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Cities viewed as homeless-friendly get overwhelmed with homeless people. A balanced approach is required; and as with all balances, they periodically tip one w

Cities viewed as homeless-friendly get overwhelmed with homeless people. A balanced approach is required; and as with all balances, they periodically tip one way or the other due to uncontrollable factors (or incompetent controls) and need to be brought back to nominal. There will always be a place for relatively tasty carrots and relatively harsh sticks. It's important to keep the conversation going.

HarryHirsch 3y ago
Let's discuss housing, the elephant in the room. In Albuquerque (not exactly known for homeless-friendly, police are under consent decree since 2014) homelessness went up by 50 % in the last few years. A SFH that used to be 100 kUSD is now 160 kUSD, and rents that used to be maybe 450 USD/month are now 700 USD/month - a lot of money if you don't have it. I'm a great friend of natural consequences. If the good citizens of Portland can't build affordable housing, let them have tent cities. It's understandable that they don't want to live with homeless encampments, but they ought to.
- alex_lav 3y ago
  > If the good citizens of Portland can't build affordable housing, let them have tent cities You understand the logical fallacy here that somehow the "good citizens of Portland" are empowered to create affordable housing, right?
  - HarryHirsch 3y ago
    Their elected representatives will arrange for that if the pain level is high enough. Housing is a policy issue, and the policies haven't been adequate for 40 years.
    - alex_lav 3y ago
      Ah. We handwave away the efficacy of "policy" in America. Surely government will save us, right?