I just want to say, Im all for helping those trying to help themselves. My personal interactions and first hand experiences tell me most do not want to conform into productive members of society. Most are on the streets due to an addition that took them over. Most will say they want to quit, but most also don't reveal that prior to being an addict, they weren't for being productive. They were for fighting the system that makes them slaves to large corporations. This foundational pushback on current society and lack of wanting to be a productive member, has most looking to other means of personal, if only temporary, happiness by trying to change reality( drug use, live off the grid, etc.) Many of these types have no want to join the masses. So now we come to homeless shelters and camps. I believe most will not be taken care of if we provide shelters for all homeless, without first investigating each persons history to determine their mindset moving forward. If this doesn't take place, i fear most camps will be damaged or destroyed like many makeshift camps already have. Here is a bar taken over by homeless that went up in flames. I fear this will be the similar result for camps if we don't first figure out the true mindset of those we are trying to help. There should be more in patient programs, where most of the homeless should go first. To detox and get help for their addiction. With in patient treatment comes with everything homeless shelters do. They need help. We should help them. But we shouldn't enable them. I fear Providing shelter without treatment, will be a failed attempt in the long run. https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-squatters-took-abandoned-bar-went-flames.amp Not looking to blame, or insult opinions, but discuss thoughts on this. Who else has worked closely with the homeless who has a different first hand opinion? Would love to hear it if it's on the up and up. No studies include the cost ramifications of vandalism aNd upkeep of shelters, if the occupants do not comply and damage things. So numbers don't mean much to me. But your opinions aNd thoughts do. What say you on this topic?
Detox then evaluate if they want a program to help them get on there feet. There must be a commitment on both person and gov. You are right on with respect to some even before addiction and homelessness that just want to buck the system and have a history of not being productive . We need more mental hospitals and detox centers and assistance for those wanting to turn over a new leaf.
It's multi tiered and multi faceted. You need a lot of tentacles working to make it work. Trouble is, people want this solved yesterday. That's my worry. It's just not shelter, it's just not detox, it's just not inpatient, it's just not mental health care, it's just not financial literacy, it's just not resources to getting a job. It's all of those combined. And that takes time and resources and collaboration to do those in a manner efficient with the persons pace. That's what makes it so difficult. Oh, and the fact you need a $25+ hour job to even live in the fucking city unless you want roommates/have a significant other. It feels like it's almost gone so far with capitalism and the lack of caring about another human being it's going to take decades to make it right. Yes, decades. We don't have anything close to a livable wage to help them out. Some don't want help, I get it. But to those who do, THAT road is hard as hell right now. Multi tiered.
I have been homeless. It's uphill battle to come back from that, even if one wants to. There are some who choose to stay homeless, even become homeless, but for most it is not a choice. A lot of people facing homeless can't really be productive members of society. There are many who are old and disabled. They couldn't work if they wanted too. Some are dealing deeply with mental health issues. They can't get better because this system is built so poorly, it's set against them. A lot of homeless people have turned to drugs. A good number likely did them before becoming homeless. Not giving homeless people resources if they don't do drug/alcohol treatment or get mental health won't have the affect you think it will. The homeless will just further distrust the system. They will die quicker, if that's what you want, without food, shelter, and other resources. But, they will just be replaced by others. The cost of living is so great now, like Stren said, you'd have to make $20 + bucks an hour to afford just the basics anymore. They are starting at such a disadvantage. It's going to take a multitude of measures put in place simultaneously in order to fix this problem. It's going to take time. With the system as it is, this issue is only going to get worse. The number of homeless will continue to grow exponentially. We need low income housing that doesn't inflate and push people out onto the streets. We need temporarily housing for the homeless, we need programs and social services in place to help the ones who are addicts and alcoholics. We need a better mental health care system. (A better health care system all together). We need programs to help them find work. Etc. They need to be treated like human beings. They need to be and feel supported in order to successfully come back from homelessness and the other issues some of them are dealing with.
My youngest brother was homeless much of his life but it wasn't mental illness or drugs, it was his gambling addiction...running from debts that kept him homeless....if he ever got ahead much he'd gamble it away within days. He passed away a few years ago but everyone in my family tried to help him...I tried many times ...in the end, it was his choice to live the way he did. Hee found a few women who'd put up with him for short stretches but that never lasted. I've never been homeless but I've been a couch guest a time after a break up or two when I was younger and that wears thin real fast. Some people are easily defeated in life. There's not one answer other than the cost of living is brutal for anyone who's lost their job or home for any reason. My home is my most prized possession.
I don't know the answer, and I don't know if encampments are right or wrong, but I do know that living, sleeping, defecting, fucking, and doing drugs on streets that were never meant for living is not acceptable. It ruins a city, and such a small percentage of people do not have the right to ruin a city.
I agree, and nearly impossible odds to effectively put into action everything that needs to happen all at once. So we need to triage the priorities. What is the most important first step? What is the second most important step and/ or the next step that the first step needs, to reach optimal success?, etc. I would think there are smarter people than I assessing the situation and creating a sound plan, but i have not seen anything divulged to the public in such comprehensive detail. To me, the first thing to do would be an on the street survey of who would like off the streets. Those who say yes, are then interviewed. A quick physical to assess any potential immediate health concerns, needing to be addressed. Name run for any outstanding warrants (most who know they are wanted will say no to the first question aNd wont want off the street, in all likelihood). A questionnaire as to how they got there, an assessment of any signs of addition or getting an admission to addiction. Etc. Once this is done, then we can determine the next course of action, based on the assessment/interview. Those sober and in need of financial help to have a roof and shower to clean up and get a job, get free shelter for a certain duration of time, combined with an entry into a job placement program, with an agreement to find gainful employment within one year and start paying a designated rent within one year of finding gainful employment. Thst rent would be a rent to own option and these shelters need to be set up in locations that would understand this would be permanent. Those who need help with addiction, get just that. But it must be an inpatient, 100% detox help, and then they can move to a shelter once they have completed the steps to sobriety. Those with warrants go to jail and sit before a judge. obviously alot more to it than that, but i think that is the priority starting point, if we ever want to see any lasting improvement.
Opinion: An opportunity for a reset on homeless strategy in Multnomah County https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/...on-homeless-strategy-in-multnomah-county.html
Well that gives me little hope lol. But it's such a dense process there's no real shortcuts. It's gonna be longitudinal in practice by default. Capitalism also is killing our country. But that's a whole other topic.
Down here in Phoenix ….. a ton of homeless down here in and around downtown. They must like the dry hot weather.
We've seen how this is solved. By getting people into secure homes until we can get them access to services. Of course it's more complex than that, but that has to be the start. Getting everyone into a home who is willing to move in. You can't manage a transient population. It's impossible. If they have an address they are willing to settle into then you have a chance.
There needs to be more microshelter pods. Get people into a secure location so they can transition to sober living or permanent housing. Tents are not the solution, I know that.
i agree tents aren't the solution, but i disagree we should just put them in shelters first. Do you not think they should be screened/evaluated to determine their first need? Whether it be mental help, detox and addition help, etc? Moving homeless around will just move the same problems around if we don't first determine each individuals true needs. Messes outside of tents will be outside of the shelters for some, if the don't first get the priority help they need. Intensive in patient treatment and/or mental health treatment would come with room and board. Why put them in shelters first? Why not screen and get them where they need to get to first?
Screening and evaluation is part of placing them in homes. That's easy. The home is the carrot that gets them to cooperate. It's not generally difficult to tell if a person is incapable of living on their own. And most adults are capable. And there are workers who know many of these people. Getting mental health treatment with room and board IS getting them in homes. But you have to have the space (the home) available before you can offer it.
right. And what im saying i think its more important to get the space available in the detox, addiction treatment facilities and mental health care facilities so when they have a roof over their head they aren't still in the mental head space that causes negativity around the and within their surroundings. My first hand experience tells me that moving a troubled person from a tent on the street to a shelter is not going to improve thier situation without the help they need mentally and physically. I agree cant have one without the other. Which is why im mostly against putting people into shelters without an eval to help their true core needs. if this is the case, the prioritized focus, to me, should be expanding the facilities that can actually provide help. Not just a roof without help. If we dont have enough space in mental health care facilities, then that should be the top focus. Not shelters. Or in tandem. Shelters for those truly just down and out but mentally stable and sober. Everyone else needs to go into a treatment/health care facility of some sort.
