5 ms·

> how the state can manage a problem better than a city. Well, for starters, $16k will pay a year's rent in many parts of California, just not in San Francisco

> how the state can manage a problem better than a city. Well, for starters, $16k will pay a year's rent in many parts of California, just not in San Francisco.

BobbyJo 6y ago
I don't see how your comment is a response to what you're quoting. Most of the homeless in California live in the cities with the highest cost of living. Are you suggesting the state transport the homeless to low cost areas and rent them apartments?
- piva00 6y ago
  I completely agree with you, transporting homeless people around is hygienestic policy and inhumane. Unfortunately in the US, it's already a thing [0] to ferry homeless people around... [0] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/dec/20/bussed-out-america-moves-homeless-people-country-study https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/dec/...
- akiselev 6y ago
  Homeless congregate in cities because density improves economies of scale. More shelters per square mile which is important if they fill up fast, more foot traffic for pan handling, more industrial/business areas where they are less likely to be harassed by police, more nooks and cranies to hide from the elements, more homeless people to group up with for safety, and so on. The vast majority of reasons that homeless people stay in urban areas is the failure of the surrounding areas in providing for their basic survival.
  - ineedasername 6y ago
    This is where a state level approach might be more effective (though I don't think renting them housing is the way) because cities are focussed on their own local factors and don't have the authority and perhaps not the perspective needed to see & act on the bigger picture.
- rbanffy 6y ago
  The state could create development programs for those regions and subsidize people moving there by their own will. This could drive down housing costs in cities under pressure and benefit everyone.
- ForHackernews 6y ago
  The state could absolutely offer free- or low-cost subsidized apartments in cheap areas like the central valley or the inland empire. I imagine they'd have a quite a few takers. I know Utah has had great success with a housing-first model that gets people off the street first and then helps them work on other issues like addition and mental health problems.

> how the state can manage a problem better than a city. Well, for starters, $16k will pay a year's rent in many parts of California, just not in San Francisco.

BobbyJo 6y ago

I don't see how your comment is a response to what you're quoting. Most of the homeless in California live in the cities with the highest cost of living. Are you suggesting the state transport the homeless to low cost areas and rent them apartments?

piva00 6y ago
I completely agree with you, transporting homeless people around is hygienestic policy and inhumane. Unfortunately in the US, it's already a thing [0] to ferry homeless people around... [0] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/dec/20/bussed-out-america-moves-homeless-people-country-study https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/dec/...
akiselev 6y ago
Homeless congregate in cities because density improves economies of scale. More shelters per square mile which is important if they fill up fast, more foot traffic for pan handling, more industrial/business areas where they are less likely to be harassed by police, more nooks and cranies to hide from the elements, more homeless people to group up with for safety, and so on. The vast majority of reasons that homeless people stay in urban areas is the failure of the surrounding areas in providing for their basic survival.
- ineedasername 6y ago
  This is where a state level approach might be more effective (though I don't think renting them housing is the way) because cities are focussed on their own local factors and don't have the authority and perhaps not the perspective needed to see & act on the bigger picture.
rbanffy 6y ago
The state could create development programs for those regions and subsidize people moving there by their own will. This could drive down housing costs in cities under pressure and benefit everyone.
ForHackernews 6y ago
The state could absolutely offer free- or low-cost subsidized apartments in cheap areas like the central valley or the inland empire. I imagine they'd have a quite a few takers. I know Utah has had great success with a housing-first model that gets people off the street first and then helps them work on other issues like addition and mental health problems.