I love your ambition! The hard thing to do in these situations is coming up with solutions to society’s problems, and starting the conversation towards a resolution with an idea is a brave thing to do.

I want to quickly try to evaluate your ideas – regarding the athletic shoe factory – and their qualities versus their flaws, based on my humble knowledge and experience, perhaps this will continue the conversation.

Essentially this is only my opinion, but I’m trying to be helpful, not to harass or just toot my horn.

The Pros:

-Purpose! From my (not ever having been homeless – but not far off!) perspective, someone without a home typically has no income, and therefore no job, and no one to rely on him/her for a product, like labor.  When there is no one who NEEDS you, you lack a very fundamental motivation.  Providing someone with a task to perform, meaning; giving them a job, you provide them the fulfilment of responsibility – a reason to get up in the morning.

Independance! Well, at least a closer step toward independance.  A vital step IS being PROVIDED, but only with the hope that each individual can learn to function on their own.

-Care! By even TALKING about it, it shows that there are people who do care, and who want to find a solution to end a portion of the suffering in the world.  Taking this further - setting up an infrastructure, a support system, investing money – shows even further care, and this care will be inspiring to those who are being supported.

-The domestic manufacturing economy! It is common knowledge that most of the manufacturing industry in the US has moved abroad over the past 50 or so years.  Slowly re-domesticating this industry is a positive step toward a more stable economy.

These are just a few of the important positive aspects to a program like the one you’re suggesting. Now for the negatives:

The Cons

Corruption.  If you put cheap labor in the hands of big business, it will not want to let it go.  What happens when ALL of the homeless are employed in such a program? Which must be one of the goals.  Then you have brought the standard of living up for a whole class of people.  They will then as anyone would, want to again move up the social ladder to join the middle class.  How will big business handle losing their cheap labor, as these people will either demand raises or leave the job for a higher paying one.

Dependance.  Can dependance be a con, and independance be a pro? Kinda. It’s a matter of degree, and a matter of timing.  Initially, such a program would provide a level of independance, or personal freedom, that did not exist in the individual’s lifestyle beforehand.  But after the person becomes accustomed to living better, like anyone they will wish to grow further to join the vast majority of people in lifestyle.  When this happens, will the individual expect to have another “helping hand?”  Should one be provided?

Heirarchy of institution.  The infrastructure of a manufacturing plant, dormatories etc will require staff operation, and when you place one party of people in the care of another party of people, a class divide forms immediately – it’s a package deal. Group A is dependant on Group B to provide, and so Group B understands a certain level of authority and control over Group A.  This situation, as is evident in institutions like senior citizens’ care facilities on occasion, is a ripe setting for mistreatment from Group B toward Group A.

Again, these are just a few of the negative aspects which would need to be addressed if implementing such a system. 

My overall point is, make sure that all of the ‘t’s are crossed and the ‘i’s dotted when moving forward with ideas like these.  Getting the point of view of the polar opposites of a situation will help to form a middle line, the chosen path, as people’s lives are being handled, and this is a sacred and important responsibility.  The two farthest sides in regard to this issue would be human rights specialists, and the most shrewd of business peoples. 

Me, I’m just a house painter.

So good luck with your great idea

I love this!

Mark, I would like to help cotton in greensboro, I am indire straights but just saw video, please reply phaeton.deeds@gmail.com