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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Is there an organization that is helping them in terms of toiletries and winter clothing? Are there any children in those encampments and do they have access to a school, school supplies clothing etc.?[/quote]

I can't speak to DC but my town has groups (some charity, some government funded) that drive around and drop off tents, sleeping bags,
socks, food, and give information on where do get medical and dental assistance.

My boyfriend has an encampment behind his work place and a RN and social worker have dropped by to check on one of the residents
several times.[/quote]

Why are we encouraging encampments and focusing on making people comfortable camping on city streets? This is not the right thing to do and helps nobody.  The focus should be on relocating these people into permanent or at least temporary housing with sanitary facilities and hopefully services that these people need.  These are people, not stray cats! Your fake compassion is actually killing them by perpetuating the problem and encouraging the proliferation of street life and all the ills it brings with it: drugs, sexual assaults, crime, trash and more rats.   Turning our city neighborhoods into 3rd world shanty towns isn't the solution, but this is precisely what will happen if people will keep focusing on keeping street campers comfortable where they are instead of finding solution to relocate them and help those who could be helped get on their feet and acquire permanent housing and jobs, and getting those addicted or mentally ill help they need.  [/quote]

We closed the mental institutions in the 1970's and it is legal not to treat your own mental illness.[/quote]

Addiction too.

DC purportedly provides "services" to those it gives housing vouchers to and sticks in apartments in W3 but there is no requirement that they even open the door. That compulsory treatment of mental illness or addcition is the missing piece in the US approach. [/quote]

Mental illness and addiction are difficult to treat, but yes, this is the missing piece, and especially resources for mental illness are woefully underfunded across the board and across the country despite everyone seemingly in agreement how important they are.

Look at the waitlist of 1+ yrs at nearly every outpatient mental health resource other than the military and $$$$  cash pay in advance ones.   Adults and children are still waiting in hallways of emergency rooms across the nation for DAYS for placement they urgently need, but there is simply no place for them, regardless of ability to pay.     Despite all the talk NOTHING has changed with severe lack of access to mental health.
[/quote]

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