5 ms·

Funding source isn't really relevant. NYC has a guaranteed right to shelter [1], they'd be providing the same services regardless of state funding. [1] https:/

• johncolanduoni 10y ago
  Perhaps, but the focus on a specific, more expensive set of homeless people sure is.
• traek 10y ago
  Yes, but it's misleading to compare city+state spending in NYC to solely city spending in SF, and conclude that SF is underspending on the homeless. To be a fair comparison, we'd also have to include what the state of California spends on the homeless.
  • quinnchr 10y ago
    True, but as far as I know California has never funded homeless programs at the state level. The only thing listed in the 2015 budget is: "Housing Support Program — The Budget contains $35 million General Fund for CalWORKs Housing Support Program services, an increase of $15 million, which provides additional support to CalWORKs families for whom homelessness is a barrier to self‐sufficiency." Which leaves medicaid spending, which according to my previous source only 20% of the homeless population in SF receive. Assuming medicaid pays the same amount poer person as in NYC that would bring the per capita homeless expenditure to about $35000.
    • mdorazio 10y ago
      This is no longer the case. The state recently approved $2B in funding to build and maintain housing for the mentally ill homeless [1]. That's close to $70k per homeless person with mental illness, or an additional $17,500 per homeless person if we don't group by mental illness. [1] http://fox40.com/2016/06/27/california-lawmakers-approve-2-billion-for-homeless-housing/ http://fox40.com/2016/06/27/california-lawmakers-approve-2-b...
      • reid_fatman 10y ago
        Exactly. People are "homeless" because it makes economic sense for them to be homeless.
    • aminok 10y ago
      Why does Thailand have so fewer mentally ill and drug addicted homeless, despite its government spending so much less on social programs for the homeless?
      • afarrell 10y ago
        Perhaps for the same reason that head injury rates were lower in WWI before steel helmets were introduced: the mortality rate was higher.
        • lostlogin 10y ago
          That's a particularly negative take, but would be interesting if true. Do you have any reason to believe it is? I'm not even sure how you would measure this. Suicide rate against attempted suicide rate? Other mental health stats?
          • afarrell 10y ago
            No clue. Idle speculation on my part.
      • technomancy 10y ago
        I live in Thailand (but not in a big city). Out here it's because if you find yourself without a home, you can go build one out of bamboo. If you have some friends to help you, it can be done in a week.
        • 0max 10y ago
          The key being that the municipality won't give you crap for an "illegal settlement" until the land you're occupying suddenly becomes worth something.
          • dsfyu404ed 10y ago
            It doesn't have to be worth squat. Your "settlement" just has to rub someone with too much time on their hands the wrong way.