Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 14:14     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
the homeless men near farragut north are gone. the parks near the metro stop have been chainlinked off. I guess the trump method of reducing crime in DC is making it so that people can't live/hang out there.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 14:12     Subject: Re:Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
I spent one night in a homeless shelter when I was 17. I’ve never been more scared in my life.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:49     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean it's not just about being unsightly. It's because addiction thrives in these tent cities. New people get addicted because others share drugs or sell to them there.

I don't think we should allow people to live on public streets. And yes, there are shelters available. It just isn't what they want.


There are many legitimate reasons why some homeless people don’t want to live in a shelter. Until we find ourselves in the shoes of homeless people, perhaps we shouldn’t judge them.

Some reasons homeless individuals avoid shelters:

- Safety risks (violence, theft, harassment)
- Lack of privacy (shared spaces)
- Health/hygiene issues (bedbugs, illness exposure)
- Substance use restrictions
- Mental health/trauma triggers
- Pet or partner restrictions
- Inaccessibility (location, capacity, eligibility)
- Negative past experiences (mistreatment, discrimination)
- Bureaucratic barriers (intake processes, religious affiliations)


Well, sorry, but they don't get to just live wherever they wish. Accept help and/or get clean, live with family or friends, get a job, pay rent etc. If not possible, then they have to do what's offered.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:46     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I mean it's not just about being unsightly. It's because addiction thrives in these tent cities. New people get addicted because others share drugs or sell to them there.

I don't think we should allow people to live on public streets. And yes, there are shelters available. It just isn't what they want. [/quote]

Addiction thrives on Wall Street but I don’t see anyone tearing that down. [/quote]

Are they urinating and defecating in public? Sharing needles? Sleeping in parks? Starting fires to cook and keep warm? Accosting strangers for money? Stumbling into passersby?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:29     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Anonymous wrote:I mean it's not just about being unsightly. It's because addiction thrives in these tent cities. New people get addicted because others share drugs or sell to them there.

I don't think we should allow people to live on public streets. And yes, there are shelters available. It just isn't what they want.


There are many legitimate reasons why some homeless people don’t want to live in a shelter. Until we find ourselves in the shoes of homeless people, perhaps we shouldn’t judge them.

Some reasons homeless individuals avoid shelters:

- Safety risks (violence, theft, harassment)
- Lack of privacy (shared spaces)
- Health/hygiene issues (bedbugs, illness exposure)
- Substance use restrictions
- Mental health/trauma triggers
- Pet or partner restrictions
- Inaccessibility (location, capacity, eligibility)
- Negative past experiences (mistreatment, discrimination)
- Bureaucratic barriers (intake processes, religious affiliations)
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:23     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean it's not just about being unsightly. It's because addiction thrives in these tent cities. New people get addicted because others share drugs or sell to them there.

I don't think we should allow people to live on public streets. And yes, there are shelters available. It just isn't what they want.


Addiction thrives on Wall Street but I don’t see anyone tearing that down.


Heck, addiction thrives in Silicon Valley and among workers in high stress tech jobs. Musk is exhibit one. don’t see that being addressed either.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:19     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Anonymous wrote:I mean it's not just about being unsightly. It's because addiction thrives in these tent cities. New people get addicted because others share drugs or sell to them there.

I don't think we should allow people to live on public streets. And yes, there are shelters available. It just isn't what they want.


Addiction thrives on Wall Street but I don’t see anyone tearing that down.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:17     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
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.


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


True, but MAGAs are being especially loud about denying anyone other than them compassion or kindness or government help.


That's simply not true. I'm not a MAGA voter, but I know many (teachers, counselors, coaches, admin, nurses, social workers, school psychologists) who work in my school system and pay taxes (a lot of money because of spouse's income) and volunteer in their communities and spend long hours helping immigrant families and low income families. You're just spouting off in a liberal echo chamber.


This isn’t a “liberal echo chamber” it is the Republican convention

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/29/republicans-trump-mass-deportation-immigration
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:17     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
I mean it's not just about being unsightly. It's because addiction thrives in these tent cities. New people get addicted because others share drugs or sell to them there.

I don't think we should allow people to live on public streets. And yes, there are shelters available. It just isn't what they want.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:15     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
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.


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


True, but MAGAs are being especially loud about denying anyone other than them compassion or kindness or government help.


That's simply not true. I'm not a MAGA voter, but I know many (teachers, counselors, coaches, admin, nurses, social workers, school psychologists) who work in my school system and pay taxes (a lot of money because of spouse's income) and volunteer in their communities and spend long hours helping immigrant families and low income families. You're just spouting off in a liberal echo chamber.



This is just gaslighting. MAGA is built around cruelty to others.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:13     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Sadly homelessness is the kind of nuanced issue that requires an approach that the blunt instrument of federal policy is ill-equipped to address.

The real progress seems to be made by small organizations and programs working at the state and local level to identify ways to long-term house as many people as possible while getting those who are unable to live independently into treatment facilities with a path towards independence.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 11:11     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
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.


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


True, but MAGAs are being especially loud about denying anyone other than them compassion or kindness or government help.


That's simply not true. I'm not a MAGA voter, but I know many (teachers, counselors, coaches, admin, nurses, social workers, school psychologists) who work in my school system and pay taxes (a lot of money because of spouse's income) and volunteer in their communities and spend long hours helping immigrant families and low income families. You're just spouting off in a liberal echo chamber.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 09:36     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


And it’s even more cruel when done to satisfy the aesthetics of suburban OP coming into DC for meetings.


Reminds me of when I lived in a developing country that was ruled by a dictator years ago. The country was hosting a high-profile international event, and the dictator had the military and police clear the route from the airport to the convention center of all the homeless and their makeshift shelters because they were so “unsightly.”
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 09:24     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


And it’s even more cruel when done to satisfy the aesthetics of suburban OP coming into DC for meetings.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 09:22     Subject: Noticable reduction in homeless and tents in DC, what about libaries and metro?
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.


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


True, but MAGAs are being especially loud about denying anyone other than them compassion or kindness or government help.