Libraries as homeless centers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The idea that the threat of incarceration for public intoxication would deter people from addiction is laughable. Sure, for the local exec or govt official who spends the night in the pokey after an embarrassing display, or the person in HR who just got the oinly DUI she will ever get. (Of course, Trump's press secretary didn't stop after her first DUI, she went on to get another). But in a country where more than 30% of American adults have been arrested for SOMETHING at some point, you really think the threat of going to jail for public intoxication is the answer?

We're not talking about DUI here. Not relevant. Yes, I think the threat of strong penalties against public intoxication would dissuade some people from a life of addiction. By having the threat of a 180 day jail sentence for public intoxication, Indiana is clearly stating what behavior is out of bounds. It's not the only factor, but it is hard to argue that DC's approach is superior when it has a chronic homelessness rate that is 38 times higher than Indiana's.

By having the threat of a 180 days jail sentence for public intoxication, Indiana is clearly stating that they'd rather spend public money to incarcerate people with substance abuse problems than to help them overcome their substance abuse problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get it... it seems like very different needs than libraries were designed for or librarians have the skill set for (though I know they try their best). My husband had to work with the librarian to call the police in a homeless creeper in the kids section the other day (not saying they all are, but it's two very different populations in a small space). The only solution I can think of is to offer a homeless service station next door. Warming station, social worker,coffee donuts, paper, computer bank, and bathroom to groom in. Thoughts?

Alas, probably won't help. The Reston library is right next door to a homeless shelter. Nevertheless, they come into the library, watch porn on the computers, wash themselves in the restroom (which pretty much makes it unusable for normal people, especially children, I'd never send DS in there), periodically expose themselves to women, and generally stink up the place.

Stopped going there...can't use the restroom, run a gauntlet of lounging smoking groups to get in. Nowhere to sit - it's the homeless shelter clubhouse. Years ago-decades + used to drop kids off there who met others for study/HW.

Also RTC Balduccis is a hangout and Harris Teeter. Fairfax County is putting a park next to the library. Who will be able to use it?

Oh, please. I go there weekly with my 4-year-old and have for years. Never encountered any problems. The restrooms are fine, plenty of seating, I’ve never encountered any suspicious adults in the children’s area. Never smelled a thing, for goodness sake. Never seen anyone bothered or harassed.

There are usually several people sitting out front, and sometimes a few are smoking, although not near the entrance. Once an obviously mentally ill man was talking to himself outside. Which happens everywhere. That’s it. Some of you are just appalled that the homeless have the gall to be VISIBLE to TAXPAYERS.

Or to stab women to death. Or to stab a man to death on bridge. The problem with the mentally ill is they are unpredictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get it... it seems like very different needs than libraries were designed for or librarians have the skill set for (though I know they try their best). My husband had to work with the librarian to call the police in a homeless creeper in the kids section the other day (not saying they all are, but it's two very different populations in a small space). The only solution I can think of is to offer a homeless service station next door. Warming station, social worker,coffee donuts, paper, computer bank, and bathroom to groom in. Thoughts?

Alas, probably won't help. The Reston library is right next door to a homeless shelter. Nevertheless, they come into the library, watch porn on the computers, wash themselves in the restroom (which pretty much makes it unusable for normal people, especially children, I'd never send DS in there), periodically expose themselves to women, and generally stink up the place.

Stopped going there...can't use the restroom, run a gauntlet of lounging smoking groups to get in. Nowhere to sit - it's the homeless shelter clubhouse. Years ago-decades + used to drop kids off there who met others for study/HW.

Also RTC Balduccis is a hangout and Harris Teeter. Fairfax County is putting a park next to the library. Who will be able to use it?

Oh, please. I go there weekly with my 4-year-old and have for years. Never encountered any problems. The restrooms are fine, plenty of seating, I’ve never encountered any suspicious adults in the children’s area. Never smelled a thing, for goodness sake. Never seen anyone bothered or harassed.

There are usually several people sitting out front, and sometimes a few are smoking, although not near the entrance. Once an obviously mentally ill man was talking to himself outside. Which happens everywhere. That’s it. Some of you are just appalled that the homeless have the gall to be VISIBLE to TAXPAYERS.

Or to stab women to death. Or to stab a man to death on bridge. The problem with the mentally ill is they are unpredictable.

Yes, mentally ill folks (among them some homeless transients) have killed many passersby in DC this year. A woman walking dogs, a yoga teacher on Xmas Eve I believe it was, the surveyor minding his own business on a bridge. Is that visible enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get it... it seems like very different needs than libraries were designed for or librarians have the skill set for (though I know they try their best). My husband had to work with the librarian to call the police in a homeless creeper in the kids section the other day (not saying they all are, but it's two very different populations in a small space). The only solution I can think of is to offer a homeless service station next door. Warming station, social worker,coffee donuts, paper, computer bank, and bathroom to groom in. Thoughts?

Alas, probably won't help. The Reston library is right next door to a homeless shelter. Nevertheless, they come into the library, watch porn on the computers, wash themselves in the restroom (which pretty much makes it unusable for normal people, especially children, I'd never send DS in there), periodically expose themselves to women, and generally stink up the place.

Stopped going there...can't use the restroom, run a gauntlet of lounging smoking groups to get in. Nowhere to sit - it's the homeless shelter clubhouse. Years ago-decades + used to drop kids off there who met others for study/HW.

Also RTC Balduccis is a hangout and Harris Teeter. Fairfax County is putting a park next to the library. Who will be able to use it?

Oh, please. I go there weekly with my 4-year-old and have for years. Never encountered any problems. The restrooms are fine, plenty of seating, I’ve never encountered any suspicious adults in the children’s area. Never smelled a thing, for goodness sake. Never seen anyone bothered or harassed.

There are usually several people sitting out front, and sometimes a few are smoking, although not near the entrance. Once an obviously mentally ill man was talking to himself outside. Which happens everywhere. That’s it. Some of you are just appalled that the homeless have the gall to be VISIBLE to TAXPAYERS.

Or to stab women to death. Or to stab a man to death on bridge. The problem with the mentally ill is they are unpredictable.

Yes, mentally ill folks (among them some homeless transients) have killed many passersby in DC this year. A woman walking dogs, a yoga teacher on Xmas Eve I believe it was, the surveyor minding his own business on a bridge. Is that visible enough?

Of course, non-mentally-ill folks have also killed people, Maybe we should just ban everybody from the library.

[Anonymous]

Let the homeless come into the library but don’t let them bring anything larger than a purse or small knapsack. Those who don’t like the policy will self-select not to come.

[Anonymous]

I am not homeless, but for 3 years in a row, my DD did a four hour daily activity in DC that left me sympathetic to the homeless. The location did not have a place for parking so we took Metro, but there was not a waiting area either. Local businesses were willing to let you sit as Kong’s as you kept spending money, but often wouldn’t let you use the bathroom. I took shelter in the public libraries.

Where can people go? What do we want to provide so that people, not just the homeless, but also others, can be out of the elements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get it... it seems like very different needs than libraries were designed for or librarians have the skill set for (though I know they try their best). My husband had to work with the librarian to call the police in a homeless creeper in the kids section the other day (not saying they all are, but it's two very different populations in a small space). The only solution I can think of is to offer a homeless service station next door. Warming station, social worker,coffee donuts, paper, computer bank, and bathroom to groom in. Thoughts?

Alas, probably won't help. The Reston library is right next door to a homeless shelter. Nevertheless, they come into the library, watch porn on the computers, wash themselves in the restroom (which pretty much makes it unusable for normal people, especially children, I'd never send DS in there), periodically expose themselves to women, and generally stink up the place.

Stopped going there...can't use the restroom, run a gauntlet of lounging smoking groups to get in. Nowhere to sit - it's the homeless shelter clubhouse. Years ago-decades + used to drop kids off there who met others for study/HW.

Also RTC Balduccis is a hangout and Harris Teeter. Fairfax County is putting a park next to the library. Who will be able to use it?

Oh, please. I go there weekly with my 4-year-old and have for years. Never encountered any problems. The restrooms are fine, plenty of seating, I’ve never encountered any suspicious adults in the children’s area. Never smelled a thing, for goodness sake. Never seen anyone bothered or harassed.

There are usually several people sitting out front, and sometimes a few are smoking, although not near the entrance. Once an obviously mentally ill man was talking to himself outside. Which happens everywhere. That’s it. Some of you are just appalled that the homeless have the gall to be VISIBLE to TAXPAYERS.

Or to stab women to death. Or to stab a man to death on bridge. The problem with the mentally ill is they are unpredictable.

...and this has what to do with library access?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let the homeless come into the library but don’t let them bring anything larger than a purse or small knapsack. Those who don’t like the policy will self-select not to come.

My non-homeless high school kid takes a big backpack into the library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My toddlers adore the library but I feel increasingly like they only cater to the homeless. For instance, they wanted to go tonight and I had my days mixed up. It closed at 5pm right as we arrived. Saturday and Sunday have limited hours. Basically they have bankers hours which don’t work for my family who works.

How does your disorganization have anything to do with the homeless? Oh right, it doesn’t. Go online and check on the hours if you can’t keep them straight.

Because their hours cater to the homeless and not the toddlers of working parents.

Ridiculous. The hours are regular working hours. Librarians want to go home and be with their families, too. Go on the weekend. The world doesn’t revolve around you and your needs. Again, check the hours before going if your tiny mind can’t retain this information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Books are expensive, and libraries are a saving grace to families who pinch pennies. Free story time, free after school tutoring, free internet access, a cozy “safe” place for families and children. I will ALWAYS put their needs first. Homeless have to get the boot.

You seem not to grasp that there are homeless families that include children.

You should educate yourself. Get into the real world. Homeless children don’t want to be around drug addicted, disruptive homeless, either.

But homeless children are entitled to be in the library. You don’t get to “give them the boot”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The idea that the threat of incarceration for public intoxication would deter people from addiction is laughable. Sure, for the local exec or govt official who spends the night in the pokey after an embarrassing display, or the person in HR who just got the oinly DUI she will ever get. (Of course, Trump's press secretary didn't stop after her first DUI, she went on to get another). But in a country where more than 30% of American adults have been arrested for SOMETHING at some point, you really think the threat of going to jail for public intoxication is the answer?

We're not talking about DUI here. Not relevant. Yes, I think the threat of strong penalties against public intoxication would dissuade some people from a life of addiction. By having the threat of a 180 day jail sentence for public intoxication, Indiana is clearly stating what behavior is out of bounds. It's not the only factor, but it is hard to argue that DC's approach is superior when it has a chronic homelessness rate that is 38 times higher than Indiana's.

By having the threat of a 180 days jail sentence for public intoxication, Indiana is clearly stating that they'd rather spend public money to incarcerate people with substance abuse problems than to help them overcome their substance abuse problems.

Np. In jail you can’t get alcohol so it is a sort of rehab. Plus there is lots of counseling and group therapy in jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The idea that the threat of incarceration for public intoxication would deter people from addiction is laughable. Sure, for the local exec or govt official who spends the night in the pokey after an embarrassing display, or the person in HR who just got the oinly DUI she will ever get. (Of course, Trump's press secretary didn't stop after her first DUI, she went on to get another). But in a country where more than 30% of American adults have been arrested for SOMETHING at some point, you really think the threat of going to jail for public intoxication is the answer?

We're not talking about DUI here. Not relevant. Yes, I think the threat of strong penalties against public intoxication would dissuade some people from a life of addiction. By having the threat of a 180 day jail sentence for public intoxication, Indiana is clearly stating what behavior is out of bounds. It's not the only factor, but it is hard to argue that DC's approach is superior when it has a chronic homelessness rate that is 38 times higher than Indiana's.

By having the threat of a 180 days jail sentence for public intoxication, Indiana is clearly stating that they'd rather spend public money to incarcerate people with substance abuse problems than to help them overcome their substance abuse problems.

People brew alcohol in their cells.

Np. In jail you can’t get alcohol so it is a sort of rehab. Plus there is lots of counseling and group therapy in jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Np. In jail you can’t get alcohol so it is a sort of rehab. Plus there is lots of counseling and group therapy in jail.

Yes. If you're going to put people in jail for nonviolent offenses like public intoxication, you owe them a lot of things. Rehab, therapy, decent living conditions, personal safety, etc. Do I trust the District of Columbia to provide these things? Not really, but I don't know.

[Anonymous]

The DC Library in Tenleytown has a whole homeless village out front and I've seen them go into the library as well... they must funk that place out !!! I'd recommend never using the bathroom there or touching any surfaces or sitting in any chairs... GROSS !!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Np. In jail you can’t get alcohol so it is a sort of rehab. Plus there is lots of counseling and group therapy in jail.

No, jail is not any sort of rehab.