Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We'd have to return to the model of involuntary institutionalization, OP.

Yup. There’s no way to eliminate homelessness without infringing on people’s civil rights. Many absolutely refuse help.

This. We actually need involuntary institutionalization, which is how it was done before.

Creating places with subsidized rooms for rent might work, but would have to be heavily supervised and that probably would not be popular with the mentally ill, but would help those who are homeless because they don't make a living wage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We'd have to return to the model of involuntary institutionalization, OP.

Yup. There’s no way to eliminate homelessness without infringing on people’s civil rights. Many absolutely refuse help.

Yes. And I find it fascinating that it hasn't happened yet. Considering how distressed people are about the situation, and the fact that apparently there is plenty of appetite for reducing individual rights [abortion] I'm baffled why the pendulum hasn't swung back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why DC attracts so many homeless, mentally ill, addicts and criminals?

Mental healthcare person here. I asked this when I started working in the field. It is a combination of huge income disparity in DC plus being the national capital makes the city a focus of a lot of people's mental illness. That said, I think the real criminals are the ones who sit on the Hill and do nothing about widespread public health problems (gun violence). But sure, let's get upset about the vulnerable disenfranchised!

You're not wrong, but the criminals who collect handsome salaries on the Hill aren't pushing me off my bike into traffic, yelling sexual slurs, or sh!tt!ng on the sidewalk, so that helps.

Clearly “elect more democrats” is not the answer.

I disagree that Bowser has done a good job. Dumping the mentally ill into studio apartments with absolutely no case management services benefits no one except the landlords charging the city exhorbitant rents. There is a whole stretch of buildings along Connecticut Avenue---many of which contain fixed income populations---who are experiencing the negative externalities of this ill-considered policy. Drug dealing, fires, criminal behavior---mental illness and substance abuse leading to homelessness are more often than not linked.

Anonymous wrote:Why DC attracts so many homeless, mentally ill, addicts and criminals?

Mental healthcare person here. I asked this when I started working in the field. It is a combination of huge income disparity in DC plus being the national capital makes the city a focus of a lot of people's mental illness. That said, I think the real criminals are the ones who sit on the Hill and do nothing about widespread public health problems (gun violence). But sure, let's get upset about the vulnerable disenfranchised!

Anonymous wrote:We'd have to return to the model of involuntary institutionalization, OP.

Yup. There’s no way to eliminate homelessness without infringing on people’s civil rights. Many absolutely refuse help.

Anonymous wrote:If we are willing to limit the civil rights of others, then we can absolutely address this. The problem is that our appetite for doing so is quite limited.

Supreme Court ruled in the 70s that forced institutionalization was unconstitutional in most cases. In other words, the bar to institutionalize a crazy person is extremely high - they must pose an imminent threat to themselves or others. A crazy drug addicted naked homeless dude sleeping on the street isn't enough to force him into a mental hospital.

My guess is that this will need to be re-litigated again at the Supreme Court.

If we are willing to limit the civil rights of others, then we can absolutely address this. The problem is that our appetite for doing so is quite limited.

It can be done and if city & fed govs can’t do it then they should resign.

Anonymous wrote:Is there a solution for ending crime, homelessness & mental health crisis in DC? What a shame to have it all in a superpower’s own capital! Shame on city government, shame on federal government and shame on both political parties.

Well, in LA a Black Republican who is promising to address these things is about to be elected. I am totally fine with switching parties/leadership based on people's proposals to address entrenched issues like above. Are you?

Fwiw, I think Bowser has done a somewhat good job with homelessness, better than our Council. But far more needs to be done and Union Station and other public spaces (I don't CARE who has jurisdiction - work with them to find a solution) are a disgrace.

It's really not that hard. Prosecute crime, prosecute vagrancy, prosecute open-air drug use. Make it clear that DC is not a free-for-all.

We'd have to return to the model of involuntary institutionalization, OP.

Why DC attracts so many homeless, mentally ill, addicts and criminals?

Is there a solution for ending crime, homelessness & mental health crisis in DC? What a shame to have it all in a superpower’s own capital! Shame on city government, shame on federal government and shame on both political parties.