absolutely absurd article on homeless encampment clearing on 17th st NW/Safeway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read an interesting article about housing. They made the point that our housing needs have not changed in the last 100 years. The difference is that we used to have boarding houses, etc. Now, zoning discourages that type of housing. Some people don't want a whole apartment. They just want a safe room. We have limited our options by saying you live in either a shelter or an apartment or house. People need more options than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read an interesting article about housing. They made the point that our housing needs have not changed in the last 100 years. The difference is that we used to have boarding houses, etc. Now, zoning discourages that type of housing. Some people don't want a whole apartment. They just want a safe room. We have limited our options by saying you live in either a shelter or an apartment or house. People need more options than that.

This is what they were moving to pre-covid. Even fancy apartment buildings that essentially followed the boarding house idea--small individual rooms, nice communal spaces. There is one in Dupont circle. The issue with both housing and mental illness/drug addiction is our elected officials don't have the imagination or willpower to paint their way out of a box. It's not limited resources. DC spends like Lady Bountiful. I do agree with a PP though that DC, SF, NY can't be responsible for all the nation's homeless. If you are from here great. If you came here, you get a ticket back home. Again, imagination and willpower.

[Anonymous]

Being unhoused is not a crime!

[Anonymous]

I am so damn glad we moved out of DC. Everyone I talk to has also cut way back on trips to the city because of how it looks now. Shit hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being unhoused is not a crime!

Hi Stevie!

This thread has gone totally off the rails, but as someone who lives blocks from this encampment and posted months ago on the actual reality on the ground with it, I am happy to report it has remained clear and while there was an initial attempt to set up a small tent outside of Safeway to do drugs in, prostitute women in, and aggressively panhandle from people passing by (may or may not include assault by Savon) after housing had been obtained for this couple, they appear to be gone and doing whatever in their provided home. Win.

There was an encampment across the street in front of the McDonalds that was arguably even worse and they appear gone too, as well as the tent on 17th and Q. The remaining encampment along that strip is in front of Prego Again Deli where it is a multi-part shet show to walk by with one man nakedly writhing on the ground and several of the unhoused sitting at the picnic tables harassing people walking down the street. I can't imagine being the small business owner dealing with that. No recourse? I realize the last statement sounds bad, but it has honestly improved tremendously over the past year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Move them all to a progressive area like Takoma Park.

This!! Daily bus to Tacoma

From...the bastion of conservatism that is Dupont Circle?

[Anonymous]

I know the couple in the article. I live in the neighborhood and connected with them. They are not on drugs. They recently moved into subsidized housing. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why they ended up like they did, but they are human beings. Not rats that needs to be exterminated.

[Anonymous]

Just deplorable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know the couple in the article. I live in the neighborhood and connected with them. They are not on drugs. They recently moved into subsidized housing. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why they ended up like they did, but they are human beings. Not rats that needs to be exterminated.

Great, so you should be happy they are in safe, clean housing indoors and not on the streets. Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read an interesting article about housing. They made the point that our housing needs have not changed in the last 100 years. The difference is that we used to have boarding houses, etc. Now, zoning discourages that type of housing. Some people don't want a whole apartment. They just want a safe room. We have limited our options by saying you live in either a shelter or an apartment or house. People need more options than that.

I’m a conservative and I agree with this. I think that living in public should be illegal, but there should be boarding homes that are free from drugs and crime (i.e. just nice places for non-addicts to live who don’t want a full private apartment).

[Anonymous]

Mental health care and involuntary boarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know the couple in the article. I live in the neighborhood and connected with them. They are not on drugs. They recently moved into subsidized housing. I'm sure there are lots of reasons why they ended up like they did, but they are human beings. Not rats that needs to be exterminated.

Great, so you should be happy they are in safe, clean housing indoors and not on the streets. Right?

The PPP does seem to imply that they were happy for them to be on the streets. So weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read an interesting article about housing. They made the point that our housing needs have not changed in the last 100 years. The difference is that we used to have boarding houses, etc. Now, zoning discourages that type of housing. Some people don't want a whole apartment. They just want a safe room. We have limited our options by saying you live in either a shelter or an apartment or house. People need more options than that.

I’m a conservative and I agree with this. I think that living in public should be illegal, but there should be boarding homes that are free from drugs and crime (i.e. just nice places for non-addicts to live who don’t want a full private apartment).

Now let’s decide where to put the boarding houses and SROs? Who wants a skid row in their neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mental health care and involuntary boarding.

For the hardcore "unhoused," that may be the only option. Most don't want to live on the streets in a tent, but there is a small group that seem to think urban camping is a way of life. It isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mental health care and involuntary boarding.

For the hardcore "unhoused," that may be the only option. Most don't want to live on the streets in a tent, but there is a small group that seem to think urban camping is a way of life. It isn't.

as sometimes camping is lying face down in the middle of the sidewalk under rotting piles of putrid blankets in extreme weather while pedestrians step over you - Yes to involuntary boarding.