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Are you implying that the two are mutually exclusive? Solving homelessness is not an economic problem. There are so many factors involved, that you can have a g
by dntrkv 12y ago
Are you implying that the two are mutually exclusive? Solving homelessness is not an economic problem. There are so many factors involved, that you can have a great economy with low unemployment but tons of homeless people.
- untog 12y agoGetting to 0% homelessness would require more than just economic action, but homelessness is still an economic issue.
- dllthomas 12y agoOnly in the sense that everything is an economic issue. My understanding is that mental illness is still the leading cause of homelessness.
- dntrkv 12y agoYes because the crazy guy outside my office yelling at the brick wall just needs a job, and he'll be living in a home in no time.
- untog 12y agoBut that's my point. Only 39% of homeless people have mental issues[1]. It's not correct to characterise homelessness as caused by mental problems. [1] http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/526/homeless-facts.html http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/526/homeless-facts.html
- dntrkv 12y agoSure, it may not be the leading cause. But the homeless that people are usually referring to when they talk about San Francisco's homeless problem, are the ones with mental issues or addiction problems. I rarely ever see the regular, sane, homeless people sprawled across the sidewalk in the middle of the day. It's always the drug addicts or the mentally ill.
- peterwwillis 12y agoWell sure. People come to the conclusion that most homeless are crazy or addicts based on what they see. Of course they only ever see crazies and addicts. They're the loudest, the weirdest, the scariest, the least self-aware, and the least likely to have any kind of refuge. The rest of the homeless are hiding from the myriad threads, difficulties and humiliations they're exposed to on a daily basis. The regular, sane, homeless people don't want to be sprawled across a sidewalk in the middle of the day. They want to watch over their stuff, or try to find food or medical assistance or clothing, or solicit donations, or try to contact estranged family/friends, or whatever else they can do to survive.
- dublinben 12y ago>Solving homelessness is not an economic problem Of course it is. If housing were not so expensive, there would be no "homeless" population.