
A video that teaches people how to craft a makeshift toilet for the homeless has sparked debate about how the community in the US is treated.
In a video posted by Shirley Raines, she demonstrates a way to fashion a toilet out of a bucket, a garbage bag, cat litter, a sealable bag and a portable toilet seat and lid.
The founder of the LA-based homelessness nonprofit Beauty2theStreetz, Raines posted the tutorial on Twitter to demonstrate how the toilets lids donated to the charity are used in practice.
The post highlighted the need for such makeshift contraptions. In the comments, discussion around the treatment of the homeless and what the country’s government is doing to help house them began.
One person wrote: “The fact that these need to be made is heartbreaking cuz the government has enough money to give them homes.”
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Meanwhile, another said: “We are doing everything but fixing the actual problem…”
This is how we are making toilets for the homeless community. Thank you for ur donations. https://t.co/H6aUDutEFH— Shirley Raines (@Shirley Raines) 1618613994
Some people took the opportunity to point out the money that the government spends on sectors such as policing and the military.
NYPD’s budget is 6 billion a year. https://t.co/L0penxtyzY— Kayanne (@Kayanne) 1618706827
the us police has a budget of $100,000,000,000 https://t.co/sncyA120U6— molls (@molls) 1618699574
This country spends billions on police funding and military spending while homeless people carrying their shit arou… https://t.co/tHfw0zMvsR— nur🧚🏽♀️ (@nur🧚🏽♀️) 1618692572
Our city just increased its police budget by 19 million dollars. Our mayor's campaign pledged "equity and justice"… https://t.co/bSMSjW0jKL— james stout (@james stout) 1618761771
Other users in the comments were disappointed with some who appeared to care more about the amount of plastic being used than they are able homeless people having somewhere to use the bathroom.
@beauty2streetz some of ya'll really more concerned about the bags be biodegradable than these people having a more… https://t.co/OyOyPZha3s— Cherise (@Cherise) 1618707171
@beauty2streetz @KendraWrites All the comments concerned about plastic are going to give me an aneurysm. Millions o… https://t.co/gjJFm4Tad9— Mad Michael (@Mad Michael) 1618714884
@beauty2streetz Ms Raines, I appreciate all that you do. While concerns about environment and ending homelessness a… https://t.co/8a1Q6Mkufk— kat 🦕 (@kat 🦕) 1618754184
In another tweet, Raines explained that the city had removed all of the portable toilets for the homeless. It meant that between the hours of 6pm and 6am, the homeless have nowhere to use the bathroom.
The city removed all of the portable toilets for the homeless. They have no place to use the bathroom from 6pm-6am.… https://t.co/wKqMIzua5g— Shirley Raines (@Shirley Raines) 1618278944
The video brought into focus the issues faced by the homeless, with many questioning why when so many homes stand vacant.
@beauty2streetz @Black_Action There's too many abandoned buildings in the city for anyone to be homeless. These hum… https://t.co/0Q2bQcB37h— Casrule Oxford (@Casrule Oxford) 1618615063
The work Raines does is wonderful, but it is equally tragic that there is a need for it in the first place.