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ITT the most simplistic takes on homelessness ever.
Yes, I believe that as a society we should be doing more to address homelessness, but that most of these mindsets are quite backwards.
The biggest problem is regulation; people can improvise plenty. https://twitter.com/marx_knopfler/status/1328194778945740800
Yes, I believe that as a society we should be doing more to address homelessness, but that most of these mindsets are quite backwards.
The biggest problem is regulation; people can improvise plenty. https://twitter.com/marx_knopfler/status/1328194778945740800
Also not helpful is destruction of supplies: I remember being so disgusted by a minor item in the local paper of cops called on a bullshit charge and they just destroy an encampment and supplies as a matter of course. That's sick: it's in the mountains during winter.
That said, there are *many* types of homelessness: you've got the working homeless just trying to blend in, drug addicts living on handouts, travelers flying a flag for their lifestyle, it just goes on and on.
Which is why the "no one chooses" is bullshit.
Which is why the "no one chooses" is bullshit.
Take my case as a for instance: even if I'm not typical (who is?) I had a choice: I wanted to try to make it on my own and not fall back on family. But with student loan payments and credit card bills, just kept getting further behind.
I didn't consider living in a car homeless.
I didn't consider living in a car homeless.
After all, I'd certainly started that way as a choice: road trip and camping out and then was picking up some jobs to stretch the money a bit further and then I failed to keep my vehicle maintained and it failed and I really was homeless...as the result of many choices.
But I had a storage unit already, and so I put my stuff in there and eventually I was sleeping in it. The crazy thing was, I eventually found out I wasn't the only one either, at least a few others, and I'd never realized.
The thing is, it actually was a pretty good setup in some ways: dirt cheap, and with enough blankets could stay reasonably warm (though to be fair I never tried it through winter).
But very illegal all around, so can't improve on it.
But very illegal all around, so can't improve on it.
What I mean by that is: because it's illegal for us to be there, pretty hard to have a conversation about how to improve it.
But, for instance, a portapotty would sure have been nice. One could have slowly built up to better conditions.
But, for instance, a portapotty would sure have been nice. One could have slowly built up to better conditions.
But it was in the middle of a super liberal area: far too civilized to let people live like that! So they had crazy strict zoning, fighting against e.g. employers letting employees stay on lots in trailers, instead making them live on the margins or go broke renting.
And then there are the "homeless" who just like handouts and look down on anyone who works. Fair enough... except they won't take your shelter and they make it harder for anyone "legitimate" to get help.
Not everyone but many of those "working a shift flying a flag".
Not everyone but many of those "working a shift flying a flag".
Then you've got drug addicts who would rather have their drugs than abide by rules against in shelters. I'm sure everyone in that thread thinks that's horrible: just let them in!
Yeah, how's that for the single mother, to have her kids around junkies on anything & everything?
Yeah, how's that for the single mother, to have her kids around junkies on anything & everything?
I'm sure we're just supposed to build more and fancier shelters so everyone can have all their drugs and kids and all well protected from each other.
That area I was in was building a bunch of gov housing for that sort of thing...house a tenth the homeless in just three years!
That area I was in was building a bunch of gov housing for that sort of thing...house a tenth the homeless in just three years!
As a white, straight, working male, I knew damn well I'd never qualify for one of those units. I know I'm not supposed to say that but it was damn clear who got priority and as slow and expensive as they were going, they were never going to do shit for me.
I don't have an overall answer. I know that I intend to get involved with a local shelter & should have long before. I've done a tiny bit for Habitat. Mostly I got myself out (after accepting my family's invaluable support) and stayed out, so far. There but for the Grace of God.
I know the homeless encampments have serious negative external effects. It's a lot harder in cities. But out where there's the land for it and if people aren't bothering anyone...maybe just let them be.
And at least realize these are humans making choices.
And at least realize these are humans making choices.
I don't say that to mean "they're bad people who don't need help". On the contrary, I say that to mean "they are people whose needs are complex and trying to shove them in a government box because it makes you feel better probably isn't what they want and wouldn't help."
