3 ms·

I grew up in Detroit and saw this first-hand. It's even worse when you consider the number of people just barely treading water. I think a huge part of the pro

I grew up in Detroit and saw this first-hand. It's even worse when you consider the number of people just barely treading water. I think a huge part of the problem is that as a society we're okay with this. It makes me sad when I think about it- I'm smart enough to acknowledge the problem but too ignorant/stupid/afraid to be a part of the solution.

sneak 3y ago
Most of the completely vacant homes in Detroit that were there when we were growing up have since been bulldozed or renovated and inhabited in the last ten years. Like 75-90% of them are gone now, either as $600-700/mo rentals, or empty lots (many of which people are now farming).
- hqsolomo 3y ago
  Tell me about it: I'm a grown man and legit broke down into a sobbing fit after visiting the house I grew up in a few years ago and it was pretty much gone. Roof gone, siding gone, even the fir tree in front of the house is gone. I may not have had a stellar childhood but... That was my home for most of my life, you know? We knew it likely wouldn't last since we couldn't afford to take care of the house the way it needed when we lived there but that doesn't make it hurt any less. The only house still left on my block in Brightmoor is my neighbor's house and his house looks like it's falling down, too. He's still living in it as well because all of us were just barely making it. I wish I made FAANG money. After taking care of my own debts I wanted to buy our build as many houses for my block as I could and then just let people stay in them no matter how much it costed me ("a fool and his gold are easily separated" and whatnot). I know it's stupid but the one thing I always wanted growing up was just for someone- anyone- to come in and say "we can't treat people like this" and help without considering the business value of helping. So many people spend so much time thinking about how to help (rightfully so) that nobody ACTUALLY ends up helping.
Lendal 3y ago
Thank you for writing the only comment here that expresses any amount of compassion. I believe this is the true root of the homelessness problem in the US. American society values compassion at just about zero.
- hqsolomo 3y ago
  To be fair, most people don't have to deal with this and they shouldn't have to. I have compassion because I've personal experience with it. I'm an outlier here. Still, I do think the US (and the world) should really put the "Golden Rule" as a top priority. So many problems would be non-issues if we did!

sneak 3y ago

Most of the completely vacant homes in Detroit that were there when we were growing up have since been bulldozed or renovated and inhabited in the last ten years. Like 75-90% of them are gone now, either as $600-700/mo rentals, or empty lots (many of which people are now farming).

hqsolomo 3y ago
Tell me about it: I'm a grown man and legit broke down into a sobbing fit after visiting the house I grew up in a few years ago and it was pretty much gone. Roof gone, siding gone, even the fir tree in front of the house is gone. I may not have had a stellar childhood but... That was my home for most of my life, you know? We knew it likely wouldn't last since we couldn't afford to take care of the house the way it needed when we lived there but that doesn't make it hurt any less. The only house still left on my block in Brightmoor is my neighbor's house and his house looks like it's falling down, too. He's still living in it as well because all of us were just barely making it. I wish I made FAANG money. After taking care of my own debts I wanted to buy our build as many houses for my block as I could and then just let people stay in them no matter how much it costed me ("a fool and his gold are easily separated" and whatnot). I know it's stupid but the one thing I always wanted growing up was just for someone- anyone- to come in and say "we can't treat people like this" and help without considering the business value of helping. So many people spend so much time thinking about how to help (rightfully so) that nobody ACTUALLY ends up helping.

Lendal 3y ago

Thank you for writing the only comment here that expresses any amount of compassion. I believe this is the true root of the homelessness problem in the US. American society values compassion at just about zero.

hqsolomo 3y ago
To be fair, most people don't have to deal with this and they shouldn't have to. I have compassion because I've personal experience with it. I'm an outlier here. Still, I do think the US (and the world) should really put the "Golden Rule" as a top priority. So many problems would be non-issues if we did!