4 ms·

I'm not sure if that's a helpful observation, though. The floor for the "lowest" percentile in America is outright destitution. Homelessness means no shelter f

I'm not sure if that's a helpful observation, though. The floor for the "lowest" percentile in America is outright destitution. Homelessness means no shelter from the elements or people that want to hurt you, possessions beyond what you can carry and defend, no health care, and being treated like a second class citizen.

tathougies 8y ago
I would be interested in the numbers, but based on my experience of homelessness in California, most homelessness is due to severe mental health issues, not poverty. I'm unsure of any data suggesting these kinds of mental health issues are increasing, but I'd be interested in the data. Also, having seen the situation in third world countries, I have a real issue calling American homelessness destitution, but I understand the arguments from social cohesion.
- darpa_escapee 8y ago
  Homelessness is overwhelmingly caused by economic issues[1][2], even in the Bay area[3], which are certainly exacerbated by mental health issues. [1] https://www.nlchp.org/documents/Homeless_Stats_Fact_Sheet https://www.nlchp.org/documents/Homeless_Stats_Fact_Sheet [2] http://homelessresourcenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Causes-of-Homelessness.jpg http://homelessresourcenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/0... [3] https://www.spur.org/publications/urbanist-article/2017-10-23/homelessness-bay-area https://www.spur.org/publications/urbanist-article/2017-10-2...
  - tathougies 8y ago
    I have no doubt homelessness in San Francisco is caused by poverty. However, San Francisco is not california. Do your data apply to California as a whole, or just the bay? San Francisco is a very bad choice in city to extrapolate from.
    - darpa_escapee 8y ago
      I supplied numbers for homelessness in general, and homelessness in SF. Homelessness, in general and in SF, is overwhelming caused by economic issues.

tathougies 8y ago

I would be interested in the numbers, but based on my experience of homelessness in California, most homelessness is due to severe mental health issues, not poverty. I'm unsure of any data suggesting these kinds of mental health issues are increasing, but I'd be interested in the data. Also, having seen the situation in third world countries, I have a real issue calling American homelessness destitution, but I understand the arguments from social cohesion.

darpa_escapee 8y ago
Homelessness is overwhelmingly caused by economic issues[1][2], even in the Bay area[3], which are certainly exacerbated by mental health issues. [1] https://www.nlchp.org/documents/Homeless_Stats_Fact_Sheet https://www.nlchp.org/documents/Homeless_Stats_Fact_Sheet [2] http://homelessresourcenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Causes-of-Homelessness.jpg http://homelessresourcenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/0... [3] https://www.spur.org/publications/urbanist-article/2017-10-23/homelessness-bay-area https://www.spur.org/publications/urbanist-article/2017-10-2...
- tathougies 8y ago
  I have no doubt homelessness in San Francisco is caused by poverty. However, San Francisco is not california. Do your data apply to California as a whole, or just the bay? San Francisco is a very bad choice in city to extrapolate from.
  - darpa_escapee 8y ago
    I supplied numbers for homelessness in general, and homelessness in SF. Homelessness, in general and in SF, is overwhelming caused by economic issues.