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I genuinely don’t see the homelessness problem as being caused by policy, but by lack of it: California has perhaps one of the largest safety nets of any state

I genuinely don’t see the homelessness problem as being caused by policy, but by lack of it: California has perhaps one of the largest safety nets of any state in the US, and it is saving a lot of people who have fallen on their luck — by design. The problem is that California, at all levels of government, refuses to fix its core issue: Housing, and the cost of living at a level to hold onto that house, is Too High. Ever notice how California is willing to try anything and everything to fix its homelessness crisis except intervene in the housing market in a meaningful way? In my view, California’s legislation in its current state is a band-aid, not a cure. But a band-aid is (temporarily) better than nothing. Ultimately the free market (* I’ll concede an argument may be made that housing is not a truly free market, since municipalities have created strict zoning legislation to favor homeowners, but my point still stands), directly and indirectly, has failed everyone looking to build a permanent home and life in California (unless your definition of “success” includes a large population unable to afford a home where they live). I’d imagine that without these “social programs, socialism, ... social justice policy” there would be many more homeless people than there currently are.

masonic 7y ago
Housing, and the cost of living at a level to hold onto that house, is Too High But 99.7% of CA has less expensive housing (mostly far less expensive) housing than the 17 square miles that are SF, so using SF as your metric for statewide policy is silly. If you aren't working or going to school in SF, you don't need to be housed there specifically at public expense. Housing and care dollars go much farther elsewhere.
- topkai22 7y ago
  SF and San Jose metros are crazy, but the entire state has a median housing price well above the national average. In fact, it is 2nd only to Hawaii, at >$500k. It is absolutely fair to say that there is a systemic housing affordability issue in California.
  - varelse 7y ago
    I drove cross country a few years ago. When I hit Barstow, I was struck by how many seemingly homeless were being sheltered in its motels and I spoke with a few of them. They were sent there from Los Angeles. There was trash everywhere as well. California is weird. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.
- varelse 7y ago
  Sure, but take Santa Cruz: $66K median wage or so, but $900K or so median house price. Incredibly unaffordable despite being far cheaper than SF or San Jose, unless you clog its NIMBY constrained highway driving 25+ miles each way to your tech job in the valley. On the bright side, Amazon opened up a small office downtown, but that's nowhere near enough, and the weird local government does a lot to make the place unappealing to prospective businesses. Merced OTOH is probably more of what you're thinking, and it has some really nice houses priced competitively with the suburbs of Dallas, but other than a new UC campus, there's not much else to recommend the place and it has a huge meth issue. But I do think the future of California is in places like this (and there are many more), but I have no idea how to make that future happen.

masonic 7y ago

Housing, and the cost of living at a level to hold onto that house, is Too High But 99.7% of CA has less expensive housing (mostly far less expensive) housing than the 17 square miles that are SF, so using SF as your metric for statewide policy is silly. If you aren't working or going to school in SF, you don't need to be housed there specifically at public expense. Housing and care dollars go much farther elsewhere.

topkai22 7y ago
SF and San Jose metros are crazy, but the entire state has a median housing price well above the national average. In fact, it is 2nd only to Hawaii, at >$500k. It is absolutely fair to say that there is a systemic housing affordability issue in California.
- varelse 7y ago
  I drove cross country a few years ago. When I hit Barstow, I was struck by how many seemingly homeless were being sheltered in its motels and I spoke with a few of them. They were sent there from Los Angeles. There was trash everywhere as well. California is weird. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.
varelse 7y ago
Sure, but take Santa Cruz: $66K median wage or so, but $900K or so median house price. Incredibly unaffordable despite being far cheaper than SF or San Jose, unless you clog its NIMBY constrained highway driving 25+ miles each way to your tech job in the valley. On the bright side, Amazon opened up a small office downtown, but that's nowhere near enough, and the weird local government does a lot to make the place unappealing to prospective businesses. Merced OTOH is probably more of what you're thinking, and it has some really nice houses priced competitively with the suburbs of Dallas, but other than a new UC campus, there's not much else to recommend the place and it has a huge meth issue. But I do think the future of California is in places like this (and there are many more), but I have no idea how to make that future happen.