War On Homelessness Or War On The Homeless?

[Gauthier]

It's because there's a persistent myth that the only homeless people are lazy parasites and looters, so that any meaningful program would only reward them and encourage them to be lazy parasites and looters even more.

[Benuty]

It's because there's a persistent myth that the only homeless people are lazy parasites and looters, so that any meaningful program would only reward them and encourage them to be lazy parasites and looters even more.

There are two very similar groups that people in society seem hell bent on murdering, discriminating, or stereotyping as a disease or a parasite. Those two groups happen to be the homeless, and those on the Autism Spectrum. It's any wonder anything beneficial gets done with that attitude being the predominant one.

[Gauthier]

It's because there's a persistent myth that the only homeless people are lazy parasites and looters, so that any meaningful program would only reward them and encourage them to be lazy parasites and looters even more.

There are two very similar groups that people in society seem hell bent on murdering, discriminating, or stereotyping as a disease or a parasite. Those two groups happen to be the homeless, and those on the Autism Spectrum. It's any wonder anything beneficial gets done with that attitude being the predominant one.

Imagine what would happen if someone claimed vaccination causes homelessness.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

There are two very similar groups that people in society seem hell bent on murdering, discriminating, or stereotyping as a disease or a parasite. Those two groups happen to be the homeless, and those on the Autism Spectrum. It's any wonder anything beneficial gets done with that attitude being the predominant one.

Don't forget homosexuals, especially considering the whole '40% of homeless youth are gay kids pushed out by intolerant parents" thing.

[Benuty]

There are two very similar groups that people in society seem hell bent on murdering, discriminating, or stereotyping as a disease or a parasite. Those two groups happen to be the homeless, and those on the Autism Spectrum. It's any wonder anything beneficial gets done with that attitude being the predominant one.

Don't forget homosexuals, especially considering the whole '40% of homeless youth are gay kids pushed out by intolerant parents" thing.

Hell...you are right.

[Sanctissima]

There are two very similar groups that people in society seem hell bent on murdering, discriminating, or stereotyping as a disease or a parasite. Those two groups happen to be the homeless, and those on the Autism Spectrum. It's any wonder anything beneficial gets done with that attitude being the predominant one.

Don't forget homosexuals, especially considering the whole '40% of homeless youth are gay kids pushed out by intolerant parents" thing.

Well, at least there's been some improvement within the past couple of decades on the homosexuality front.

50 years ago, if you came out, you were sent to a mental institution.

100 years ago, if you came out, you were either lynched by an angry mob or sent to a maximum security prison.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

Well, at least there's been some improvement within the past couple of decades on the homosexuality front.

50 years ago, if you came out, you were sent to a mental institution.

100 years ago, if you came out, you were either lynched by an angry mob or sent to a maximum security prison.

And back in England they used to have the death penalty for vagrancy.

[AiliailiA]

In America, we have a tendency to attempt to address health, human rights, and poverty issues through the criminal justice system. A perfect example of this has been the so-called "War On Drugs", which has soaked up billions upon billions of dollars with no discernible positive effect, whereas other nations treat it as a health issue and have made significant progress in dealing with many of the worst issues associated with addiction. Fortunately, some of the rhetorical and enforcement excesses of this approach have been somewhat curbed or tempered in recent years, though they haven't been eliminated entirely, and people at the highest levels of government are re-thinking the policy. Unfortunately, our tendency to attempt to address issues through criminalization of those dealing with said issues has found a different outlet, with the most powerless people in the United States now bearing the brunt of our punitive approach.

I think what's happening is more like the city laws banning registered sex offenders from living close to x y or z 'soft target' to the extent they can't live anywhere in town, than it is like the "war on drugs".

The local government laws are seeking to reduce visible homelessness. Whatever the motive, the method is to DISPLACE homeless people, either to another town or to the outskirts of town where they're less noticeable.

Such a strategy might even work, partially and for a while. But once the next town (or county) along finds they've got many more homeless than before, the option of housing them becomes less practical than it was before, and the option of pressuring them to move elsewhere more attractive. The next town along even more so, in a snowballing process ... then when there's nowhere they can live rough without being harassed and charged, the "displacing" strategy will fail and all the homeless will move back to where they have roots.

And of course the local councils will discover what expert advice would have told them from the start, that housing the homeless is easier than keeping them in a jail.


I'm aware of the success of Salt Lake City in housing their own homeless, but I'm not sure the option is as practical for county/city councils that are not as isolated or have simply more homeless per head of population. I think you want a national or at least state-wide program that funds local councils to help them get it right first time.

I know that I recently posted a thread on one topic listed here, so I've asked the admins/mods to fold that thread into this one if they get the time, or to lock it altogether.

Merging doesn't improve threads. I say just put a note in the OP of the other one suggesting they post here instead but don't ask mods to lock it. If this wider topic is more attractive it will prosper naturally.

[MERIZoC]

Yes YumYum. The megathread is your friend.

[Haktiva]

Why is is that whenever we don't like something we declare a war on it?

[Benuty]

Don't forget homosexuals, especially considering the whole '40% of homeless youth are gay kids pushed out by intolerant parents" thing.

Well, at least there's been some improvement within the past couple of decades on the homosexuality front.

50 years ago, if you came out, you were sent to a mental institution.

100 years ago, if you came out, you were either lynched by an angry mob or sent to a maximum security prison.

Atleast Kinsey had the decency to keep the names of those they questioned anonymous.

[The Black Forrest]

It's because there's a persistent myth that the only homeless people are lazy parasites and looters, so that any meaningful program would only reward them and encourage them to be lazy parasites and looters even more.

They aren't exactly noble either. For example, there is a homeless camp in the area which is dangerous for all.....

[Ardoki]

There should be state centres for the homeless to stay in, which also offer little paid jobs for them to do until they can get a better job.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

There are a few lies that are largely encouraged by American society at large that I believe feed into contempt for homeless people.

1. You can do anything that you want to do, succeed at any goal if you put your mind to it.
2. Any problem can be solved.
3. American is a land of opportunity for all.

It's magical thinking. It's woo of the most pernicious sort, this idea that enough focus and stick-to-it-iveness will ultimately result in success. Now, it's fair to say that such qualities make success in life more likely. However, "more likely" is not the same as "certain". The problem is that we're brought up to believe in the American Dream, and frankly, most of us succeed to some degree or another, at least enough to keep roofs over our heads and food on our tables, which makes us believe the biggest lie of all:

4. If I can do it, then anyone can do it.

What an utterly moronic and short-sighted viewpoint to have. No, not "everybody" can do it if you can do it, because other people have their own skills, their own challenges, and the one will not always be applicable to overcoming the other. Hell, my personal psychiatric issues went undiagnosed for decades, and I had parents who actually had their doctorates in psychology and taught it at a university level. My wife had bipolar issues that her family was incapable of dealing with, understanding, or showing compassion over, and a series of poorly prescribed medications only served to make the situation worse. Others I knew were grappling with overwhelming addictions, or were battling the voices in their own heads, or were functionally illiterate due to a combination of learning disabilities or cognitive impairment and uncaring teachers. Maybe some of them could have done a better job of things. Maybe not. Point is, without having walked in their shoes, there's no way to make a fair value judgment.

But people come along, and they see in those on the streets a major challenge to the Dream, because either the homeless people are lazy and unmotivated, or the Dream isn't quite what these folks thought, and nobody wants to let go of that myth. At that point, these homeless folks are no longer human beings to be helped, but rather problems to be eliminated, annoyances to be pushed to the side, bums to be scorned. Because if we admit that not everyone can support themselves in the current system even if they give it an honest shot, then we have to start thinking that maybe is something is wrong with the system itself, and that's a prospect that terrifies most people, that eats away at the very part of their identities where their sense of patriotism and citizenship lies. It's so much easier to simply classify those on the streets as "The Other", to say that you fully support those who "really need help", and then to pass laws that make life that much more difficult for the lazy and the motivated alike.

And of course, that's when we lose our soul as a people, going from "If you really try, then you'll succeed" to "If you fail, then you don't deserve to be anywhere near decent folk."

I suspect that we can do better, but I'm reasonably certain that we won't do better without a huge shift in how we see ourselves as a people.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

It's because there's a persistent myth that the only homeless people are lazy parasites and looters, so that any meaningful program would only reward them and encourage them to be lazy parasites and looters even more.

They aren't exactly noble either. For example, there is a homeless camp in the area which is dangerous for all.....

Yes. Poverty forces even the kindest, most gentle homeless people to rub shoulders with people who are homeless due to a propensity for violence, and an inability to get work due to extensive criminal records. Then we blame the problems on the homeless as a whole.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

They aren't exactly noble either. For example, there is a homeless camp in the area which is dangerous for all.....

You mean people living without secure food or shelter might be dangerous to live around? Who would have thought?!

[Prussia-Steinbach]

They aren't exactly noble either. For example, there is a homeless camp in the area which is dangerous for all.....

You mean people living without secure food or shelter might be dangerous to live around? Who would have thought?!

Shit, if I was homeless and/or starving, I'd be robbing the fuck out of some people. Middle class and above, all fair game.

[Dyakovo]

This... This makes me angry.

This kinda shit is what most inspires fantasies of violent revolution in my head. This has to fucking stop.

How do we make this shit stop?

Frankly, I don't know. I was hoping that somebody here would have an idea that didn't involve making your fantasies a reality.

Give the homeless axes.
*nods*

[Cannot think of a name]

Why is is that whenever we don't like something we declare a war on it?

"Tickle fight on homelessness" doesn't have the same ring. Though it would be an improvement.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Frankly, I don't know. I was hoping that somebody here would have an idea that didn't involve making your fantasies a reality.

Give the homeless axes.
*nods*

Yes! Give them axes to shelter, to food, to showers, to....

Wait. I think that I'm spelling that wrong.

[Dyakovo]

Give the homeless axes.
*nods*

Yes! Give them axes to shelter, to food, to showers, to....

Wait. I think that I'm spelling that wrong.

With axes they can create their own access to shelter, food, showers, etc.
*nods*

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

Give the homeless axes.
*nods*

So they can lead us in bloody revolution?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Yes! Give them axes to shelter, to food, to showers, to....

Wait. I think that I'm spelling that wrong.

With axes they can create their own access to shelter, food, showers, etc.
*nods*

I keep telling you: With guns, they can do it far more quickly, efficiently, and effectively.

[Dyakovo]

With axes they can create their own access to shelter, food, showers, etc.
*nods*

I keep telling you: With guns, they can do it far more quickly, efficiently, and effectively.

Guns run out of ammo, axes don't...

[Dyakovo]

Give the homeless axes.
*nods*

So they can lead us in bloody revolution?

Possibly...