4 ms·

>(1) People are comfortable on the streets, they enjoy the freedom, or they are at least accustomed to it, and paying rent/bills seems anathema to them. I don'

>(1) People are comfortable on the streets, they enjoy the freedom, or they are at least accustomed to it, and paying rent/bills seems anathema to them. I don't think anyone is comfortable in a tent in finnish winter. I think mental issue is one of the big thing, article mention conselling is offered, which is good. Additionnally some people often end up in the streets because they simply don't know their rights and that they can apply for social services. Many euro countries social services will take over payment of a home, basic insurance and needs, "supposedly" enough to have sonething to est everyday. But usually to get that you need a bank account and to habe a bank account you need a physical address. Many end up in the streets because they are at some point in a mental state where they are overwhelmed by the paper work stuff or ashamed to ask for help. Or because it takes too long to get the aforementionned help because of administrative delays.

zdragnar 3y ago
From what I've seen online, Finnish winters don't seem to be any worse than Minneapolis, which will have tent encampments all through winter. They often aren't broken up and forced into shelters unless we get an especially bad cold snap; activists argue that forcing people out of tents means they lose possessions and are worse off. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/we-just-want-to-be-warm-activists-call-on-minneapolis-to-stop-winter-homeless-encampment-evictions/ https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/we-just-want-to-be-wa... https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/homeless-camp-residents-ask-city-for-reprieve/89-2a72b1ef-770c-49dc-8c88-208d4648181e https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/homeless-camp-resi... There's a very tough residence among the "permanent" homeless to any program that offers housing, because it will come with some strings attached. Those with mental health issues fear (wrongly) that they will be involuntarily committed to an asylum or something similar. Others don't want to be forced to try to get a job, or give up drugs. The "temporary" homeless can, and do, make use of the help the government and non-profit organizations provide. Job training, free bus passes, assistance with rent, food, hygiene etc. Some in-between will always float back and forth. If they stick to their medicine, they can live pretty independently, but since they don't like the side effects, sooner or later they stop, have a psychotic break, and end up back on the street until a family member finds them and convinced them to get help again. At least, this is my understanding from someone who works for a program whose funding and sole mission is to the homeless in Minneapolis.
- prmoustache 3y ago
  > They often aren't broken up and forced into shelters I don't think the article mention this.

zdragnar 3y ago

From what I've seen online, Finnish winters don't seem to be any worse than Minneapolis, which will have tent encampments all through winter. They often aren't broken up and forced into shelters unless we get an especially bad cold snap; activists argue that forcing people out of tents means they lose possessions and are worse off. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/we-just-want-to-be-warm-activists-call-on-minneapolis-to-stop-winter-homeless-encampment-evictions/ https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/we-just-want-to-be-wa... https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/homeless-camp-residents-ask-city-for-reprieve/89-2a72b1ef-770c-49dc-8c88-208d4648181e https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/homeless-camp-resi... There's a very tough residence among the "permanent" homeless to any program that offers housing, because it will come with some strings attached. Those with mental health issues fear (wrongly) that they will be involuntarily committed to an asylum or something similar. Others don't want to be forced to try to get a job, or give up drugs. The "temporary" homeless can, and do, make use of the help the government and non-profit organizations provide. Job training, free bus passes, assistance with rent, food, hygiene etc. Some in-between will always float back and forth. If they stick to their medicine, they can live pretty independently, but since they don't like the side effects, sooner or later they stop, have a psychotic break, and end up back on the street until a family member finds them and convinced them to get help again. At least, this is my understanding from someone who works for a program whose funding and sole mission is to the homeless in Minneapolis.

prmoustache 3y ago
> They often aren't broken up and forced into shelters I don't think the article mention this.