Census shows 3,808 people including 457 children in Ireland are homeless

Looking at the picture, I couldn't help but wonder if that was the same man I gave 10 euros to while crossing the Ha'penny Bridge last year. As to the statistics...over 3,000 is a lot of people to be homeless BUT I would bet that any large American city would find that quantity, and more, if they actually took the time to learn how many people are living on the streets. Many of them are there because they want to be...whether that is due to mental illness or not, I can't begin to know, although one would suspect it must play a role...otherwise, why wouldn't relatives take them in? My heart, as always, goes out to the Irish, but things are no better here in America.

Even after reading and thinking about the article, noting the categories reported, and considering the implications of statistics cited, there must be some significant difference between the Irish and American definition of homeless. Even given the population sizes, the percentage differences simple don't track. And, is another part of the difference explained by how the two nations respond to fringe people?