Homeless person sleeping in my front door vestibule

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have put food and drink and a blanket out for him, but that’s just me.

And then would you be surprise don't when you found fecal matter on your doorstep or you walked outside and smelled urine? The problem is that social workers can't force anyone tô do anything. You can send out a social worker but if the person doesn't want to leave they can't be forced to do so. The MSW is right, we need more people legally forced into treatment. We need to change our laws to make this possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly the problem. The people that run homeless shelters should help you not cops.

Yes,yes, YES!!!
If the non emergency line could instead send a social worker to bring him somewhere safe, he wouldn't relocate to another vestibule, or street resulting in him getting injured or sick.

You weren't wrong OP. I get your choice. But the system needs a better solution.

All of these people have been approached by a social worker at some time or have been referred to somewhere safe to sleep, even by the police. They are sleeping on the street because they don't prefer shelters for a variety of reasons.

The solution would be institutions for in-patient mental health/substance abuse treatment, but it would take a lot more than just a visit from a social worker to get them there.

- MSW

sad that an MSW apparently has no knowledge of the Housing First model?

The housing first model has limitations...as evidenced by this scenario.

DC embraced housing first, yet we still have people on the street. LA, Seattle, SF, NYC all embraced housing first before dc...it’s not a silver bullet.

People have rights; nobody can be forced inside.

The best approach is holistic prevention. Hindsight being 20/20, housing first should not have focused exclusively on backend housing without investing in upstream prevention. It’s really hard to persuade some people to come inside and take advantage of help after years on the street.

Given the resistance to help, specialty courts run hand in hand with community based providers are effective. Of course, you need to invest in housing, treatment and services. But the court plays a pivotal role in engagement, compliance and success.

I still don’t think you understand. Housing First is giving someone a home, not “help.” And there is still a shortage. And what’s with the nonsequitur on courts?

Um, I actually have written about and presented at National and international conferences on the topic. I’ve literally dedicated my career to homeless prevention and advocacy...which is how I know the limitations of Housing First.

Specialty treatment courts are an effective tool when properly resourced and implemented as they are equipped to coax people into housing and treatment.

DC implemented a housing first approach yet they struggle to persuade many people to participate even when offered a key to their own apartment. What then? A treatment court (mental health/behavioral health) is an effective tool to get reluctant participants inside and on meds. The data supports this.

Bottom line: there’s no easy solution...including Housing First. Just ask LA, SF, NYC, Seattle, etc. They were the innovators, early adopters, and biggest investors in HF yet...

[Anonymous]

Understand that many people with mental health issues don't want to be on their meds as the side effects are worse than the situation to them. It is legal for those with mental illness not to be on meds in the US.

[Anonymous]

Many unhomed people don't want the restrictions that go with free housing.

In my town the community does a good job getting unhomed women and women and children access to housing first. That is why there are a lot of males on the streets homeless.

Understand many unhomed people prefer to live in tents in their own homeless communities.

[Anonymous]

This is why European towns built walls and moats and barred the door at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone remember the homeless man who stabbed the jogger near 14th and P?

Also recently a homeless man killed someone and stabbed another near foggy bottom.

I have been robbed by them.


All are not violent, but many are and most have mental health issues.

I guess everyone here is too young to remember the Laura Houghteling case. Not all homeless are sweet And harmless vagrants. The Houghtelings went out of their way to help the guy but he was mentally ill and their thanks was to bury their 23 year old daughter. The narrative that cops are more dangerous than random homeless people is insane.

This the first thing that crossed my mind when I read OP's post. As the PP says the family went way out of their way to help the man who later killed their daughter. Her killer was a homeless paranoid schizophrenic who now also is/was suspected in the death of another child. It was truly a story of good people trying to do the right thing and they paid the ultimate price in the horrific murder of their daughter. Very sad.

OP, you did the right thing by calling the nonemergency line and eliciting their help in getting the homeless man to leave their property. Perhaps you also want to get one of those camera doorbells so that you can always see who is in front of your door? Your family's safety comes first.

[Anonymous]

Did you have a basement you could have offered him for the night? Maybe given him food and water and packed up some meals for him for the week? We are all in this together. Those of us that are more privileged (yes, that’s anyone with a roof to sleep under) have the moral responsibility to help those around us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone remember the homeless man who stabbed the jogger near 14th and P?

Also recently a homeless man killed someone and stabbed another near foggy bottom.

I have been robbed by them.


All are not violent, but many are and most have mental health issues.

I guess everyone here is too young to remember the Laura Houghteling case. Not all homeless are sweet And harmless vagrants. The Houghtelings went out of their way to help the guy but he was mentally ill and their thanks was to bury their 23 year old daughter. The narrative that cops are more dangerous than random homeless people is insane.

This the first thing that crossed my mind when I read OP's post. As the PP says the family went way out of their way to help the man who later killed their daughter. Her killer was a homeless paranoid schizophrenic who now also is/was suspected in the death of another child. It was truly a story of good people trying to do the right thing and they paid the ultimate price in the horrific murder of their daughter. Very sad.

OP, you did the right thing by calling the nonemergency line and eliciting their help in getting the homeless man to leave their property. Perhaps you also want to get one of those camera doorbells so that you can always see who is in front of your door? Your family's safety comes first.

OP here - we have a ring doorbell! That’s how we found out he was there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you have a basement you could have offered him for the night? Maybe given him food and water and packed up some meals for him for the week? We are all in this together. Those of us that are more privileged (yes, that’s anyone with a roof to sleep under) have the moral responsibility to help those around us.

Guest or spare bedroom would be kinder. Maybe set him up with you toiletry items and offer use of a shower and laundry facilities. Also might be nice to fix a few hot meals and offer him some cash and or gift cards. Does he need a ride anywhere? Ofer to drive him or allow use of your personal car but only if he has a DL. Maybe you could go together to go grocery shopping and/or clothing shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have put food and drink and a blanket out for him, but that’s just me.

And then would you be surprise don't when you found fecal matter on your doorstep or you walked outside and smelled urine? The problem is that social workers can't force anyone tô do anything. You can send out a social worker but if the person doesn't want to leave they can't be forced to do so. The MSW is right, we need more people legally forced into treatment. We need to change our laws to make this possible.

you have literally no idea what you’re talking about. we can’t keep people in mental hospitals indefinitely in this country just because they are homeless or mentally ill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly the problem. The people that run homeless shelters should help you not cops.

Yes,yes, YES!!!
If the non emergency line could instead send a social worker to bring him somewhere safe, he wouldn't relocate to another vestibule, or street resulting in him getting injured or sick.

You weren't wrong OP. I get your choice. But the system needs a better solution.

All of these people have been approached by a social worker at some time or have been referred to somewhere safe to sleep, even by the police. They are sleeping on the street because they don't prefer shelters for a variety of reasons.

The solution would be institutions for in-patient mental health/substance abuse treatment, but it would take a lot more than just a visit from a social worker to get them there.

- MSW

sad that an MSW apparently has no knowledge of the Housing First model?

The housing first model has limitations...as evidenced by this scenario.

DC embraced housing first, yet we still have people on the street. LA, Seattle, SF, NYC all embraced housing first before dc...it’s not a silver bullet.

People have rights; nobody can be forced inside.

The best approach is holistic prevention. Hindsight being 20/20, housing first should not have focused exclusively on backend housing without investing in upstream prevention. It’s really hard to persuade some people to come inside and take advantage of help after years on the street.

Given the resistance to help, specialty courts run hand in hand with community based providers are effective. Of course, you need to invest in housing, treatment and services. But the court plays a pivotal role in engagement, compliance and success.

I still don’t think you understand. Housing First is giving someone a home, not “help.” And there is still a shortage. And what’s with the nonsequitur on courts?

Um, I actually have written about and presented at National and international conferences on the topic. I’ve literally dedicated my career to homeless prevention and advocacy...which is how I know the limitations of Housing First.

Specialty treatment courts are an effective tool when properly resourced and implemented as they are equipped to coax people into housing and treatment.

DC implemented a housing first approach yet they struggle to persuade many people to participate even when offered a key to their own apartment. What then? A treatment court (mental health/behavioral health) is an effective tool to get reluctant participants inside and on meds. The data supports this.

Bottom line: there’s no easy solution...including Housing First. Just ask LA, SF, NYC, Seattle, etc. They were the innovators, early adopters, and biggest investors in HF yet...

why do you keep on mentioning courts? do you propose we sweep up homeless people and send them to jail for being homeless? it’s not illegal to be homeless, mentally ill, or drug addicted. I suggest you talk to more people at these conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you have a basement you could have offered him for the night? Maybe given him food and water and packed up some meals for him for the week? We are all in this together. Those of us that are more privileged (yes, that’s anyone with a roof to sleep under) have the moral responsibility to help those around us.

Guest or spare bedroom would be kinder. Maybe set him up with you toiletry items and offer use of a shower and laundry facilities. Also might be nice to fix a few hot meals and offer him some cash and or gift cards. Does he need a ride anywhere? Ofer to drive him or allow use of your personal car but only if he has a DL. Maybe you could go together to go grocery shopping and/or clothing shopping.

This is a joke, right?

[Anonymous]

you should have made him a nice breakfast when he woke up

[Anonymous]

What cracks me up is OP and her DH have jumped on the hate the police bandwagon. Yet her first thought when a homeless dude shows up on her doorstep is to call the cops to move him along. She's all about helping the homeless as long as its NIMBY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly the problem. The people that run homeless shelters should help you not cops.

Yes,yes, YES!!!
If the non emergency line could instead send a social worker to bring him somewhere safe, he wouldn't relocate to another vestibule, or street resulting in him getting injured or sick.

You weren't wrong OP. I get your choice. But the system needs a better solution.

All of these people have been approached by a social worker at some time or have been referred to somewhere safe to sleep, even by the police. They are sleeping on the street because they don't prefer shelters for a variety of reasons.

The solution would be institutions for in-patient mental health/substance abuse treatment, but it would take a lot more than just a visit from a social worker to get them there.

- MSW

sad that an MSW apparently has no knowledge of the Housing First model?

The housing first model has limitations...as evidenced by this scenario.

DC embraced housing first, yet we still have people on the street. LA, Seattle, SF, NYC all embraced housing first before dc...it’s not a silver bullet.

People have rights; nobody can be forced inside.

The best approach is holistic prevention. Hindsight being 20/20, housing first should not have focused exclusively on backend housing without investing in upstream prevention. It’s really hard to persuade some people to come inside and take advantage of help after years on the street.

Given the resistance to help, specialty courts run hand in hand with community based providers are effective. Of course, you need to invest in housing, treatment and services. But the court plays a pivotal role in engagement, compliance and success.

I still don’t think you understand. Housing First is giving someone a home, not “help.” And there is still a shortage. And what’s with the nonsequitur on courts?

Um, I actually have written about and presented at National and international conferences on the topic. I’ve literally dedicated my career to homeless prevention and advocacy...which is how I know the limitations of Housing First.

Specialty treatment courts are an effective tool when properly resourced and implemented as they are equipped to coax people into housing and treatment.

DC implemented a housing first approach yet they struggle to persuade many people to participate even when offered a key to their own apartment. What then? A treatment court (mental health/behavioral health) is an effective tool to get reluctant participants inside and on meds. The data supports this.

Bottom line: there’s no easy solution...including Housing First. Just ask LA, SF, NYC, Seattle, etc. They were the innovators, early adopters, and biggest investors in HF yet...

why do you keep on mentioning courts? do you propose we sweep up homeless people and send them to jail for being homeless? it’s not illegal to be homeless, mentally ill, or drug addicted. I suggest you talk to more people at these conferences.

NP. The MSW is talking about specialty mental health courts. These courts do not send people to jail, and instead can help to mandate treatment for people with mental illness who refuse treatment but are unable to care for themselves due to their condition.

- someone else who works in the mental health field