3 ms·

In what way are open drug scenes simple to solve? The research I've scene on cities that have had large ones is that "simple" draconian and "abstinence based" p

by shkkmo 4y ago

In what way are open drug scenes simple to solve? The research I've scene on cities that have had large ones is that "simple" draconian and "abstinence based" policies rarely have a positive effect and most places saw the best results from complex, multiprong approaches that are implemented with an understanding that it will take years to see results. While open drug scenes are comorbid with housing crises, they are not the same thing. There is also overlap between the strategies for addressing them, but that overlap is not complete.

danaris 4y ago
What's simple to solve is homelessness. You give them a home. Then they are no longer homeless. The fact that this is also demonstrably (in several different jurisdictions now) less costly than either imprisoning them or dealing with the other consequences of a significant homeless population should make it a no-brainer. But too many people have internalized the idea that no one should ever have anything they haven't "earned", including the basics necessary for survival (food, shelter, clothing, clean water, etc), so there's always angry opposition to this. (Plus, of course, the racism angle, which is fairly significant, if often unspoken.)
- shkkmo 4y ago
  Housing first approaches are very effective, but simply providing housing isn't anywhere near a complete solution. Drug addiction and the development of open drug spaces is not just a symptom of homelessness. If you solved housing and it became a human right, you would probably reduce the development of open drug spaces, but it certainly wouldn't be eliminated.
- clcaev 4y ago
  For those that talk about giving people things they "have not earned", I note what we've taken from those same people -- the ability for them fend for themselves and live off the land. With regard to the mechanism of "compensating for the lease of the part of our living planet they should be entitled by birth", I think any means tested or regulated approach is problematic. Instead provide to them rent checks for the slice of the world society has taken from them, and provided to others for private ownership / exploitation. Let a market economy sort the development and allocation of resources.
  - jrm4 4y ago
    Ugh. Stop with the "theories." We've already run the real life experiments, as suggested above. No need to try to delve into minds and motivation and life goals and other such nonsense (nonsense not in the sense that it's not true, but nonsense in that it doesn't bring any helpful ideas to the policy decisions that should be made.)

by shkkmo 4y ago

danaris 4y ago

What's simple to solve is homelessness. You give them a home. Then they are no longer homeless. The fact that this is also demonstrably (in several different jurisdictions now) less costly than either imprisoning them or dealing with the other consequences of a significant homeless population should make it a no-brainer. But too many people have internalized the idea that no one should ever have anything they haven't "earned", including the basics necessary for survival (food, shelter, clothing, clean water, etc), so there's always angry opposition to this. (Plus, of course, the racism angle, which is fairly significant, if often unspoken.)

shkkmo 4y ago
Housing first approaches are very effective, but simply providing housing isn't anywhere near a complete solution. Drug addiction and the development of open drug spaces is not just a symptom of homelessness. If you solved housing and it became a human right, you would probably reduce the development of open drug spaces, but it certainly wouldn't be eliminated.
clcaev 4y ago
For those that talk about giving people things they "have not earned", I note what we've taken from those same people -- the ability for them fend for themselves and live off the land. With regard to the mechanism of "compensating for the lease of the part of our living planet they should be entitled by birth", I think any means tested or regulated approach is problematic. Instead provide to them rent checks for the slice of the world society has taken from them, and provided to others for private ownership / exploitation. Let a market economy sort the development and allocation of resources.
- jrm4 4y ago
  Ugh. Stop with the "theories." We've already run the real life experiments, as suggested above. No need to try to delve into minds and motivation and life goals and other such nonsense (nonsense not in the sense that it's not true, but nonsense in that it doesn't bring any helpful ideas to the policy decisions that should be made.)