4 ms·

"The bottom line: Per the Washington Post, California's homeless issue is related to soaring housing costs, mental health and substance abuse issues and "legal

"The bottom line: Per the Washington Post, California's homeless issue is related to soaring housing costs, mental health and substance abuse issues and "legal hurdles to getting people off the streets — all issues that could complicate federal officials’ ideas to stage an intervention." It would seem that in many cases mental health and substance abuse problems are a more significant factor. People of sound mind typically do not find themselves out on the streets long term because their rent went up.

KirinDave 7y ago
I'm not sure that's clear from the data, but even if it is true the problems remain related. Families cannot afford to house relatives who might not be able to support themselves. Ignoring that, many folks of sound mind and body are homeless. They live in cars and borrowed spaces, and suffer greatly for it. All because Californians refuse to build adequate housing.
Mountain_Skies 7y ago
There's a certain amount of self reinforcement in this. Once a person become homeless, it taxes them psychologically, leading to further issues with mental health and substance abuse. There are success stories of the chronic homeless being able to overcome their situation but for the most part the earlier an intervention happens, the greater the chance of success. The truly difficult part in all of this is that we are an individualistic nation that puts high value on freedom, including the freedom to enter into a downward spiral of self destruction. Freedom of movement also complicates things as those jurisdictions that offer the most (productive or not) are often swamped by those who became homeless elsewhere. We hear a lot about cities dumping their homeless on each other but Megabus can be as cheap as $1.50. The freedom of movement and the low cost of it does more to move the homeless around than any "clean the streets" initiative a city engages in. Homelessness will never be solved at the local level. Though local services can help address the symptoms of homelessness, no local entity has the power to address the root causes nationally.
TulliusCicero 7y ago
Except, how long will they remain of sound mind and without substance abuse once they're out on the street? It's not destiny, of course, but it'd be naive to assume that becoming homeless won't change the odds of someone developing a mental illness, or a drug habit to attempt to cope.
- chaostheory 7y ago
  Based on past data, our current homelessness programs are working for people without mental or drug abuse issues. 80% of the homeless tend to recover within several months, while only about 20% are chronically homeless. IMO the current homeless problem stems from the shutdown of old mental institutions by the Kennedy’s. There were good reasons for their crusade, such as problems with abuse and neglect. The issue is that no solution or alternative was given for shutting down the asylums which leads us to our current predicament

KirinDave 7y ago

I'm not sure that's clear from the data, but even if it is true the problems remain related. Families cannot afford to house relatives who might not be able to support themselves. Ignoring that, many folks of sound mind and body are homeless. They live in cars and borrowed spaces, and suffer greatly for it. All because Californians refuse to build adequate housing.

Mountain_Skies 7y ago

There's a certain amount of self reinforcement in this. Once a person become homeless, it taxes them psychologically, leading to further issues with mental health and substance abuse. There are success stories of the chronic homeless being able to overcome their situation but for the most part the earlier an intervention happens, the greater the chance of success. The truly difficult part in all of this is that we are an individualistic nation that puts high value on freedom, including the freedom to enter into a downward spiral of self destruction. Freedom of movement also complicates things as those jurisdictions that offer the most (productive or not) are often swamped by those who became homeless elsewhere. We hear a lot about cities dumping their homeless on each other but Megabus can be as cheap as $1.50. The freedom of movement and the low cost of it does more to move the homeless around than any "clean the streets" initiative a city engages in. Homelessness will never be solved at the local level. Though local services can help address the symptoms of homelessness, no local entity has the power to address the root causes nationally.

TulliusCicero 7y ago

Except, how long will they remain of sound mind and without substance abuse once they're out on the street? It's not destiny, of course, but it'd be naive to assume that becoming homeless won't change the odds of someone developing a mental illness, or a drug habit to attempt to cope.

chaostheory 7y ago
Based on past data, our current homelessness programs are working for people without mental or drug abuse issues. 80% of the homeless tend to recover within several months, while only about 20% are chronically homeless. IMO the current homeless problem stems from the shutdown of old mental institutions by the Kennedy’s. There were good reasons for their crusade, such as problems with abuse and neglect. The issue is that no solution or alternative was given for shutting down the asylums which leads us to our current predicament