Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in NW DC, the homeless folks haven't gone anywhere, after clearing the nearby encampments there is a distinct uptick in the number of people I see now laying out on the medians, park benches, bus stops and in front of the libraries. It's not like any meaningful change was made, and once this all blows over I guarantee you the encampments will return.

The encampments were actually an improvement over homeless in the parks and sleeping on the street. Now they are gone...

I agree. Giving people tents was the most humane action we’ve seen in a long time. Now they are on bus stop benches.

It's completely backfired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there no shelters for the homeless in DC?

Would you like to spend the night in a room with 50 mostly addicted, mentally-ill and often violent individuals off their meds?

Exactly.

The homeless don't want to share a confined space with these people either. The streets are generally safer than the shelters.

Maybe don't put those individuals together? Maybe actually do the work evaluating each of these people and their needs like all homeless and mental health outreach services promise to do? And don't create generic one size fits all shelters. What we need instead is institutionalize mentally ill and severely drug addicted, ship all the lifestyle hobos who prefer outdoor living and don't want any rules outside of city limits into the open campground field somewhere with toilets and communal kitchens (campgrounds), and provide tiny private units or even pods for people who want the rehab and to get back on their feet. Make education or part time work doing whatever one can mandatory to get a unit and you will see that people who seek help will get back on their feet faster and feel like human beings who are respected and contribute, or at least take care of themselves and their housing.

+1 excellent proposals

Think this through. Where is the money for your proposal coming from? As if no one ever thought of this and lobbied for those funds before.

Also, what if the "hobo" doesn't want to live at your campground? Are you willing to make it a crime to be mentally ill or unemployable or in serious debt? Are we OK with debtors prison when 90% of the time the debt is due to predatory practices or lack of knowledge?

The reality is communities are spending the money on the wrong things. Think about how much it costs for police, courts, and jails to deal with homeless people. Think about how much it costs ambulances, ERs, and hospitals to cycle homeless people in and out.

Google Million Dollar Murray.

Guys, we already did this exercise, ran the numbers, and determined that housing, treatment, and services were far more cost effective than enlisting law enforcement to manage people suffering with mental health and addiction issues. Why are we pretending we didn’t already determine what solutions work?

We have a scalability problem. We need the right resources along with a compassionate approach to getting people into housing, treatment, and services. But make no mistake: we need the resources at scale.

Taking away tents and survival gear only results in having vulnerable people being more vulnerable…and potentially agitated. It’s shameful.

There is no reason for the USA to have such a high volume of people living on the streets. Imagine if you were suffering from mental illness. Imagine if it were your son suffering with schizophrenia. Where the hell is our compassion?

Be better, America. We are all human beings.

The PSA in upper NW where the city has been placing homeless and addicts in apartment buildings has had the highest crime increase in the city.

What makes you think “placing” mentally ill people and addicts solves anything?

People with issues need help: treatment, services, support…and perhaps most importantly, human connection.

Imagine if you were suffering with severe mental health issues or disabilities. How would you want to be treated? What would you need to survive? How do you think you would fare if dumped in a random place without human connection?

Expecting these people who are obviously struggling to magically figure it out on their own is pretty crazy, right?

the mentally ill who accept treatment are one thing, those who refuse it are another.

Addicts deserve no sympathy - they started down that path voluntarily and their sobriety is their own responsibility.

Sure dude.

Glad you agree that people should be responsible for their own choices and behaviors. I certainly see no reason why I should fund treatment or shelter for people who'd rather get high than do what they need to in order to support themselves like productive citizens instead of choosing to be parasites on the rest of society.

From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there no shelters for the homeless in DC?

Would you like to spend the night in a room with 50 mostly addicted, mentally-ill and often violent individuals off their meds?

Exactly.

The homeless don't want to share a confined space with these people either. The streets are generally safer than the shelters.

Maybe don't put those individuals together? Maybe actually do the work evaluating each of these people and their needs like all homeless and mental health outreach services promise to do? And don't create generic one size fits all shelters. What we need instead is institutionalize mentally ill and severely drug addicted, ship all the lifestyle hobos who prefer outdoor living and don't want any rules outside of city limits into the open campground field somewhere with toilets and communal kitchens (campgrounds), and provide tiny private units or even pods for people who want the rehab and to get back on their feet. Make education or part time work doing whatever one can mandatory to get a unit and you will see that people who seek help will get back on their feet faster and feel like human beings who are respected and contribute, or at least take care of themselves and their housing.

+1 excellent proposals

Think this through. Where is the money for your proposal coming from? As if no one ever thought of this and lobbied for those funds before.

Also, what if the "hobo" doesn't want to live at your campground? Are you willing to make it a crime to be mentally ill or unemployable or in serious debt? Are we OK with debtors prison when 90% of the time the debt is due to predatory practices or lack of knowledge?

The reality is communities are spending the money on the wrong things. Think about how much it costs for police, courts, and jails to deal with homeless people. Think about how much it costs ambulances, ERs, and hospitals to cycle homeless people in and out.

Google Million Dollar Murray.

Guys, we already did this exercise, ran the numbers, and determined that housing, treatment, and services were far more cost effective than enlisting law enforcement to manage people suffering with mental health and addiction issues. Why are we pretending we didn’t already determine what solutions work?

We have a scalability problem. We need the right resources along with a compassionate approach to getting people into housing, treatment, and services. But make no mistake: we need the resources at scale.

Taking away tents and survival gear only results in having vulnerable people being more vulnerable…and potentially agitated. It’s shameful.

There is no reason for the USA to have such a high volume of people living on the streets. Imagine if you were suffering from mental illness. Imagine if it were your son suffering with schizophrenia. Where the hell is our compassion?

Be better, America. We are all human beings.

The PSA in upper NW where the city has been placing homeless and addicts in apartment buildings has had the highest crime increase in the city.

What makes you think “placing” mentally ill people and addicts solves anything?

People with issues need help: treatment, services, support…and perhaps most importantly, human connection.

Imagine if you were suffering with severe mental health issues or disabilities. How would you want to be treated? What would you need to survive? How do you think you would fare if dumped in a random place without human connection?

Expecting these people who are obviously struggling to magically figure it out on their own is pretty crazy, right?

the mentally ill who accept treatment are one thing, those who refuse it are another.

Addicts deserve no sympathy - they started down that path voluntarily and their sobriety is their own responsibility.

Sure dude.

Glad you agree that people should be responsible for their own choices and behaviors. I certainly see no reason why I should fund treatment or shelter for people who'd rather get high than do what they need to in order to support themselves like productive citizens instead of choosing to be parasites on the rest of society.

From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.

Karl Marx

[Anonymous]

MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

All good Christian folk too. 🙄🙄🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

Your first sentence is true for anyone, not just MAGA voters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in NW DC, the homeless folks haven't gone anywhere, after clearing the nearby encampments there is a distinct uptick in the number of people I see now laying out on the medians, park benches, bus stops and in front of the libraries. It's not like any meaningful change was made, and once this all blows over I guarantee you the encampments will return.

The encampments were actually an improvement over homeless in the parks and sleeping on the street. Now they are gone...

I agree. Giving people tents was the most humane action we’ve seen in a long time. Now they are on bus stop benches.

It's completely backfired.

I was across town quite a bit today and the homeless were much more evident than usual. Just taking the tents away without actually doing anything is just cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

Maybe, but even if homeless, you won’t find me dealing or selling drugs in public or drinking liquor or panhandling or stinking of urine walking around children in the library. Many homeless fight through their tough times and emerge just fine without ever becoming deranged drug addicts who ruin public resources for others.

And god forbid me or my loved ones ended up in that state, I pray the government would involuntarily commit us away from respectable citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

Maybe, but even if homeless, you won’t find me dealing or selling drugs in public or drinking liquor or panhandling or stinking of urine walking around children in the library. Many homeless fight through their tough times and emerge just fine without ever becoming deranged drug addicts who ruin public resources for others.

And god forbid me or my loved ones ended up in that state, I pray the government would involuntarily commit us away from respectable citizens.

+1 I have an acquaintance who's homeless. She sleeps in her car at large gas stations and keeps herself clean using their restrooms. She keeps her car as clean and organized as possible. During the day, she pet sits or spends time at the library.

[Anonymous]

I see homeless people all over Montgomery County. They are at every intersection with signs. They need money. I also see them sleeping on bus benches. I see tents along the beltway in wooded areas. I see tents in Rock Creek Park.

[Anonymous]

I've seen them in shopping centers and coffee shops in Montgomery County, Maryland asking for 5 or 10 dollars. I guess they were fed well while in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

Maybe, but even if homeless, you won’t find me dealing or selling drugs in public or drinking liquor or panhandling or stinking of urine walking around children in the library. Many homeless fight through their tough times and emerge just fine without ever becoming deranged drug addicts who ruin public resources for others.

And god forbid me or my loved ones ended up in that state, I pray the government would involuntarily commit us away from respectable citizens.

Being homeless is not a crime. Being mentally ill is not a crime. Being an alcoholic or a drug addict is not a crime. Sounds like you would like the US to do with these groups what the Nazis did.

The Nazis harshly persecuted drug addicts, the homeless, and the mentally ill, labeling them "asocial" or "degenerate." Addicts faced imprisonment or sterilization; the homeless were forced into labor or concentration camps; and the mentally ill were killed in the T4 Euthanasia Program or used in experiments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

Maybe, but even if homeless, you won’t find me dealing or selling drugs in public or drinking liquor or panhandling or stinking of urine walking around children in the library. Many homeless fight through their tough times and emerge just fine without ever becoming deranged drug addicts who ruin public resources for others.

And god forbid me or my loved ones ended up in that state, I pray the government would involuntarily commit us away from respectable citizens.

Being homeless is not a crime. Being mentally ill is not a crime. Being an alcoholic or a drug addict is not a crime. Sounds like you would like the US to do with these groups what the Nazis did.

The Nazis harshly persecuted drug addicts, the homeless, and the mentally ill, labeling them "asocial" or "degenerate." Addicts faced imprisonment or sterilization; the homeless were forced into labor or concentration camps; and the mentally ill were killed in the T4 Euthanasia Program or used in experiments.

And your kind, compassionate approach is to let them rot on the sfreets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there no shelters for the homeless in DC?

Would you like to spend the night in a room with 50 mostly addicted, mentally-ill and often violent individuals off their meds?

Exactly.

The homeless don't want to share a confined space with these people either. The streets are generally safer than the shelters.

Maybe don't put those individuals together? Maybe actually do the work evaluating each of these people and their needs like all homeless and mental health outreach services promise to do? And don't create generic one size fits all shelters. What we need instead is institutionalize mentally ill and severely drug addicted, ship all the lifestyle hobos who prefer outdoor living and don't want any rules outside of city limits into the open campground field somewhere with toilets and communal kitchens (campgrounds), and provide tiny private units or even pods for people who want the rehab and to get back on their feet. Make education or part time work doing whatever one can mandatory to get a unit and you will see that people who seek help will get back on their feet faster and feel like human beings who are respected and contribute, or at least take care of themselves and their housing.

+1 excellent proposals

Think this through. Where is the money for your proposal coming from? As if no one ever thought of this and lobbied for those funds before.

Also, what if the "hobo" doesn't want to live at your campground? Are you willing to make it a crime to be mentally ill or unemployable or in serious debt? Are we OK with debtors prison when 90% of the time the debt is due to predatory practices or lack of knowledge?

The reality is communities are spending the money on the wrong things. Think about how much it costs for police, courts, and jails to deal with homeless people. Think about how much it costs ambulances, ERs, and hospitals to cycle homeless people in and out.

Google Million Dollar Murray.

Guys, we already did this exercise, ran the numbers, and determined that housing, treatment, and services were far more cost effective than enlisting law enforcement to manage people suffering with mental health and addiction issues. Why are we pretending we didn’t already determine what solutions work?

We have a scalability problem. We need the right resources along with a compassionate approach to getting people into housing, treatment, and services. But make no mistake: we need the resources at scale.

Taking away tents and survival gear only results in having vulnerable people being more vulnerable…and potentially agitated. It’s shameful.

There is no reason for the USA to have such a high volume of people living on the streets. Imagine if you were suffering from mental illness. Imagine if it were your son suffering with schizophrenia. Where the hell is our compassion?

Be better, America. We are all human beings.

The PSA in upper NW where the city has been placing homeless and addicts in apartment buildings has had the highest crime increase in the city.

What makes you think “placing” mentally ill people and addicts solves anything?

People with issues need help: treatment, services, support…and perhaps most importantly, human connection.

Imagine if you were suffering with severe mental health issues or disabilities. How would you want to be treated? What would you need to survive? How do you think you would fare if dumped in a random place without human connection?

Expecting these people who are obviously struggling to magically figure it out on their own is pretty crazy, right?

the mentally ill who accept treatment are one thing, those who refuse it are another.

Addicts deserve no sympathy - they started down that path voluntarily and their sobriety is their own responsibility.

Sure dude.

Glad you agree that people should be responsible for their own choices and behaviors. I certainly see no reason why I should fund treatment or shelter for people who'd rather get high than do what they need to in order to support themselves like productive citizens instead of choosing to be parasites on the rest of society.

May you never have bad luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MAGAs, no matter who you are and how well you think you’ve protected yourself, you’re much more likely to be homeless than a billionaire. But you scream communism anytime anyone mentions taxing them to solve these kind of problems. Remember, one day that could be you or your loved one.

Maybe, but even if homeless, you won’t find me dealing or selling drugs in public or drinking liquor or panhandling or stinking of urine walking around children in the library. Many homeless fight through their tough times and emerge just fine without ever becoming deranged drug addicts who ruin public resources for others.

And god forbid me or my loved ones ended up in that state, I pray the government would involuntarily commit us away from respectable citizens.

Being homeless is not a crime. Being mentally ill is not a crime. Being an alcoholic or a drug addict is not a crime. Sounds like you would like the US to do with these groups what the Nazis did.

The Nazis harshly persecuted drug addicts, the homeless, and the mentally ill, labeling them "asocial" or "degenerate." Addicts faced imprisonment or sterilization; the homeless were forced into labor or concentration camps; and the mentally ill were killed in the T4 Euthanasia Program or used in experiments.

And your kind, compassionate approach is to let them rot on the sfreets?

Even if your wet dream of cleaning up the streets of all the smelly, crazy, rotting-in-place undesirables was implemented, there would not be enough beds in medical and treatment centers to house them all, not to mention the prohibitively high cost of doing so. Our nation's mental health and substance use treatment infrastructure is inadequate and underfunded, even more so when Republicans are in power. Where do you imagine all these people can/should be housed and how do you propose paying for it?