California and the homeless issue

[Slater]

It is pretty eye-opening. $13 billion spent over three years and the problem is only getting worse by the day. To be fair, the Covid-19 crisis certainly didn't help matters and the massive state bureaucracy is cumbersome. I'm tending to agree with those that maintain that there simply is no workable solution:

"SAN FRANCISCO -- California has spent $13 billion in the last three years to tackle a massive homelessness problem likely to worsen with the pandemic, yet its approach is so fragmented and incomplete as to hinder efforts at getting people into stable housing, the state auditor said in a report released Thursday.

The office of State Auditor Elaine Howle said that California continues to have the largest homeless population in the nation “likely in part because its approach to addressing homelessness has been disjointed."


https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/...olicy-75835197

[Coal Dragger]

If I was a chief of police or county sheriff and wanted to deal with a local homelessness problem, I would make sure to give a homeless person a shower in jail and then a bus ticket to San Francisco and make sure they got on that bus.

[26 Inf]

If I was a chief of police or county sheriff and wanted to deal with a local homelessness problem, I would make sure to give a homeless person a shower in jail and then a bus ticket to San Francisco and make sure they got on that bus.

That approach is a real problem. Our medium-sized community has a pretty good handle on getting folks help to get back on their feet. When an organization that had been doing a lot with transitional housing had a real need for overflow housing they approached our church to assist. Through our sweat equity and some dynamite local contractors who donated labor and materials, we ended up with a pretty nice 'in at 7:00P out by 8:00A' overflow/emergency shelter, which along with female and male community sleeping rooms has a couple of rooms that could be dedicated to family.

Problem was, once it opened it seemed every law enforcement agency in the western part of the state pointed transients our way. The result of this has been a continuously full overflow shelter and an increased homeless population.

Since covid hit, it's kind of hard to get an idea of numbers, the fast food joints they used to hang out at during the day have pretty well shut down their dining rooms. As well as that, the public library was closed for quite some time.

During this cold snap I figured we'd lose a couple, but so far nope. One of the things that is difficult about helping these folks is that often they have mental as well as addiction problems. I am not going to take them home, and it's hard to find a motel that will take them, even if you pay the freight. I end up giving them cash enough for a meal (or let's be honest - a bottle) and keeping them in my thought.

Don't send us more.

[a1fabweld]

Since Oregon recently legalized hard drugs, I think we should set up a program where people can sponsor a homeless person/junkie with a one way bus ticket to Portland. Soyattle would be a second option. Count me in for 5 sponsorships.

[SteyrAUG]

If I was homeless, I'd definitely find my way to Cali.

[pag23]

When I was in LA for work a year or so ago, I couldn't believe the amount of homeless tent or cardboard cities that seemed to be under every overpass or slightly wooded area.

Build some shelters or modify abandoned buildings or houses but try and put them to work around the area doing something.... But as stated a few have mental or social issues that would compound any attempts at rehab.

[titsonritz]

If I was homeless, I'd definitely find my way to Cali.

Hell yes, Southern Cal beaches, free government dope money and <1000 dollar "shopping" sprees.

[titsonritz]

Since Oregon recently legalized hard drugs, I think we should set up a program where people can sponsor a homeless person/junkie with a one way bus ticket to Portland. Soyattle would be a second option. Count me in for 5 sponsorships.

Believe me there are plenty of junkies up here already and the last thing OR or WA needs is more Californians.

[Vic79]

Like most problems out in Cali, I just don’t care. I hope they spend double or triple that in the next three years. I hope there’s so much human shit and needles on the sidewalk that people have to walk in the street because it’s safer. The sooner that state fails or falls into the ocean the better.

Edit: what is truly needed is a couple massive batches of heroin laced or just straight fentanyl and they can hand that out with a hand out the needles and that should alleviate a bit of the drug addict homeless. Then maybe would be able to concentrate on sorting the crazies and the people who actually need help. California can pay for and build a large state run asylum and put all the insane homeless people in. The small percentage of the homeless population that actually needs help that is left would be eligible for resources.

[Black_Sheep]

If I was homeless, I'd definitely find my way to Cali.

It stands to reason that homeless gravitate to states with warmer climates, generous benefits and tolerance for homelessness. There were homeless encampments scattered around the Twin Cities metropolitan area all summer, but only the hardcore stick around for Minnesota winters. The subzero weather would be brutal.