4 ms·

But god forbid we let people live in their cars. Or for that matter anything less than a single family ranch home. Housing costs are crazy in the bay area bec

But god forbid we let people live in their cars. Or for that matter anything less than a single family ranch home. Housing costs are crazy in the bay area because people refuse to allow more dense housing. With the homeless problem the way it is in the bay area we should be doing everything to decrease the cost of rent. Instead municipalities do everything in their power to prevent more housing from being built. I don't see homelessness in the bay area as some kind of tragedy. I see it as a crime.

asdfdsa1234 13y ago
If the Bay Area were the entire world, I would agree, but most of the country is very cheap.
- angersock 13y ago
  Be that as it may, getting transport over to those other, cheaper places is not necessarily easy or affordable.
  - pjscott 13y ago
    In some cities, most notably New York, homeless people can get free transportation out. Usually it's just bus fare, which is admirably cheap by the standards of government social programs.
    - lutusp 13y ago
      Hawaii also. The state of Hawaii has started a program that gives free one-way airline tickets to homeless people who decide they want to leave. http://rt.com/usa/hawaii-one-way-tickets-homeless-824/ http://rt.com/usa/hawaii-one-way-tickets-homeless-824/ Now if only New York will offer airline tickets instead of bus tickets, the homeless can commute back and forth between New York and Hawaii forever. :)
      - cowsandmilk 13y ago
        NYC offers plane tickets: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html Also, SF has the Homeward Bound program, which is similar: http://www.sfhsa.org/79.htm http://www.sfhsa.org/79.htm
prewett 13y ago
What about the many homeless that are homeless because they choose to be? Since they've chosen that life style, then a place that is warm all year and give free handouts is an attractive place to live. I lived in Austin, and there are a lot of homeless there, especially in the winter. It's pretty warm, the city is nice and liberal, so there are plenty of places to get free food, clothes, etc. In fact, some of the them migrate from location to location throughout the week to be at the spots where the handouts are. The Salvation Army told a friend of mine that there is no reason for people to be panhandling in Austin (there is a lot of that, too): the Salvation Army has never turned anyone away who wanted food. But, the Salvation Army has some annoyances, like bland food and (presumably) you have to sit through a sermon. So, why not just wait for the Mobile Loaves and Fishes truck from one of the Catholic churches to come around with free food, hot chocolate, and clothes, no strings attached, no questions asked, no sermons given, no lifestyles challenged? The assumption that the homeless are homeless because of things outside their control is not true. Some are legitimately in need. But many have chosen it, often in part due to (alcohol) addiction. I've given a bag of food to homeless panhandlers who gave me a dark look because they wanted actual money. Why? If you talk with people who work with the homeless, often it is because they aren't hungry, they need actual money to buy alcohol. Crime? I'm not so sure. I think cities and charities that enable this behavior might have some responsibility.
- consonants 13y ago
  >But many have chosen it, often in part due to (alcohol) addiction. It's a crime that a person with a disease can be literally left in the gutter by society and then be told they chose to be there. >I've given a bag of food to homeless panhandlers who gave me a dark look because they wanted actual money. Why? There are many necessities a person will need that aren't just food and require money. If you talk with people who work with the homeless the first thing they'll tell you is that there is, surprise surprise, not enough personal supplies (toiletries, clothing) nor food nor shelter to adequately address those who need their care. If no one is being turned down, it is because they are at maximum capacity.

asdfdsa1234 13y ago

If the Bay Area were the entire world, I would agree, but most of the country is very cheap.

angersock 13y ago
Be that as it may, getting transport over to those other, cheaper places is not necessarily easy or affordable.
- pjscott 13y ago
  In some cities, most notably New York, homeless people can get free transportation out. Usually it's just bus fare, which is admirably cheap by the standards of government social programs.
  - lutusp 13y ago
    Hawaii also. The state of Hawaii has started a program that gives free one-way airline tickets to homeless people who decide they want to leave. http://rt.com/usa/hawaii-one-way-tickets-homeless-824/ http://rt.com/usa/hawaii-one-way-tickets-homeless-824/ Now if only New York will offer airline tickets instead of bus tickets, the homeless can commute back and forth between New York and Hawaii forever. :)
    - cowsandmilk 13y ago
      NYC offers plane tickets: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/nyregion/29oneway.html Also, SF has the Homeward Bound program, which is similar: http://www.sfhsa.org/79.htm http://www.sfhsa.org/79.htm

prewett 13y ago

What about the many homeless that are homeless because they choose to be? Since they've chosen that life style, then a place that is warm all year and give free handouts is an attractive place to live. I lived in Austin, and there are a lot of homeless there, especially in the winter. It's pretty warm, the city is nice and liberal, so there are plenty of places to get free food, clothes, etc. In fact, some of the them migrate from location to location throughout the week to be at the spots where the handouts are. The Salvation Army told a friend of mine that there is no reason for people to be panhandling in Austin (there is a lot of that, too): the Salvation Army has never turned anyone away who wanted food. But, the Salvation Army has some annoyances, like bland food and (presumably) you have to sit through a sermon. So, why not just wait for the Mobile Loaves and Fishes truck from one of the Catholic churches to come around with free food, hot chocolate, and clothes, no strings attached, no questions asked, no sermons given, no lifestyles challenged? The assumption that the homeless are homeless because of things outside their control is not true. Some are legitimately in need. But many have chosen it, often in part due to (alcohol) addiction. I've given a bag of food to homeless panhandlers who gave me a dark look because they wanted actual money. Why? If you talk with people who work with the homeless, often it is because they aren't hungry, they need actual money to buy alcohol. Crime? I'm not so sure. I think cities and charities that enable this behavior might have some responsibility.

consonants 13y ago
>But many have chosen it, often in part due to (alcohol) addiction. It's a crime that a person with a disease can be literally left in the gutter by society and then be told they chose to be there. >I've given a bag of food to homeless panhandlers who gave me a dark look because they wanted actual money. Why? There are many necessities a person will need that aren't just food and require money. If you talk with people who work with the homeless the first thing they'll tell you is that there is, surprise surprise, not enough personal supplies (toiletries, clothing) nor food nor shelter to adequately address those who need their care. If no one is being turned down, it is because they are at maximum capacity.