Aw this is a way better read than the usual barrage of motorist/trimet/bar/neighbor complaints.

There are more than a couple of hundred corpses in the morgue at any one time. You don't end up there unless the loved one's family can't afford a funeral home, or else you are estranged from your family and don't have any cash in your pants. Stop on by sometime. You might be able to help identify some body.

I love this. I hope you are finding warmth and shelter. Take care of yourself.

Did Denis mentioned something about opening up the offices of the Merc at night so that the homeless could sleep on the floor?

I would trade anonymity for invisibility any day! I would use my new found powers to become a peeping Tom and also to beat up Mr. Bean on subway trains.

This totally gave me an idea. My entire family has been too poor to celebrate Christmas for several years. We are just really thankful to have a roof over our heads, for now. After reading this, i thought, "What if my family could collectively pool enough money to put together some care packages & give them out for Christmas?". i think that would be a lovely way for us to spend Christmas Eve. We won't be sitting around feeling lonely, broke & sorry for ourselves & guilty that we can't have a holiday. Yeah, maybe it would be the selfish kind of giving ~ the kind that makes you feel good for doing so. But i also know that every single person in my family has been homeless at some point. And it feels more like it would be gratitude that we aren't there, right now, & helping those that are.

If we can get the money together, we are on it. But we may not be able to afford things like sleeping bags & blankets. If that is the case, does anyone know of a good place to volunteer? i know that there are several agencies that work hard to get these things to people.
i've already talked to my 21 yr. old son, & he loves the idea. So! What agency covers this, exactly? Thanks!

You Anon/Invisible stay strong stay warm. Sorry you're on the street. Great comment kalikill. Good luck with your Holiday plans. Best to you and all your family. You inspire us.

kalikill,

in Honolulu, the Salvation Army has a group of young interns that go out on Sunday night, with a wagon full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to hand out in Chinatown.

http://revolutionhawaii.com/revolution.nsf…

The street people get to hear the same old how to be saved message, over and over and over. Most of the people on the street are already Bible believers, and probably know Scripture better than the kids that are trying to save the street peoples souls.

As tasty as those sandwiches are, it's really not much of a meal. What the street people really could benefit from is to sleep in the parking garage at the Salvation Army Chapel on rainy nights, and to be able to use the restrooms in the adjacent basement to the Chapel.

Talk to Mike Scheckla.

503-BED-IS-OK
http://hippyfan.freeservers.com

He's more of the Stairway to Heaven backwards type than a Salvation Army volunteer, but he might be able to get you a supply of quality hoodies, for cheap.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven backwards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BZ57-qJTPA…

Send your kid or even a homeless kid to Hawaii?

"If you are 18 to 29 and “in-between” majors, semesters, jobs or are just looking for a strong foundation for the rest of your life - We have opportunities designed to help you understand God more deeply, live more like Jesus and identify your unique purpose in reaching the world for Christ.

Our mission is to reach, disciple and mobilize young adults. We believe that faith, growth and servant leadership are key to bringing change within your surrounding community and within yourself. We want to help you in building strong foundations that will stand up to the challenges that lie ahead. Whether it’s through our year long urban mission program, short term Pacific Island missions or even volunteering on a short-term basis - We want you to come out, get involved and make a difference."

http://revolutionhawaii.com/revolution.nsf…

Ill eat where the beef is sky high or ill eat vegan. Screw animals getting bolted in the head.

Oops, wrong thread. But I can imagine that the stairway to heaven backwads has already a few fans.

Yay, now there are wet blankets, bird-picked food scraps, feces and poopy Wet-Ones all over my neighborhood. The problem of homelessness is solved!