4 ms·

You can choose not to be in one of the most expensive cities in the nation if you are poor. Its clear many homless call the area home because of better treatmen

by nugi 9y ago

You can choose not to be in one of the most expensive cities in the nation if you are poor. Its clear many homless call the area home because of better treatment than other cities. Its truly a catch 22.

RobLach 9y ago
Is that actually clear? New York has a much higher percentage of homeless people per square mile yet it doesn’t feel as problematic because more of them are sheltered. According to HUD ~88% of SF’s homeless population is unsheltered whole only ~5% of New York’s is despite having more per square mile. San Francisco is more willing to leave this demographic on the streets so it’s more of a issue of policy, and a bad one at that: To feed / house / and provide essential medical care to a homeless person costs about $28000 / year according to a study by Pomeroy in Canada while HUD claims the cost to the tax payer for a homeless person is $40,000+ particularly because their only medical assistance is typically the emergency room. Why there is a homeless problem at all is something we should all consider.
- freyir 9y ago
  > San Francisco is more willing to leave this demographic on the streets Maybe because the possibility of having thousands of homeless people freeze to death overnight in the streets isn't a perennial threat.
King-Aaron 9y ago
How much does a ticket on an interstate bus cost in the US? I don't know if someone collecting quarters in a paper cup is going to get even fifty dollars together reliably for that. I don't think you have a great deal of choices when you have literally no resources at your disposal.
- olliej 9y ago
  interstate to where though? For the sake of argument say an interstate is $20 (I assume it's actually more). Do you choose to spend it on a bus to somewhere you've never been, and without anyone you know, or on a meal? Seriously curious as to what the response is? SF has a slew of problems w.r.t housing costs, but in general every study has shown that it's much cheaper overall to provide housing and/or money to people than paying for assistance. Instead we waste money out of the fear of giving money to people who don't try to stop relying on that money.

by nugi 9y ago

RobLach 9y ago

Is that actually clear? New York has a much higher percentage of homeless people per square mile yet it doesn’t feel as problematic because more of them are sheltered. According to HUD ~88% of SF’s homeless population is unsheltered whole only ~5% of New York’s is despite having more per square mile. San Francisco is more willing to leave this demographic on the streets so it’s more of a issue of policy, and a bad one at that: To feed / house / and provide essential medical care to a homeless person costs about $28000 / year according to a study by Pomeroy in Canada while HUD claims the cost to the tax payer for a homeless person is $40,000+ particularly because their only medical assistance is typically the emergency room. Why there is a homeless problem at all is something we should all consider.

freyir 9y ago
> San Francisco is more willing to leave this demographic on the streets Maybe because the possibility of having thousands of homeless people freeze to death overnight in the streets isn't a perennial threat.

King-Aaron 9y ago

How much does a ticket on an interstate bus cost in the US? I don't know if someone collecting quarters in a paper cup is going to get even fifty dollars together reliably for that. I don't think you have a great deal of choices when you have literally no resources at your disposal.

olliej 9y ago
interstate to where though? For the sake of argument say an interstate is $20 (I assume it's actually more). Do you choose to spend it on a bus to somewhere you've never been, and without anyone you know, or on a meal? Seriously curious as to what the response is? SF has a slew of problems w.r.t housing costs, but in general every study has shown that it's much cheaper overall to provide housing and/or money to people than paying for assistance. Instead we waste money out of the fear of giving money to people who don't try to stop relying on that money.