tinydr

Oh sure, take away from my conlaw studying...

I think his point was that he was helping the homeless, not helping solve homelessness.

And yes, before you say it, feeding the homeless doesn't help them by getting them off of drugs, or getting them treatment for mental health issues, et cetera...

c0urt

i volunteer with a bike co-op and help with food not bombs when i have free time. I work in a bike co-op because i like working on bikes and people helped me fixed bikes once.

and I help food not bombs because i work in a liquor store and i have seen people take money they should buy food with and buy liquor instead. I would rather cook food on occasion instead of preaching to deaf ears.

dervish

my bike helps the world by not being a car....

zelah

I don't drive.

c0urt

i used condoms

MIN 

^win.

dervish

damn....i get one upped twice within 15 min

Live2Die

Lots of interesting points so far. I just got back from about 2-3 hours of riding around passing them out and meeting homeless/transients. I must say for all of the negativity towards the idea if you would give it a try I think you may see that the value in this idea is much much more than filling a few bellies on a cold night. Sitting down with people and having a 15 minute conversation with them about whatever and taking the time to treat them as Human beings and not just label them as some drug addict mooch of a homeless person, does way more than the burrito they got. EVERY SINGLE PERSON I met tonight, not only couldn't believe that we were really just a bunch of 20 somethings who wanted to share some love with them but everyone said that it was such a blessing, and wanted to chat not just take a handout. To me I don't care who you are or what your situation is, I strive to see the person in everyone and I strongly believe that everyone deserves to be treated with some respect and shown love. standing on a corner asking for money to buy booze is one thing, but to have someone search for you and seek you out to bless you is different, not one person asked us for a burrito tonight but we asked them if they wanted one and went to their "homes." This is about seeing the people behind the situations and sure filling a stomach is a great way to give some tangible help, whether you think so or not.

Live2Die

Bought the supplies at Costco and Yes we used a Girls Co-Op of 46 women to cook at I think it cost us $25 total including the Foil to wrap in and some hot sauce for half of them. But it would be easily done on a home stove as well. We only did 50 tonight though.

Live2Die

I hear you as I too am a College Student with plenty of bills. I have used a campus organization to advertise at and, just started using a local Fixed Gear group managed out of a LBS (basically a chain of e-mail addresses to announce any upcoming events like rides, polo, burritos, match sprints, etc). I would suggest starting a facebook or myspace page for it to launch from. Start it small with a few friends and spread the word through flyers, emails, FB, MS, and word of mouth. The money isn't much to get launched and splitting it with everyone helps out a bunch. Good luck and keep me posted!

singlecog

Tonight when we delivered burritos, an older gentleman looked up at me and said "Could I get one more, my son here just gulfed down the first one you gave him." I can't even begin to imagine what sort of actions had brought a father and son to living under a bridge and begging for money every day. Maybe a few people were touched by our actions tonight, but I think just as importantly I learned a bit more about this city that I live in. I learned what is happening in the lives of the people around me. Now as I ride my bike to class every morning and I see the guy on the street corner, I dont see some guy needing a handout, I see a guy coming from a very broken life. I've got hope in this world, I just want to share it.

diff_lock2

If by burrito you mean a bullet through the head, good job. (directed towards OP)

Tyler M

+1.

It seems like it should go without saying that not all homeless people are drug addicts, or become homeless due to drug addiction... unfortunately for all the homeless-haters, life is not that simple.

To the OP: I think your attitude and your actions are awesome. Keep it up!

diff_lock2

How does one become homeless, please explain. If they are of ANY use to the society they will be put to use. If they are useless, why feed them?

Hobartlemagne 

I have. There's a seminary school professor in my bike club. He's good motivation for me.
If I hear him start with the bible talk- I speed up.

Live2Die

THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS, I don't think that you can honestly say that you think there are useless people in the world? Are they necesarily impacting society, maybe not but that doesn't mean they don't have basic human needs and rights. If you don't want t help those outside your bubble thats col with me, but I think that calling someone less fortunate than you "useless" is one of the saddest statements I've heard!
As to how they become homeless, Many I have met said they ran into trouble with the law and when they got out they needed to get out of the situations they were in so they started traveling the US. One guy said he just got into town and just was without a home for 2 weeks until his check came in, but he worked and was hopeful that he would have a house again in 2 weeks.

bexley

Right, because society is sooooo efficient and fair.

As for the question of how people become homeless, you lack an awareness or understanding of the many, many things in our society that can break people financially and otherwise.

cavit8

Do you have "A Modest Proposal", Jonathan?

diff_lock2

These are some of the more easy ways of not being tagged as homeless:

Army. I'm sure there are job offerings for people with no skill.

Then there is the unemployment office. Generally you can start cleaning (work) anything when ever.

There are, also, free classes to specialize in many fields. Even nursing.

Student loans will be offered (possibly free housing) if you start studying.

antiguru

i bet the homeless dudes down at the public library are reading this thread and getting ****in' stoked for burrito time they are breakdancing in the public library for burrito freedom and the librarian is all "QUIET DOWN!!!" but them homeless dudes just keep breakdancing for burritos

queerpunk

Just remember, kids, the bad guys in the movies are always those cranky people who don't care and who sequester themselves from empathy.

lanOGiro

Yeah it's all good for the community, but what about the global warming with all the methane gas produced by all those burritos? Think about the world, man.

diff_lock2

There are these care centers for the mentally ill, even just the sick people (homeless or not). If their illness can be treated, thats one step closer to finding work, and an income. Other wise I guess they stay at the care center.

Also if these homeless people have nothing to do, they might be causing some sort of disturbances and in that case the cops are there to bring them away. Then put them in the right place.

inthemixte

damn. there but for the grace of nuthin, eh, diff_lock?

bbattle

The only change in your community I foresee is you'll end up attracting even more homeless people. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice gesture but I'm reminded of what some old Chinese dude once said:

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." -Lao Tzu