Yeah they do that in my city and neighborhood, unfortunately they often set the homes or apartment buildings on fire, using coffee cans full of gasoline as heat/light, or straight up cooking meth.
I wish homelessness were a problem so simple as “give them a home” but it’s not. The original cause of their homelessness must be addressed for it to work. Strong safety nets must be in place, a strong welfare state, mental healthcare, training, substance abuse treatment.
Of course we could pay for that as a country but we’re instead focused on multiplying the unimaginable fortunes of the ultra rich instead.
Housing the homeless just gets them to stop sleeping on benches temporarily. It helps YOU from seeing the “unsightly hobos” in ur community. It does not solve the core issues that their having a hard time participating in our society, and is a band aid solution. Homeless people either have mental issues that need mended, drug issues that need mended, or have fallen on hard times but still need not only a home but a job to hold down that will pay for their housing and food. If it was as simple as putting homeless up in houses we would have eradicated this issue decades ago if nothing to keep the bourgeoisie from having to see the poors. Without the means to maintain and upkeep their homes they will just end up on the street again in no time.
You’re confusing cause and effect. Usually people use drugs and have mental health issues because they are homeless. They’re not homeless because they have those maladies. Homeowners weather those challenges just fine. And living on the street creates drug and mental health issues. If I had to sleep on the sidewalk, I sure as hell would want to be high all day. Wouldn’t you?
A homeless drug addict is just a middle class drug addict with a smaller bank account balance.
They’re not homeless because they have those maladies. Homeowners weather those challenges just fine.
Er, many of them are. Severe mental illness precludes many from being able to adequately care for themselves, and being unable to hold down a job or keep housing. Also, owning a home doesn’t mean you don’t have or can’t develop debilitating mental health or drug issues. I’ve worked with many high-functioning, well paid, housed individuals who have developed severe mental health or drug problems despite their economic security.
Economic security and stable housing absolutely are protective factors which reduce the risk of developing such problems, but they don’t eliminate genetic factors, trauma, etc.
Source: I work with people who have severe mental illness and addiction problems.
Absolutely. The first step in solving the homeless problem is sorting out the people who are homeless because they are addicted or mentally ill, and those regular people who are homeless because the system failed them, and they found themselves without a roof. Many of those people were contributing members of society, with educations, even college degrees and careers, when society decided to stomp on them hard. They can easily be contributing citizens again, if someone would give them a hand until they can get their financial feet under them again.
Reminder: being mentally ill or addicted folks doesn’t preclude someone from holding down a job and/or being a “regular” person. They might just need extra supports.
Source: have mental illness. Am mostly a regular person but need extra supports. Am currently holding down a job requiring an MS.
Valid, but I’m referring to those really unfortunate people who have serious issues like out-of-control, unmedicated schizophrenia. Those people are not going to integrate back into society without a lot of help, which they should absolutely get.
I’m just suggesting that there has to be a triage system, so that people get the help that they personally need, whether it’s medical, psychiatric, or job related.
Yeah they do that in my city and neighborhood, unfortunately they often set the homes or apartment buildings on fire, using coffee cans full of gasoline as heat/light, or straight up cooking meth.
I wish homelessness were a problem so simple as “give them a home” but it’s not. The original cause of their homelessness must be addressed for it to work. Strong safety nets must be in place, a strong welfare state, mental healthcare, training, substance abuse treatment.
Of course we could pay for that as a country but we’re instead focused on multiplying the unimaginable fortunes of the ultra rich instead.
Housing first is just the most effective strategy. It doesn’t solve everything, but it helps the most people fastest and is very cost effective
We have to fix a lot of things, but people focus on this because it’s low hanging fruit
Housing the homeless just gets them to stop sleeping on benches temporarily. It helps YOU from seeing the “unsightly hobos” in ur community. It does not solve the core issues that their having a hard time participating in our society, and is a band aid solution. Homeless people either have mental issues that need mended, drug issues that need mended, or have fallen on hard times but still need not only a home but a job to hold down that will pay for their housing and food. If it was as simple as putting homeless up in houses we would have eradicated this issue decades ago if nothing to keep the bourgeoisie from having to see the poors. Without the means to maintain and upkeep their homes they will just end up on the street again in no time.
You’re confusing cause and effect. Usually people use drugs and have mental health issues because they are homeless. They’re not homeless because they have those maladies. Homeowners weather those challenges just fine. And living on the street creates drug and mental health issues. If I had to sleep on the sidewalk, I sure as hell would want to be high all day. Wouldn’t you?
A homeless drug addict is just a middle class drug addict with a smaller bank account balance.
Er, many of them are. Severe mental illness precludes many from being able to adequately care for themselves, and being unable to hold down a job or keep housing. Also, owning a home doesn’t mean you don’t have or can’t develop debilitating mental health or drug issues. I’ve worked with many high-functioning, well paid, housed individuals who have developed severe mental health or drug problems despite their economic security.
Economic security and stable housing absolutely are protective factors which reduce the risk of developing such problems, but they don’t eliminate genetic factors, trauma, etc.
Source: I work with people who have severe mental illness and addiction problems.
Absolutely. The first step in solving the homeless problem is sorting out the people who are homeless because they are addicted or mentally ill, and those regular people who are homeless because the system failed them, and they found themselves without a roof. Many of those people were contributing members of society, with educations, even college degrees and careers, when society decided to stomp on them hard. They can easily be contributing citizens again, if someone would give them a hand until they can get their financial feet under them again.
Reminder: being mentally ill or addicted folks doesn’t preclude someone from holding down a job and/or being a “regular” person. They might just need extra supports.
Source: have mental illness. Am mostly a regular person but need extra supports. Am currently holding down a job requiring an MS.
Valid, but I’m referring to those really unfortunate people who have serious issues like out-of-control, unmedicated schizophrenia. Those people are not going to integrate back into society without a lot of help, which they should absolutely get.
I’m just suggesting that there has to be a triage system, so that people get the help that they personally need, whether it’s medical, psychiatric, or job related.
Ah, ok. It sounded like you were advocating for helping the “easy cases” and ignoring those that needed a bit more support.