What is with all the homeless tents in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seriously can not believe some people are defending the status quo. And yes, I will absolutely take the CEO doing some pricey coke here and there as a neighbor over a methed out schizophrenic defecating on bus stop benches. Stop normalizing this “alternative lifestyle” - these are sick people that need treatment against their will for the safety of all.

How can you do what Covid couldn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seriously can not believe some people are defending the status quo. And yes, I will absolutely take the CEO doing some pricey coke here and there as a neighbor over a methed out schizophrenic defecating on bus stop benches. Stop normalizing this “alternative lifestyle” - these are sick people that need treatment against their will for the safety of all.

People are only defending it because they don’t have to deal with it. If it was right outside their house or if they were harassed by panhandlers outside their house every day to verbally/physically assaulted at their jobs by homeless people with mental illness then they would be up in arms.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you need to start voting for different people. They are the ones responsible. They really don't care about you or your family.

[Anonymous]

Meh, I don't mind. I went to India and I saw lots of people defecating in the morning at the side of roads and railway tracks. Tent is not an issue at all. I also see lots of beggars on crossroads and they pee in bottles that they litter around them. I remain unfazed.

US is in decline. All of these things will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh, I don't mind. I went to India and I saw lots of people defecating in the morning at the side of roads and railway tracks. Tent is not an issue at all. I also see lots of beggars on crossroads and they pee in bottles that they litter around them. I remain unfazed.

US is in decline. All of these things will happen.

The sooner privileged americans realize their time is over as the leading world power the better for the world. They had centuries of racism and white supremacy to spread privileged american imperialism.

This is the new normal they and they will be forced to accept for generations. The world will be a better place when this country is knocked down a peg or two. The people living here have no idea how the rest of the world lives and now they will experience it first hand in their cities. Hopefully it will teach them humility and how to be better humans to less fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not housing, it's not money. What is missing is the will to help the mentally ill who can't help themselves, even if they don't want to get the needed help, because they are a danger to themselves and others.
.

+1. I’m a social worker who has worked with the homeless population and this point cannot be stressed enough. Yes there are homeless people who have just had bad luck and are working but can’t afford housing. These people are often “couch surfing”, living in their cars, etc. and can benefit from affordable housing, educational opportunities, and employment resources.

The chronically homeless people living in tent encampments are not these people. They generally are living with incapacitating mental health issues and often addiction. It would be expensive to institutionalize these people and provide them with necessary medications, healthcare, and treatment which is why the issue is avoided by politicians. It bothers me that politicians often tout “affordable housing” and “more jobs” as fixes for this issue.

Agreed.

Which is why allowing tent communities in densely populated areas is not the solution. These should absolutely be cleared out. There is one in Southeast DC under the 695 overpass on 6th street. It has grown quite a bit over the past year. Sidewalks are just not a place where people should be allowed to camp out.

pp. I agree. But these encampments will continue to pop up until there is a major overhaul of how we address mental health and addiction. It is going to be expensive for major cities but it’s crucial. Personally, I am pro institutionalization and I do believe it to be the more humane approach.

It needs to be addressed at the federal level. If it’s local or state then caring localities will get overrun by folks from Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps (but we love God) states who do nothing for their vunerable populations. Or worse, criminalize mental illness/addiction. This will never happen because too many people think that’s a GOVERNMENT HANDOUT, don’t raise my taxes to help those people. But of course our taxes are paying police to arrest them and prisons to jail.

This country has So. Much. Money. But we’d rather let Jeff Bezos burn it than tax him appropriately to make this a place where all of us feel safe.

Most of the homeless camping behind my boyfriends workplace have money and get monthly checks. They live in tents by choice. They don't want institutional housing. Some are weather transient, i.e. they bike, yes bike to to the northeast in summer and then bike south for winter.
Generally they need simple assistance...not more money. They borrow tools at my boyfriends workplace to sharpen their axes (for firewood.)
My boyfriend is also a emergency contact phone number for some of their families.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP. Many, many, many homeless are already getting government checks. Some are on disability. Some are getting social security. Some get money from families. Some are getting military retirement checks.

Volunteers drive around to the camps and link the residents to local social service agencies.

There is a lot of existing support structures for the homeless. Single women and families with young children are prioritized for housing (should the homeless want traditional housing.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP. Many, many, many homeless are already getting government checks. Some are on disability. Some are getting social security. Some get money from families. Some are getting military retirement checks.

Volunteers drive around to the camps and link the residents to local social service agencies.

There is a lot of existing support structures for the homeless. Single women and families with young children are prioritized for housing (should the homeless want traditional housing.)

Thanks for this info. Clearly people are helping them - they have tents after all - and it’s good to know the services that they are connected to. It’s also important to remember that the city has been providing encampments water and sanitation services as well. I’ve seen honeybuckets, portable sinks and garbage cans that are serviced.

These people have not been neglected. Hopefully they can be housed and we can move on from this ridiculous situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, I don't mind. I went to India and I saw lots of people defecating in the morning at the side of roads and railway tracks. Tent is not an issue at all. I also see lots of beggars on crossroads and they pee in bottles that they litter around them. I remain unfazed.

US is in decline. All of these things will happen.

The sooner privileged americans realize their time is over as the leading world power the better for the world. They had centuries of racism and white supremacy to spread privileged american imperialism.

This is the new normal they and they will be forced to accept for generations. The world will be a better place when this country is knocked down a peg or two. The people living here have no idea how the rest of the world lives and now they will experience it first hand in their cities. Hopefully it will teach them humility and how to be better humans to less fortunate.

Get help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously can not believe some people are defending the status quo. And yes, I will absolutely take the CEO doing some pricey coke here and there as a neighbor over a methed out schizophrenic defecating on bus stop benches. Stop normalizing this “alternative lifestyle” - these are sick people that need treatment against their will for the safety of all.

How can you do what Covid couldn't?

People have been arrested for having COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meh, I don't mind. I went to India and I saw lots of people defecating in the morning at the side of roads and railway tracks. Tent is not an issue at all. I also see lots of beggars on crossroads and they pee in bottles that they litter around them. I remain unfazed.

US is in decline. All of these things will happen.

The sooner privileged americans realize their time is over as the leading world power the better for the world. They had centuries of racism and white supremacy to spread privileged american imperialism.

This is the new normal they and they will be forced to accept for generations. The world will be a better place when this country is knocked down a peg or two. The people living here have no idea how the rest of the world lives and now they will experience it first hand in their cities. Hopefully it will teach them humility and how to be better humans to less fortunate.

Okayyyyyy... weird goals.

[Anonymous]

I am disgusted with the tents on sidewalk in DuPont Circle. The tent dwellers have motorcycles also parked in front of the tents. Lumpen proletariat comes to mind, taking advantage of DC’s unwillingness to protect the health and safety of residents and tourists, especially with the large crowds every Sunday at the Dupint Circle farmer’s market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There aren’t enough homeless shelters / resources for these people. When you get a bunch of NIMBYs blocking developments geared toward this population, this is what happens. Our city also needs more counseling and psychological support, a lot of these people don’t want to be in permanent housing.

Have a little compassion for those out on the streets. Be grateful you can afford to live in an expensive city and not out on the streets.

I’ve read that this is untrue and there is in fact housing/shelters but they are considered undesirable by tent dwellers because there are rules. Can someone who is more knowledgeable about this weigh in.

They don't want to have to deal with drug rehab and/or mental health treatment as needed for shelter living.

I say give them a bus ticket and send them south to where it's warm year round and wish them luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There aren’t enough homeless shelters / resources for these people. When you get a bunch of NIMBYs blocking developments geared toward this population, this is what happens. Our city also needs more counseling and psychological support, a lot of these people don’t want to be in permanent housing.

Have a little compassion for those out on the streets. Be grateful you can afford to live in an expensive city and not out on the streets.

I’ve read that this is untrue and there is in fact housing/shelters but they are considered undesirable by tent dwellers because there are rules. Can someone who is more knowledgeable about this weigh in.

They don't want to have to deal with drug rehab and/or mental health treatment as needed for shelter living.

I say give them a bus ticket and send them south to where it's warm year round and wish them luck.

It is not even that serious. The main issue for many is that shelters, for obvious reasons, do not let you use drugs on premises and even that restriction is too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There aren’t enough homeless shelters / resources for these people. When you get a bunch of NIMBYs blocking developments geared toward this population, this is what happens. Our city also needs more counseling and psychological support, a lot of these people don’t want to be in permanent housing.

Have a little compassion for those out on the streets. Be grateful you can afford to live in an expensive city and not out on the streets.

I’ve read that this is untrue and there is in fact housing/shelters but they are considered undesirable by tent dwellers because there are rules. Can someone who is more knowledgeable about this weigh in.

They don't want to have to deal with drug rehab and/or mental health treatment as needed for shelter living.

I say give them a bus ticket and send them south to where it's warm year round and wish them luck.

Yup. Give them a pre-loaded bank card that allows for limited monthly withdrawals over 6 months from a cash machine and only works more than 500 miles from the District