4 ms·

I'm wondering if starting with better categorization of "homeless" would be important, I'm thinking of something like ETHOS (https://www.feantsa.org/download/en

I'm wondering if starting with better categorization of "homeless" would be important, I'm thinking of something like ETHOS (https://www.feantsa.org/download/en-16822651433655843804.pdf https://www.feantsa.org/download/en-16822651433655843804.pdf) Ideally, you figure out how mental illness plays into the different categories, and you may be able to understand effective prevention. My sense is that this goes beyond mere "we need some mental health facilities", because preventing someone in a less secure housing situation from becoming totally roofless may end up being significantly cheaper, i.e., not require specialist mental care and hospitalization, but just a subsidized housing and someone stopping by to make sure the person hasn't regressed. Sadly, it appears nobody with real resources in the US wants to invest in understanding homelessness, so we just lump it all together and try to find ways to let the police deal with it.

lazyasciiart 7y ago
Everyone who actually works with homeless people already had these distinctions. If you don't know that, you should start with really basic info like reading the Point In Time count, not making suggestions on what should be done.
mr_tristan 7y ago
Interesting, that the HUD data (Point-in-Time count), indicates declines across the board over the last decade for homelessness, yet, most journalism indicates the exact opposite: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45442596 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45442596 And, yet, for Portland (mentioned in the BBC article), the data suggests that the "problem people", the chronically homeless, unsheltered population went up by ... 42 (.006% of the overall population): https://static1.squarespace.com/static/566631e8c21b864679fff4de/t/59ee2e7a5ffd207c6e7b41a0/1508781707710/PSU+2017+Point-In-Time_FINAL_%28Interactive%29+%281%29+%281%29.pdf https://static1.squarespace.com/static/566631e8c21b864679fff... I'd admit my _impressions_ (again, not significant suggestions, I was asking questions) have been biased by journalism, and, journalists probably find the HUD data inconvenient for telling their stories. But, I do not appear to be alone, and there are very powerful people pushing the negative narrative. Last year the PPA (Portland police union) also referred to the city as a "cesspool", which sure seems to fit with the overall theme of "homelessness getting worse": https://www.facebook.com/PortlandPoliceAssociation/photos/a.386709091352814.95949.306696819354042/2058045217552518/?type=3&theater https://www.facebook.com/PortlandPoliceAssociation/photos/a.... I'd also point out that my suspicions and questions were also on the minds of other national organizations: https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/ https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/ We appear to have a massive disconnect in the narrative presented by journalists, politicians, and at least the HUD.

lazyasciiart 7y ago

Everyone who actually works with homeless people already had these distinctions. If you don't know that, you should start with really basic info like reading the Point In Time count, not making suggestions on what should be done.

mr_tristan 7y ago

Interesting, that the HUD data (Point-in-Time count), indicates declines across the board over the last decade for homelessness, yet, most journalism indicates the exact opposite: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45442596 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45442596 And, yet, for Portland (mentioned in the BBC article), the data suggests that the "problem people", the chronically homeless, unsheltered population went up by ... 42 (.006% of the overall population): https://static1.squarespace.com/static/566631e8c21b864679fff4de/t/59ee2e7a5ffd207c6e7b41a0/1508781707710/PSU+2017+Point-In-Time_FINAL_%28Interactive%29+%281%29+%281%29.pdf https://static1.squarespace.com/static/566631e8c21b864679fff... I'd admit my _impressions_ (again, not significant suggestions, I was asking questions) have been biased by journalism, and, journalists probably find the HUD data inconvenient for telling their stories. But, I do not appear to be alone, and there are very powerful people pushing the negative narrative. Last year the PPA (Portland police union) also referred to the city as a "cesspool", which sure seems to fit with the overall theme of "homelessness getting worse": https://www.facebook.com/PortlandPoliceAssociation/photos/a.386709091352814.95949.306696819354042/2058045217552518/?type=3&theater https://www.facebook.com/PortlandPoliceAssociation/photos/a.... I'd also point out that my suspicions and questions were also on the minds of other national organizations: https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/ https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/ We appear to have a massive disconnect in the narrative presented by journalists, politicians, and at least the HUD.