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Strange when I see HN diverge from “tech twitter” in this situation. Why are so many on here skeptical of the legitimacy of the housing crisis in California? Ma

by tempsy 7y ago

Strange when I see HN diverge from “tech twitter” in this situation. Why are so many on here skeptical of the legitimacy of the housing crisis in California? Maybe it’s that this website draws a broader audience, but it’s a fairly accepted fact among people that live in CA, including myself, that it is indeed a crisis. And no, not everyone who is homeless is a meth head.

baby 7y ago
I suspect a lot of people here own housing in the bay and are trying to spread FUD and blame current issues on mental health.
- friedman23 7y ago
  Everyone is only willing to believe the facts that support their own interest. California home owners will deny housing is the cause of homelessness similar to how Texas oil barons will deny climate change even exists.
  - hellisothers 7y ago
    This is a poor comparison because nobody is claiming homeless doesn’t exist. If you had said “as oil barons will claim oil isn’t the cause of the climate crisis” that would be better. It’s also better because like fossil fuel burning literally damages the environment, lack of affordable homes in an area is literally the cause of homelessness. But that is a useless point, of course more homes would fix the issue but to what end, are you going to build enough homes so everybody who wants to live in the Bay Area can? Obviously not, so there will still be homelessness. “Just build more houses!” Not being an actual answer is the point
    - friedman23 7y ago
      > are you going to build enough homes so everybody who wants to live in the Bay Area can? Obviously not, so there will still be homelessness. “Just build more houses!” Not being an actual answer is the point This is a strawman argument. There will always be homelessness because there will always be people that prefer to be homeless. Building more homes will reduce a significant amount of homelessness that exists due to structural reasons.

by tempsy 7y ago

baby 7y ago

I suspect a lot of people here own housing in the bay and are trying to spread FUD and blame current issues on mental health.

friedman23 7y ago
Everyone is only willing to believe the facts that support their own interest. California home owners will deny housing is the cause of homelessness similar to how Texas oil barons will deny climate change even exists.
- hellisothers 7y ago
  This is a poor comparison because nobody is claiming homeless doesn’t exist. If you had said “as oil barons will claim oil isn’t the cause of the climate crisis” that would be better. It’s also better because like fossil fuel burning literally damages the environment, lack of affordable homes in an area is literally the cause of homelessness. But that is a useless point, of course more homes would fix the issue but to what end, are you going to build enough homes so everybody who wants to live in the Bay Area can? Obviously not, so there will still be homelessness. “Just build more houses!” Not being an actual answer is the point
  - friedman23 7y ago
    > are you going to build enough homes so everybody who wants to live in the Bay Area can? Obviously not, so there will still be homelessness. “Just build more houses!” Not being an actual answer is the point This is a strawman argument. There will always be homelessness because there will always be people that prefer to be homeless. Building more homes will reduce a significant amount of homelessness that exists due to structural reasons.