What percentage of homeless people have ever been contributing (job holding, tax paying) members of society?

Question

What percentage of homeless people have ever been contributing (job holding, tax paying) members of society?

Answer 1

There are a lot more mentally ill in the world than what you think of when you see people on the street. Mentally ill people can have jobs be a parent and many other things. Take a look around you and you will see many professional who suffer from sort of mental illness. Ted Turner is one I can think of off the bat and I personally know of a woman who is bipolar and is a forensic psychologist for the state of New York.

Answer 2

Very good question.  I have been involved with rescue missions in the past and the newest statistic is that up to 40% of the newly homeless are families with children.  Most of those on the street who are substance abusers began using AFTER they were already homeless.  They may have become homeless due to a layoff, divorce, foreclosure, or death in the family.  Email [e-mail] if you want some current statistics on the demographics of homelessness.

Answer 3

Most homeless people have contributed greatly to society.  Many homeless have mental problems or addictions to alcohol or drugs as I once was, but given the right direction can be lifted out of the depressing situation they find themselves.  Most people are only 2 paychecks away from being homeless.  These very people contribute to mankind every day in a positive day.  I applaude your concern and hope you will take it out into the world and help those less fortunate than yourself.

Answer 4

Kacky. I think you read way more into that question and in fact are the one being judgmental.

Answer 5

100% of them other wise they would be in prison or dead already

Answer 6

Homeless is a politically correct euphemism for bum and wino.

The working poor pay taxes.

Bums and winos live marginal lives by begging and drinking cheap booze and mouthwash and die in their 40s from liver and brain degeneration.

In any civilization throughout history there has always been a small percentage of the permanently unemployed: the mentally disabled, the substance abuser and addict, the birth defect, the blind, and today in 2007 these unfortunates have been labled 'homeless'.  In ancient Rome they would have been fed to lions in the colisium as entertainment.

It is even more unfortunate that the criminal mixes in with the homeless in Homeless Shelters and meal programs and takes  advantage of the weak and ill while still pursuing their criminal activities.

Answer 7

You ought to be banned just on the volume of dumb, judgmental questions.

KD, read his other questions. He's a hooner.

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Answer 8

Except for small children, 100 per cent.  People had jobs, families, etc. before falling on hard times.  They were not born with addictions.  Most were not born with physical or mental disabilities.  I think one of our top priorities in our nation should be homes, jobs, and health care for our citizens.

Answer 9

One statistic in America states that the vast majority of people are just two paychecks away from homelessness.  And if thats the case, I would suggest than the majority of homeless people were once viable, contributing members of society who fell on hard times...

Answer 10

that question can probably never be answered because first off we don't know how many homeless are out there. they can guess but how do you really keep track of something like that.

Answer 11

Most if not all, given a person's life span, the chance that they have never held a job, but are on the street is rather low.  

Even the seriously mentally ill, usually had a job before the full blown onset of their disease.