, but it is pretty easy to stumble into situations that make you wish you were somewhere else.
Quoting the Bible proves next to nothing. Anyone can find a passage in Scripture that can be used for their belief.
Case in point, check out the Biblical references to be found at: http://www.godhatesamerica.com the phelps sickos. They quote the Bible throughout their sickening postings.
raptor..I can agree with you on that up to the point that the quotes are taken out of context. Quotes taken from the entire context of the Bible that are based on the essence and characteristics of God, are very valuable and useful.
JR, XXX, and others who question the churches about walking their talk do not have to prove what they are doing. They are not the ones thumping their literal bibles on every issue. Christians do that, so they set themselves up as the moral arbitors for the rest of us.
Churches put themselves above the rest of us, and try their best to rule the rest of us.
Rule us? Based on what? Their moral authority and consistency in following their own standards? ROFLMQAO How is that working?
Churches claim the right to set the moral standard, so let’s see them live up to it.
Retaliating against anyone who questions the church does not enhance the credibility of the church. It mearly points out with painful clarity the nature of your hypocricy and weakens the case that you all should decide how all the rest of us live.
If you christians cant live up to your OWN standards, why do you feel so superior that you can impose your “standards” on the rest of us?
I think it is so funny that Todd claims not to be a christian but whenever anyone suggests chritianity is not perfect, he is right there with a sharp post to defend both churches and religion. Something amiss about that.
Hey Farmgrrl..Actually, God set the standard higher than ANY of us could ever reach. He just gave us an example to try and follow, and most of us can’t even do that right!You know I won’t tell you what to do, except this one time… help the homeless!! Do that, and I will be happy :)
I believe this is first time I have ever posted on any topic related to religion. Something amiss about what’s going on in your skull, farmgirl.
But please, feel free to continue to ascribe whatever political philosophy you think you need to me, like a good little knee-jerk idealogue should.
Bullshit Todd.
You and outlander team up regularly. I am not going to waste my time digging up your old posts. If you dont remember them, the rest of us do. But please continue to deny, it enhances your credibility so much.
As church lady would say, when it comes to your memory, “how conveeenient”.
So, in other words, you are talking out your ass.
I’ll wait for “the rest of you” to have the balls to back up what you say.
This is a little off subject, but I’m reading the book, “Our Endangered Values, America’s Moral Crisis” by Jimmy Cater. In this book he examines how the religious right got such a foothold in politics and the governemnt, and the threat it poses to the separation of church and state. Really insightful, I highly recommend it.Today’s mainstream Christianity is getting way off track.
Todd, I’ll bet you could learn a lot about being a real Christian from Kansasam, might I suggest you ask him for guidance? It might help you deal more productively with your anger.
I have no desire to learn about being a Christian. I have my own viewpoint on Deity that is not constrained by religious dogma.
Todd is interesting. Apparently outside the church he feels compelled to defend it.Or maybe just to attack democrats.
But Todd has cited that he is doing his part. So whatever his motive, he is part of the solution.
Recognition is also due kansasam. There is no speck or log in his eye.
The gist of this post was churches calling out for society at large to help with the homeless problem.
Churches are addressing this problem better than any other entity. I did already post that.
And yet……
This atheist… reads of Jesus as a man who preached in fields and fed the hungry. No stranger was this provider also to squalor while he comforted and brought healing to lepers that society at large would not even touch.
I read of a man who tavelled mostly on foot and took his message to the people. I do not read that this person ever had a home, let alone a house of worship.
And so, in light of the hunger and homelessness and suffering that is our topic here, while I acknowledge the contributions of the church I am troubled by some that profess to speak for this man. I find the words spoken in some great constructions of glasss and stone and steel houses of god, and evermore outside of them, contradictory to his teachings. I marvel at the beauty of the buildings. But I wonder at what cost the building of a house for a man who had no house to those also homeless and hurting.
Good post, JR. Thank you.
David Alvin wrote a song with the words, “and I hate your grand cathedrals, where you try and keep God . . . ” The man knows what he is saying.Jr, I agree. It takes more than a church to worship God: it takes belief and heart.
Should read “trap God.” Sorry.
It also takes more than religion to help the homeless. It takes hard work and dedication.
But I do applaud the religious organizations that are doing something about it.
5th 12 hour night. Getting braindead.
Thank you JR, but I deserve no credit, I have been there, done that with the pious, self-righteous attitudes. It took God slapping me up the side of the head to get the log jam out of my eye.. it was deeply rooted, and it is still difficult to keep twigs from sprouting. I do my best, but I am human and sometimes I fail and sometimes I’m a hypocrit just because I am weak. But I do my best and count on Christ for the rest.Right now I am praying for wisdom about just how to best serve the homeless… so many ideas, so little money, no political clout. Life is wonderful, isn’t it!!
“Todd is interesting. Apparently outside the church he feels compelled to defend it.Or maybe just to attack democrats.”
If I’m attacking anything, it is ignorance. Some of you can’t see anything unless it is through a distortive political prism. I recognize good things where I find them, no matter who is doing them. Some of you need to try it out for yourself and stop being so damn bitter.
The best way to serve a homeless person is to get them into housing. That ends his or her homelessness. I don’t know if it takes a great deal of prayer. It has been amazing to watch the way this blog has transformed from a focus on homeless people to a focus on the people and institutions serving the homeless (always with an emergency response) — it says a lot about why this problem persists. In a lot of ways, this problem is not about the pathology of homeless people, but rather the pathologies of the systems that serve them.
I think the best way to approach the issue is to place more focus on why people become homeless in the first place, a serious look at the drug and alcohol problems in our society is a great place to start.When I make my rounds, I’m often approached by drug addicts with some sad story looking for a handout so they can go get high. If I offer to take them to a shelter (only the ladies, I’m not stupid), they lose interest in me very quickly. We can throw all the money in the world at the problem, but until we come up with workable solutions to the underlying problems, nothing will change.
I think Zra is right. What is outlined in the Malcolm Gladwell article she linked above is that the expense of the problem of homelessness is concentrated in a relatively few, chronically homeless, multiple-problem people.
It is cheaper to provide these people with housing which ENDS the problem, rather than funding a system that MANAGES (but perpetuates) the problem.
The rub, of course, is that this economically viable alternative is not very attractive politically to anyone. It’s social justice implications gets in the way of doing a just (or at least sensible) thing. Only in America . . .
Read the linked article, it is eye-opening.
Damoon,Correct. Gladwell’s contention is the underlying problem is that we do not recognize or conceptualize the problem accurately.
Our approach to the homelessness problem has been like the GW Bush approach to the problem of terrorism. Very expensive, counter-productive and not very smart. See the above Gladwell article.
A reasonable concrete proposal: Do a homelessness census over time – maybe one day a week for a 3 months, 6 months, a year. After obtaining these numbers we would be in a position to propose a data-driven solution.
Is Wichita’s problem what Gladwell would predict, i.e. a large number of the homeless population are homeless for a short time, but a small percentage are chronically homeless. The larger part of the population will take care of their homelessness without any governmental or private charity intervention. The small chronic homeless population require housing & if this were provided for them – the cost would be considerably less than the program infrastructure now in place which is not helping.
Have the solution be data-driven rather that politically driven. A thought worth considering.
If anyone wants an example of todd:
a) blindly defending christiansb) teaming up with outlanderc) claiming not to be a christiand) attacking those not christian
just check out ALL his posts on this thread
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2006/02/why_he_publishe.html#comments
I guess that is what “talking out your ass” really means.
I have more examples of “toddism” if anyone is interested. I cant image why though…
Todd, where do you get not only your talking points, but your often repeated phrases such as:
“like a good little knee-jerk idealogue should.”
Is that the “word of the week”?
It’s the word I use to describe sheeple like yourself.
Also, the only thing I saw in that link you provided was where I stated that comparing Christianity to Islamic extremism is ludicrous.
The fact that you think that establishes my Christian credentials is a sign of how weak your position, and possibly your critical thinking skills, really are.
Sheeple……
more talk radio speak.
JR – I wouldn’t know. I listen to Phil Hendrie, and that’s about the extent of my radio listening.
GOOD THREAD FARMGIRL!
I think Todd has been handed his. Now AND then
Don’t know how I missed out on that one. It does point out the Toddisms. I also enjoyed reading you systematically destroy both Todd and Outlander.
Lol, JR, I dont mind outlander, and in fact I like him. He is consistant, admits who he is, and defends his positions well. I dont agree with him most of the time, but I welcome his posts.
I cant stand the ones who say they didnt say something, or dont advocate something when the opposite is true. They cant run and hide with their positions on record.
Archives and facts, what a concept.