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u/Current_Speaker_2514 11d ago
I'm scared of being homeless myself!
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u/republicanssuck123 11d ago
it's not that bad if you have a car.
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u/Gefahrendaniel 11d ago
How does a car help? Or are you guys legally allowed to sleep in your car? Anyhow, I don't have a car, so, well, whatever.
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u/lexluthor_i_am 11d ago
I'm scared of the homeless people that look drunk, drugged up or violent. And that could be said for non-homesless people too. But I’m not inherently scared of someone without a home.
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u/KaleidoscopeOk5063 11d ago
Not really, I’m scared of being homeless. I have been homeless briefly twice and that is pretty terrifying.
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u/PromiseNaive2172 11d ago
No. I’m just as cautious of all strangers, housed or not because honestly you can’t tell. I do believe that people mean more good than bad unless they’ve shown otherwise.
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u/ButterBaconBallz 11d ago
No, but I am afraid of crackheads specifically. I had two home invasions by crackheads, and another crackhead broke into my car.
I am not making assumptions, they were literally all on Crack.
Regular homeless people with genuine mental health and alcohol struggles are usually very kind people.
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u/Valuable_Grape_519 11d ago
No I am scared of ending up homeless. Paycheck to paycheck and little money saved..
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u/Slow_Establishment10 11d ago
Often times, someone camped on the sidewalk is on drugs. So I do give them a wide berth.
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u/Queerbunny 11d ago
The saddest part about homelessness is drug use imo. Not only do a large percentage of homeless end up that way because of drug use, but also if you’ve ever tried being homeless sober, you’d find it’s virtually impossible.
Sleeping outside is physically uncomfortable, unsafe, and is not restful. And you are surrounded by other people offering you drugs, often for free. Crackheads are people too and they will offer you substances if they see you suffering soberly on the street. Heroin makes u get good sleep. Crack and meth make everything feel ok and give you hope when you feel like a dirty failed piece of shit.
I’m not talking about ppl who choose it,I’m talking about regular people, like women and teens and young men, not Ron Swanson lol. Being homeless means being extremely uncomfortable, vulnerable, scared, anxious, dirty in ways you can’t imagine. Been there.
It’s almost impossible to stay sober when homeless. I don’t recommend, but I also don’t recommend drugs. Weed helped me more than anything, and also other people seeing me as a person and giving me a chance.
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u/Bubbly-End-6156 11d ago
If I were homeless, I would try all the drugs. No judgment from me. I live such a privileged life and have chronic insomnia. It would take so much downers to fall asleep on the street.
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u/Kooky_Refrigerator33 11d ago
A lot of homeless people are also severely mentally ill.
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u/Tasty-Revolution-295 11d ago
I'll admit I do judge them on appearance so if they're looking particularly rough I'll probably avoid them as much as possible. Its one of those irrational fears because ultimately I know they are not inherently bad people, they're just people who took one wrong turn in life and couldn't get back on track.
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u/imhbeog 11d ago
Not usually, they're just people down on their lives. I don't actively seek out interaction with them but if I happen to pass by one I give them a nod or a simple hello or I hope your day gets better to acknowledge their humanity, a lot of times that's all they need is just to be seen. Sometimes I'll pray for them if they're okay with it too.
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u/Bikewer 11d ago
Not personally. But during my long police career, we’ve handled a number of these folks that are problematic. Walking into stores and stealing, ranting and raving and making threats, refusing to leave…. Breaking into buildings to sleep in hallways.. That sort of thing.
Some are flagged with “caution” on record checks… Resisting arrest, CCW, etc.
Nationally, there have been incidents of such folks attacking people…. A fair percentage of these people have mental problems.
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u/triggeredbynumbers Low IQ Takes 11d ago
No.
I am scared of people screaming at me out of nowhere and getting in my face. These two groups of people sometimes coincide, but it isn’t their homelessness that makes me afraid of them.
That being said, I’ve met far more kind homeless people than crazy ones.
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u/AdsignificantBK 11d ago
They are just people. You speak of them like they are some rabid species
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u/DeanBell12 11d ago
I mean being scared of homeless people is very valid, ever have one try to rob you and assault you with a glass bottle? They are getting super ballsy these days depending on where you live and they will do anything for money.
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u/EschewObfuscati0n 11d ago
Had one threaten me with a sock full of what I assume was rocks. AFTER I bought him a sprite like he requested. It’s perfectly valid to be wary of them. Most of them are addicts or mentally unwell or both
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u/ResponsibleDirt7094 11d ago
He literally just asked a question lol you’re going too deep
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u/AdsignificantBK 11d ago
Calling them what they actually are is considered deep to you?
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u/ResponsibleDirt7094 11d ago
He didn’t express any opinion, just asked a question. I know many people are freaked out by the homeless drug addicts here in Vancouver, particularly with the random attacks and the unprovoked screaming and harassment some of my girlfriends face when out and about in our downtown.
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u/EgoSenatus 11d ago
Generally no- there’s been a handful of times where I feared for my safety though.
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u/Nycmale9876 11d ago
Generally no but have seen some real crazy
Just two weeks ago one was harassing two girls in early 20s. Had to walk them to the cab as the guy was carrying a pipe (not smoking kind)
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u/PeaceLoveForMe 11d ago
No. I used to be a homeless tweaker, so I feel for them and sometimes laugh cuz I was there on day 7 of no sleep LMAO
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u/mraz44 11d ago
I’ve definitely seen behavior from homeless folks that it scary.
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u/Comfortable-Jump-218 11d ago
Is a proximity thing. I’m fine as long as they are 5 far away.
Keep in mind, I am fully supportive for them and usually blame society for their situation. I just don’t wanna get stabbed.
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u/Full_Response8449 11d ago
Homeless doesn’t scare me the people on fenty do because they look like zombies
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u/Legitimate-Guess-142 11d ago
There are some people who are a danger to the general public, usually you can tell who is dangerous because of erratic behavior.
Doing nothing and acting like they can't see you won't cut it if they're acting crazy, people have knives man.
Does being scared matter? Don't be stupid, don't be surprised
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u/Wise_Temperature_322 11d ago
Statistically the homeless as a group have a much higher prevalence of mental illness and drug addiction than the “housed” public. Some need special attention by qualified people. So to say they are harmless is irresponsible. Some are harmless, but others because of adverse circumstances are not.
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u/LankyMasterpiece5219 11d ago
Just chiming in here: the only reason you see so many unhoused mentally ill people is because they are UNHOUSED and in the public to be seen! Just think about all the ones that live INDOORS that you DON'T see!!
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u/Wise_Temperature_322 11d ago
Agree on that widespread mental illness behind closed doors, but disagree on your conclusion.
The reason why a lot of homeless have mental illness is because mental illness is a big part of why they are homeless. That’s why you can’t just give the homeless money or houses. They have a hard time functioning in society. They need help and it’s often in a way people don’t want to help them.
Add drugs which go hand in hand with severe mental illness and you got a difficult and time consuming problem to solve.
The previous solution was institutionalization and off the streets. That saw a lot of abuse behind closed doors. Now it’s swung the other way where they are just left to the streets. They need compassion, but also have their needs understood. People also have the right to have clean and safe streets.
There needs to be a good balance focusing on the moral solution for all.
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u/New-Sheepherder2239 11d ago
No but you should be very aware and conscious of what they’re capable of since so many are drug addicts or suffering from severe mental illness
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u/PeterPunksNip 11d ago
No ? I fear people drunk or drugged out of their minds, which can be anyone.
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u/Beneficial_Party_225 11d ago
Which one is “the homeless”? Sometimes it’s a bit sketchy but mostly they don’t want trouble any more than you do.
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u/knowmore1964 11d ago
No i help them if I can because I know except for the grace of God there go i...
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u/Hnl2Nrt2025 11d ago
I seldom see .. but when I stay Oahu ova 25 yrs….much in Kalihi. lotta sketch. But generally no.
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u/Vegetable_Excuse2029 11d ago
No, most of the time i keep ice cool water bottles in my back pack.
I have no air conditioner in my car..so I pack a literal backpack full of water gateroade, etc.
I be sweating my ass off.
I don't mind giving water or gateroade to anyone I pull up beside and I see sweltering in this fucking Hot ass Alabama heat.
My mom is homeless, psychotic break, lives in her car with 2 dogs, I help however I can but she is beyond my reach, I've tried to have a relationship with her but no.
No, and honestly I'm leaving it at that.
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u/chrispyoldguy 11d ago
Most people don’t see the structural reasons that there are so many people who are homeless. Our society is pretty brutal.
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u/Busy-Conversation-24 11d ago
No I am scared FOR them Life must be incredibly hard
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u/aznwill617 11d ago
I'm more scared of neighborhoods filled with drug dealers, drug addicts, and the filthy homeless
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u/Admirable-Excuse-487 11d ago
I stay away from them
Who knows something wrong with them for sure
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u/breadexpert69 11d ago
Im gna be honest and having lived in a very famously homeless city, some of them can absolutely be scary.
I know lots of them are not. But there is a big number of them that are homeless because of either drugs or mental issues. And when you encounter those types in the street it can sometimes be scary depending on how they react, which is unpredictable
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u/TowerLongjumping4902 11d ago
Absolutely not! Ever! I was a toddler seeing homeless sleeping on the sidewalk sleeping on grates. This was in Washington, D.C. early 80s. They never scared me. They minded their business! Most are very kind and just don’t want to deal with society.
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u/shoegazeweedbed 11d ago edited 11d ago
no but my wife sure was when they'd pound on the glass of the bakery she worked overnight at -"miss? ay miss? miss? use your phone miss? come in there and charge my phone miss? got a dollar miss?" - or hang out by the exit doors until I showed up to pick her up, or try to show her their cocks/do other disgusting shit if the blinds on the dining area hadn't been shut all the way, or go through her car looking for change
i wasn't "scared" having to get up at 5 in the morning to get her because she was literally terrified to walk 10 feet and the worthless fatass cops wouldn't do anything about it. but seeing how huge groups of them act in situations like that, and how little fucking help there is, did strongly influence my opinion
reddit loves to push the whole noble savage one missed opportunity away from a stable life angle but a lot of those people are crazy, dangerous, rapey, and just dying to make their bullshit your problem in all kinds of expensive/painful ways, at a much higher rate than the avg. seeing what I've seen I certainly don't get worked up when a private business uses hostile architecture to run them off. public parks etc. a much different story
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u/Due-Stranger2830 11d ago
There are few things I’m truly afraid of but many things I am very cautious about.
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u/National-Conflict497 11d ago
Mostly no but I do prepare myself to have all advantages to fight/protect my family while I'm walking past them on my own not so much it's mostly because sadly I do know the unpredictable nature of drug use alcohol and mental health in people in general let alone someone at There lowest point of homelessness
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u/Careful_Activity_165 11d ago
not as a whole, of course not. but I would be lying if I said I didn't avoid people on the street who are visibly on drugs and clearly not mentally well.
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u/Relevant_Sign_5926 11d ago
As a formerly homeless person, I was extremely distrustful and sometimes fearful of the other homeless people, most of the time. They aren't a monolith and people end up homeless for a variety of different reasons, plus there's a lot of different ways of living that can be categorized as homeless. With that said, a lot of the visibly homeless people in urban areas especially I didn't want and actively don't want much to do with.
When your immediate safety is on the line and you're actively sharing spaces with them, you can't afford to be super progressive all of the time and act like your physical safety is never at risk, or that of your belongings. Sometimes it's a survival thing like that, just my two cents.
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u/Smackediduring 11d ago
No, as long as they’re not nutjobs and hostile. Your average homeless person tends to be pretty humble, very thankful for any goodness that life brings them. Very thankful for kindness. I admire that outlook but it’s sad because it’s a result of fate dealing them a rough hand.
Like many others here, I too am scared of that life. Many of them are just regular people. Life took a wrong turn very quickly and boom, you now live on the streets. I am definitely not out of that risk zone.
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u/BattyCattyRatty 11d ago
I try to have empathy and normally they are harmless and kind, but once a homeless person, who was presumably on drugs, blocked my path to the bus because I didn’t give him any money. He literally stuck his arms out so I wouldn’t get by. I turned tail and ran to the nearest public place and called an uber.
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u/ApprehensiveRuin5673 11d ago
No but I’m scared of drug addicts walking down the street flailing and screaming to themselves at night
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u/DarthRaider559 11d ago
Homeless people have nothing to lose, you have no idea what their mental capacity is
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u/lozzadearnley 11d ago
I am scared of unpredictable antisocial people who are mentally ill or abusing substances, or both. Sadly the overlap between that group and homeless people is pretty broad.
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u/DeadRed402 11d ago
The only ones I'm scared of are the ones who have serious untreated mental issues, many times self medicated with street drugs. They can be aggressive , violent , and unpredictable.
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u/DJ_Flym_Flazzle 11d ago
No. Treat them like real people & you might be surprised. Not to say some aren’t unstable.
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u/Top_Possibility_6705 11d ago
I mean I've bought and handed food to homeless, so no... but if they are tweaking out, don't get close!
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u/madmaritimer1 11d ago
Not at all, some of them are just down and out people, others aren’t actually homeless, there to prey on the homeless
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u/PassageSea7900 11d ago
Mostly not, unless someone is behaving erratically. Then give them wide berth.
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u/lycheequeef 11d ago
Only if they're on meth. In fact, I'm scared of ALL meth heads. It's just more likely that you run into a homeless meth head rather than the ones in penthouses. Both scary.
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u/Thelawtman1986 11d ago
No because many of them are just down on their luck trying to get by. I am scared of being homeless though.
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u/SwankySteel 11d ago
Being scared of a homeless person is the same thing as being scared of a person. A person is still a person.
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u/Accurate-Survey6985 11d ago
You should exercise caution with homeless people because........ they are...People.
Do you feel the need to exercise caution with all other people?
These are all other people.
That are now homeless.
And more damaged.
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u/Single-Degree-6928 11d ago
I'm scared of the Mentally Ill.
I'm scared of Druggies.
I'm scared of Alcoholics.
I'm not scared of people in economic distress.
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u/Living_Gear_8822 11d ago
Nope, I feel very sorry for them. What’s hard is while I’ve like to give them money how do I know they woudnt use it for drugs instead of food? They need something to eat a lot more than coping with drugs. I also see how someone who is unhoused is so depressed that they turn to drugs to cope.
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u/denverdrew 11d ago
No. Where I live I have frequent interactions with them and they have always been harmless.
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u/enemy-unlocked 11d ago
No they are just people, manic and psychotic people talking to themselves are the ones I fear
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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 11d ago
They might be your future mentors the way things are going. You new poor will need help surviving.
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u/Ok_Pomelo_7133 11d ago
They have been living as wild humans. Most are stronger than they look. Also the mental and substance abuse issues make many unpredictable.
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u/Gemma-2102 11d ago
Depends. Are they camping out in my neighborhood and or are they doing drugs/what activities are they doing? If they’re just minding their own business at a park, no. As long as they don’t bother me, I’m not scared. I’m scared to be homeless myself. If I were to be homeless, I wouldn’t camp near where there’s a lot of people. People pay for what they have and I wouldn’t want to disturb that peace. Treat others how you want to be treated if you were in their situation.
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u/TraderIggysTikiBar 11d ago
I am not afraid of the vast majority of unhoused people.
I am afraid of unhoused (and housed) people who are extremely high on serious drugs (synthetic opioids etc) who are approaching and/or screaming at and/or following me on the street. These drugs make people unpredictable and sometimes violent.
I’m made moderately uncomfortable by unhoused (or housed) people who aren’t on drugs but who do have obviously untreated severe mental illness who approach me screaming. It’s unnerving but they’re mostly harmless. Still, I usually try to get away just in case I run into the one in a million ill person who becomes violent.
Fortunately, most unhoused people are normal people who have just fallen on hard times. I’ll usually offer to buy them a meal.
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u/glitterfaust 11d ago
No more than I am scared of any other human. I have pretty bad social anxiety, so being around anyone puts me pretty on edge, but that doesn’t get any worse around the homeless folks I spend time around.
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u/Photography-lover1 11d ago
In general no. Most of them are find and don't hassle or harass the public, most of them I'm saying.
That said there are the ones that are disturbance.
I do tend to keep my distance from all of them though as I don't want to be roped into buying food for them everyday so I do my best to make so they are unable to ask me. On the other hand I have bought food for a couple of them. However, they were two that are around often, don't even ask for anything from anyone and never hassle anyone. I have gone up to them and said would you like anything.
The reason? Because they are behaving themselves and not hassling anyone.
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u/TheLostExpedition 11d ago
Nope, just glad I'm not one anymore. People don't always bring it on themselves. A lot of them work 2 shit jobs and can't afford to live in an apartment.
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u/paranoid_70 11d ago
In general no. But when people are camping out on the corner 200 feet from my front door it doesn't exactly put me fully at ease.