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Pay It Forward - At least ask if a homeless person needs some help........

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with LAER Realty Partners

I'd like to re-blog the 'approach' as compared to just a post!

Many of us believe in placing the responsibilities on someone - and shy away from taking that extra step that would take care of the root cause. I guess, that's what is different in his approach.

Yes, Ralph, I am sure it has added a big chunk in your Karma bank!

Original content by Ralph Gorgoglione RS-78439 / BRE #01708344

Pay It Forward - At least ask if a homeless person needs some help........

I'm Vice President of my homeowner's association, and we have over 500 single family homes in our residential area.

We also have some community pool and recreation areas.

From time to time the board members get an email message about repairs, or security issues.

This week we got an email about a homeless person that somehow managed to find a nesting place in one of the restrooms in the pool recreation areas.

I got the standard security message saying that the security patrol will go there and make sure that person does not stay there.

Here in LA, it has been kind of cold in the evenings, and I immediately picture in my head this person trying to seek shelter from the cold.

I then started making some phonecalls to homeless shelters, so that after this person was escorted away from the recreation area, I wanted to make sure that they get help with some direction to a shelter.

I caught a little flack from a couple of the board members who stated it was not our responsibility to do that, and that there could be liability issues should something go astray.

Here was my response:

Of course it’s our responsibility!

We do need to remove this person from the facility, there’s no question about that. But I cannot even fathom doing it with the outlook of “we don’t really care you go or what health issues you may have, just go away”

That’s an extremely self-centered approach. This person is someone’s son or father or husband who quite obviously fell by the wayside. He may have a substance abuse problem or be mentally ill, but that doesn’t mean he should be treated like a piece of garbage.

It doesn’t even make economical sense. Spending 5 minutes to have someone like this routed in the direction of getting some help is free. Doing absolutely nothing but kicking him to the curb will almost assuredly end up with him ending up in another restroom within our association.

It’s human nature. The man is cold and hungry so he will find shelter somewhere, and since my guess he has no BMW coupe, that next place is close by to the next place he can get to by foot.

Which means for us, more security guard assignments, more maintenance, more insecurity from our residents, and more $$ due to a problem that we chose to turn the other cheek towards.

Not every decision about life, about keeping our residents, safe, happy, and with a sense of goodwill and confidence towards the board has to be one that has a litigious analysis. That’s completely insane. Geez, if I scratch my ass do I need to think about the liability after-effects of that too?

What kind of example are we setting for our residents by having a homeless person removed and not giving a damn about taking 5 minutes to have the Sheriff’s department route them in a direction to get some help?

And then we wonder why no one shows up to the meetings?

Comments (8)

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

I commend this person for putting humanity first. He still "took care of the problem" but tried to help the person, too.

Oct 31, 2010 08:37 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years
I commend this person for putting humanity first. He still "took care of the problem" but tried to help the person, too.
Oct 31, 2010 08:37 PM
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Excellent choice of re-blog. Missed it the first time around - so thanks.

Apr 16, 2018 08:58 PM
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Thanks for spreading the word via re-blog, Praful - this may help many members.

Apr 16, 2018 08:58 PM
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Very good posts from some of the lead blogger of ActiveRain in this post.

Apr 16, 2018 08:58 PM
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

I always wonder will I ever get to read these favorite posts!

Apr 16, 2018 08:59 PM
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

I like this post - paying it forward is what everyone should do.

Apr 16, 2018 08:59 PM
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

It is all about taking care of the problem and helping others. I like it.

Apr 16, 2018 09:00 PM