What is with all the homeless tents in DC?

[Anonymous]

Thanks to our current Mayor - who focused on her own shot at political spotlight during Covid (love the traffic altering graffiti) - we have tent cities. Her failed attempt at renaming federal monuments - of which she has no jurisdiction is yet another example. The school system - at highest price tag per pupil - a joke. Hiring incompetent buddies - (witness vaccine rollout) = pathetic.

Why anyone would vote for her again is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to our current Mayor - who focused on her own shot at political spotlight during Covid (love the traffic altering graffiti) - we have tent cities. Her failed attempt at renaming federal monuments - of which she has no jurisdiction is yet another example. The school system - at highest price tag per pupil - a joke. Hiring incompetent buddies - (witness vaccine rollout) = pathetic.

Why anyone would vote for her again is beyond me.

Unless, of course, everyone else running is... worse? That seems to be where we are today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need affordable housing, not more luxury condos! But affordable housing is not a popular political topic. BTW, this is not a DC-specific problem. Take a trip to LA or SF and you'll realize that the problem in DC is nothing comparatively.

This is not an affordable housing issue. The people in the tents are there because they have mental health and substance abuse issues. They are unable to take care of themselves let alone a property. These people need institutions to provide for them while they receive I ntensive therapy. It would be very expensive to implement properly so politicians would rather look the other way.

+1

I posted on another thread that I work on GW campus and have seen multiple verbal and physical altercations between minimum wage young workers at places like Starbucks and homeless men who seem mentally unwell. These individuals are not capable of paying any form of rent or adhering to basic rules of affordable housing based on me watching them scream and punch these twenty year old kids just making lattes.

[Anonymous]

Aren't there really expensive renovated "brownstones" (IDK what they're called in DC) just past Union Station, past the SEC building - like 3rd & F, 3rd & G etc.? Do those neighborhoods have no sway here and it's just the price of admission if you buy that close to a public transit station? Because you'd think these people who've dropped $1.5mil+ on a newly renovated house wouldn't be thrilled to see people rolling by with their shopping carts are they go to and from Union? Or maybe they're just not leaving the Union tent city?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there really expensive renovated "brownstones" (IDK what they're called in DC) just past Union Station, past the SEC building - like 3rd & F, 3rd & G etc.? Do those neighborhoods have no sway here and it's just the price of admission if you buy that close to a public transit station? Because you'd think these people who've dropped $1.5mil+ on a newly renovated house wouldn't be thrilled to see people rolling by with their shopping carts are they go to and from Union? Or maybe they're just not leaving the Union tent city?

This is the first time I can recall when DC (near Union Station) really had the same gross ambiance as Port Authority in the 80s. Bowser is a total disaster for this city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there really expensive renovated "brownstones" (IDK what they're called in DC) just past Union Station, past the SEC building - like 3rd & F, 3rd & G etc.? Do those neighborhoods have no sway here and it's just the price of admission if you buy that close to a public transit station? Because you'd think these people who've dropped $1.5mil+ on a newly renovated house wouldn't be thrilled to see people rolling by with their shopping carts are they go to and from Union? Or maybe they're just not leaving the Union tent city?

This is the first time I can recall when DC (near Union Station) really had the same gross ambiance as Port Authority in the 80s. Bowser is a total disaster for this city.

How many years left in Bower's term? I don't see how anyone living in the city can vote for her - like no matter how liberal you are, filth is filth and as a general rule should be limited as it becomes a public health issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there really expensive renovated "brownstones" (IDK what they're called in DC) just past Union Station, past the SEC building - like 3rd & F, 3rd & G etc.? Do those neighborhoods have no sway here and it's just the price of admission if you buy that close to a public transit station? Because you'd think these people who've dropped $1.5mil+ on a newly renovated house wouldn't be thrilled to see people rolling by with their shopping carts are they go to and from Union? Or maybe they're just not leaving the Union tent city?

This is the first time I can recall when DC (near Union Station) really had the same gross ambiance as Port Authority in the 80s. Bowser is a total disaster for this city.

How many years left in Bower's term? I don't see how anyone living in the city can vote for her - like no matter how liberal you are, filth is filth and as a general rule should be limited as it becomes a public health issue.

But what if the other candidates want more filth than even Bowser will tolerate? Both Whites will have a higher tolerance for disorder than she does.

[Anonymous]

I guess they moved there from Austin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess they moved there from Austin.

Who moved where from Austin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess they moved there from Austin.

Who moved where from Austin?

The homeless people in their tents. Austin has slowly been clearing their camps over the last few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what is your solution to the homeless problem? As it is, the counties all send their homeless to DC for us to deal with. Maybe there should be a regional task force and sharing of resources rather than just sloughing it all on us so your precious suburbs can appear neat and tidy?

Their “solution” is NIMBY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were a bunch of tents and homeless people by Union Station pre-shutdown as well. It seems to be an ongoing issue. The only answer I see is more mental health support, affordable housing, and shelters.

We need institutions and asylums. With actual oversight.

You’re a Dickens character. Except you didn’t read the book to the end.

“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what is your solution to the homeless problem? As it is, the counties all send their homeless to DC for us to deal with. Maybe there should be a regional task force and sharing of resources rather than just sloughing it all on us so your precious suburbs can appear neat and tidy?

OP here - my solution would be to ban, and enforce the ban, on any form of camping / sleeping in public areas, streets, sidewalks, parks, etc. I would sure as hell stop homeless people from entering union station.

That’s not a solution.

Now do the part where these people go. Otherwise your first “solution” is moot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I knew a homeless man on the streets of DC who wanted to go to a shelter or permanent housing but being an older gentleman with a drug problem he found that finding permanent housing was almost impossible and the shelters were too dangerous.

He tried to go to a shelter in Va., but it was too hard to get too and because they are sleep only shelters he had to find somewhere to go during the day. Much easier in the city where you can park yourself in a bench to panhandle during the day.

Yes many of these people have serious addiction issues. Not all addictions can be treated or cured so what do we do? It isn’t a palatable option for many to think that you should take care of people where they are. As in highly dysfunctional people are sometimes homeless because they are highly dysfunctional and always will be but still should have their basic needs met even when they can’t or won’t do it for themselves.

I for one believe they should have clean and safe housing, healthcare and food. Basic comforts it I don’t know what the looks like or how that gets delivered when dealing with marginalized populations. We struggle to do the basics for people who are undergoing what should or could be temporary periods of dysfunction.

What people actually want, but won't say, is for basic facilities to be setup out of sight such as under overpasses that aren't common walkways. Permanent housing is pie in the sky bs and allowing the mentally ill to occupy libraries and Union Station is totally unacceptable.

No, they should be actively moved into shelters and treatment programs (both of which are generously funded in DC) or else they need to move along. We should not allow these dangerous and unsanitary tent cities to flourish, which are really a disservice to both the housed and unhoused.

“Move along” to where?

God almighty, you privileged people are dense.

[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.

No amount of housing can take in the crisis. The homeless aren’t from DC. Many come from states that have zero safety net. All over the country we have Ted states doing zip for folks most likely to be homeless: veterans (shame on govt) and those with substance abuse and mental illness. Then you have Ir states willing to try to help but are overwhelmed. Until we deal with this as a National crisis, it will Persist. As an individual the best thing you can do is not to give to homeless but to give to organizations who help them.

And call Congress to pass Biden’s full agenda that includes more safety nets.