4 ms·

The most visible homeless and those we consider "the problem" certainly may be those who "cannot take care of themselves". However, the majority do not fit this

The most visible homeless and those we consider "the problem" certainly may be those who "cannot take care of themselves". However, the majority do not fit this category. I may be naive but I think we should be tackling the homeless with mental problems first. While I certainly have more empathy to those who have "lost my job, lost my apartment, and hence am homeless", I am unconfident that traditional support services can put them back on their feet without drastic improvements to the housing crisis in San Francisco. Furthermore, the mentally ill make everyone (especially those homeless who have fallen on hard times) less safe.

gearoidoc 11y ago
> the mentally ill make everyone (especially those homeless who have fallen on hard times) less safe. Statistics please.
- pj_mukh 11y ago
  Careful. Last time I did this, I got downvoted and detached to hell. I actually really want to know what the statistics are. If it's "mostly" mentally ill people maybe deal with that problem first, if mentally ill is the corner case (a loud one), then maybe not.
- 1024core 11y ago
  You'd be hard pressed to find any, other than anecdata. Yesterday, a small woman was assaulted (just pushed hard, luckily she did not fall) in front of me by a woman who was clearly off kilter (rambling to herself, shouting periodically to noone, etc.). One day, a similarly off-balance gentleman started hurling obscenities at me and threatened to punch me. He was a foot away from me, and I was on the MUNI train, so nowhere to go. I stared him down as his spittle flew in my direction, and he walked away. Coincidentally(?) I came down with the worst throat infection a few days later. And then another time a guy who had severely bad hygiene problems got on the N train, which was already crowded.... and then the train goes into the tunnel before Inner Sunset. I have never felt so nauseated in my life. As soon as the train got out of the tunnel, half the carriage emptied, with people gasping for air. And then one time a mentally ill person (from appearance) got on the bus, stood behind a young woman and started slowly humping her. I would have done something, but he was huge. And then there was this time a mentally ill guy was walking down the sidewalk, totally in his own world... but the asshole grabbed my crotch as I walked by. In contrast, I have never seen such a thing being done by a non-mentally-ill person. Make up your own mind.
jkyle 11y ago
Most severely mentally ill are not violent nor a danger to anyone, except perhaps themselves through neglect. > A widespread belief that the afflicted are violent contributes to the stigma of mental illness and as such may interfere with their seeking and obtaining appropriate assistance. Debunking this misconception will likely lead to progress in helping troubled individuals [...] [1] 1. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deranged-and-dangerous/ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deranged-and-dange...
- maerF0x0 11y ago
  Being yelled at, scared, (wrongfully) guilted, manipulated and lied to are violent and dangerous (in the negative effects on my life sense). IMO it's violence and IMO the danger isnt in getting bruised/battered, but in losing the ability to carry out normal life for fear of what is "out there" on the streets. Safety isnt the only point, sure there maybe a low chance of issues, but safety is also about how people feel, do they feel secure? In this case I think its a resounding no, the behavior of many of these street people is outright disturbing and makes people, likely those least able of defending themselves, live with a burned of fear/insecurity.
pjlegato 11y ago
There is no need for scare quotes around "the problem." When people regularly walk up to you on the street and start ranting obscenities at you for no particular reason, that is a problem, full stop, no scare quotes. Source: it happened to me yesterday in downtown San Francisco. It's happened numerous times before. It's a problem.
- maerF0x0 11y ago
  I agree. I am a decent sized person, so feel comfortable in my ability to defend myself in need, at least enough to get away more or less unscathed, but I do feel for smaller people, women, children. They shouldnt have to be toeing a line of "Do I walk awkwardly to add a safe distance between people who look odd" and "Do I walk normal and maybe get attacked/accosted".

gearoidoc 11y ago

> the mentally ill make everyone (especially those homeless who have fallen on hard times) less safe. Statistics please.

pj_mukh 11y ago
Careful. Last time I did this, I got downvoted and detached to hell. I actually really want to know what the statistics are. If it's "mostly" mentally ill people maybe deal with that problem first, if mentally ill is the corner case (a loud one), then maybe not.
1024core 11y ago
You'd be hard pressed to find any, other than anecdata. Yesterday, a small woman was assaulted (just pushed hard, luckily she did not fall) in front of me by a woman who was clearly off kilter (rambling to herself, shouting periodically to noone, etc.). One day, a similarly off-balance gentleman started hurling obscenities at me and threatened to punch me. He was a foot away from me, and I was on the MUNI train, so nowhere to go. I stared him down as his spittle flew in my direction, and he walked away. Coincidentally(?) I came down with the worst throat infection a few days later. And then another time a guy who had severely bad hygiene problems got on the N train, which was already crowded.... and then the train goes into the tunnel before Inner Sunset. I have never felt so nauseated in my life. As soon as the train got out of the tunnel, half the carriage emptied, with people gasping for air. And then one time a mentally ill person (from appearance) got on the bus, stood behind a young woman and started slowly humping her. I would have done something, but he was huge. And then there was this time a mentally ill guy was walking down the sidewalk, totally in his own world... but the asshole grabbed my crotch as I walked by. In contrast, I have never seen such a thing being done by a non-mentally-ill person. Make up your own mind.

jkyle 11y ago

Most severely mentally ill are not violent nor a danger to anyone, except perhaps themselves through neglect. > A widespread belief that the afflicted are violent contributes to the stigma of mental illness and as such may interfere with their seeking and obtaining appropriate assistance. Debunking this misconception will likely lead to progress in helping troubled individuals [...] [1] 1. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deranged-and-dangerous/ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deranged-and-dange...

maerF0x0 11y ago
Being yelled at, scared, (wrongfully) guilted, manipulated and lied to are violent and dangerous (in the negative effects on my life sense). IMO it's violence and IMO the danger isnt in getting bruised/battered, but in losing the ability to carry out normal life for fear of what is "out there" on the streets. Safety isnt the only point, sure there maybe a low chance of issues, but safety is also about how people feel, do they feel secure? In this case I think its a resounding no, the behavior of many of these street people is outright disturbing and makes people, likely those least able of defending themselves, live with a burned of fear/insecurity.

pjlegato 11y ago

There is no need for scare quotes around "the problem." When people regularly walk up to you on the street and start ranting obscenities at you for no particular reason, that is a problem, full stop, no scare quotes. Source: it happened to me yesterday in downtown San Francisco. It's happened numerous times before. It's a problem.

maerF0x0 11y ago
I agree. I am a decent sized person, so feel comfortable in my ability to defend myself in need, at least enough to get away more or less unscathed, but I do feel for smaller people, women, children. They shouldnt have to be toeing a line of "Do I walk awkwardly to add a safe distance between people who look odd" and "Do I walk normal and maybe get attacked/accosted".