Homeless explosion

Posted by $ Abaco 10 years, 6 months ago to Economics
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The link is just one, quick random sample I found. I want to ask my fellow Gulchers something. Do you notice an explosion in the homeless population in your region lately? Around the Sacto area in in NorCal it has absolutely exploded this year. It has always been present here. But, now they are everywhere. I live in a nice community but even last night I found several hobos camping along a nearby office building in an upscale location. Both of my offices are surrounded. One of the offices is next to an old Arby's that just closed so no there's nothing by the office - just a closed eatery and a big park. It's actually nice and quiet with lots of trees, but the hobos have come in, bigtime. They're just infiltrating the entire region, spilling into every neighborhood. My young son has grown accustomed to transient hobo camps along the river by our house. It's just part of his world. I never saw that when I was kid.

Anybody else seeing this? We've got little commercial zones with artisan-type shops and on Saturday morning they're lined with people in sleeping bags. I've never seen it like this... The news media has simply not mentioned a peep, either.

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  • Posted by wiggys 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Abaco,

    It is all over the country, i get emails each week from another do gooder asking for a donation of sleeping bags. We have a nation with citizens who can't fins jobs so the best thing the illustrious one can do is bring in more people who have no knowledge of the 21st century and give them what they should be giving to our own citizens.
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No, it's not PC. Do you have any knowledge of neurology? People with neurological problems (via head injury, drug abuse, child abuse) are usually socially challenged.

    I'm the least political person you'd ever meet. I don't even know how to speak "Political Crap" (which is obviously a proper noun?). I don't even vote.

    Hell, I work with engineers who are socially challenged. If you don't work with any of us, feel fortunate.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Well I guess I had better pour a little gas on the fire. Some decades ago the Federal Government paid for those care programs and facilities. The STATES demanded that as a State function - took the responsibility and the federal funding and facilities and then used the money for something else and that is when we started seeing more of these people on the streets.

    I'm sure some of those State politicians moved to Washington DC and said...look at those states pissing away that money and moved to have it canceled.
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Wow Randy. Thanks for sharing. You have my sympathies.

    I have a disabled son (10-yrs old) and if I can just get him independent it will be a fantastic victory for the family. It's on my mind all the time. I hope your son gets his life together...
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    They come across the border each day? Like in Tucson? I like the one's with the changing signs. Vietnam Vet, Kosovo vet, Iraq vet, Afghanistan vet and just plain Hungry Veteran no matter how old they get. Pike Street Market in Seattle has a regular population with schedules and three blocks away is where they park their cars before returning home to the 'burbs.'
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    How about start at the beginning with that drug given to school kids...Ritalin? For students who cause problems for teachers. Or the one given to teachers causing lifelong problems for students?

    After all is said in done isn't that precisely where they get the idea drugs are the way to go for problems? the magic cureall. I'd start with getting rid of teachers who are to lazy or otherwise unable to do their jobs and schools that are drug stores.

    Are more people becoming addicts? Sure. Percentage of a growing population that is dumbed down chemically.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 6 months ago
    Easy to understand why the homeless have exploded. In case any of The Gulch don't know, see Michael A.'s post. When it is better to be homeless and lazy than to work at a minimal job and be productive -- then what are the expectations?
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  • Posted by $ AJAshinoff 10 years, 6 months ago
    In Phoenix homelessness has always been visible but, yes, of late, I see many more people holding signs, sleeping on bus benches, and panhandling outside of stores today than in recent years. Oddly enough some even ask for peso's.
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  • Posted by dukem 10 years, 6 months ago
    I am reminded of the economic dictum: Whatever is subsidized increases.
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  • Posted by $ Radio_Randy 10 years, 6 months ago
    I have a homeless son. His wife threw him out (long story) and we took him in, for a short time, becoming one of the many couples who let their kid(s) move back home. The "plan", like with everyone else, was to let him get "back on his feet".
    After a few weeks, he found a hopeful alternative and moved out, with the knowledge that he would not be allowed to come back, a second time.
    When his new situation fell through, he promptly moved into a homeless shelter in the nearest big city, 70 miles away.
    My suggestion is that many of these homeless are "kids" who, otherwise, would be living with their parents. Those parents have wised up and said "NO"...hence, the homeless explosion.
    Those, along with the souls who fell prey to the government's "American Dream Team" are probably why the apparent explosion of this particular population of people.
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  • Posted by edweaver 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I have no facts on a percentage, only observations. As I stated, others may have differing observations. I was addicted to nicotine as well and was not homeless but nicotine does not render a person helpless. I was speaking of drugs that render someone in capable of taking care of themselves.
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  • Posted by jimslag 10 years, 6 months ago
    The article starts talking about Portland and several other places that are liberal bastions. They foster the homeless. They provide food and shelter and thereby promote the homeless to go to places like that. I am not against the homeless, most, I believe, are noble people who just found themselves in financial trouble and could not keep their homes or apartments. I know plenty of people who are right on the cusp of losing their home. I feel for them and there are plenty of resources available to help them for those that look for it. Some, a few, denigrate the whole situation for everybody but the security stuff does not solve the problem and in cases actually escalates the problem. Like Ed Weaver, I live in a small agricultural town but I am further south in New Mexico, so I don't see much of a problem. Occasionally I see someone at the corner by WalMart with a sign but those are few and far between. I am not saying there is no problem, just that it is selective where the worst cases are.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What percentage range are addicted and define something. I'm a former addict to nicotine. Does that count I was never homeless...
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    WTF does socially challenged mean. Is it PC? Never mind I speak English not Political Crap.

    However Port Townsend WA on it's outskirts had a hobo camp. There was a well worn trail from there to the Welfare Office, the Food Bank and any place that was passing out anything.

    I did the census in 2000 and covered that area. No one else would go near it.

    They all split so I went to the offices mentioned and they refused to cooperate even knowing their budgets rest on the census so I went to a neighbor and found out the number was 12 to 15 and one of them was named Velvet on his good days. So they weren't jobless they worked for the government as moochers in some cases in others were as suggested 'nuts.'
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  • Posted by GaryL 10 years, 6 months ago
    Funny how these homeless seem to migrate to where they are most accepted. Same goes for other minorities and those from some religious sects. I see towns in my local area with homeless folks and the very next town over, just 10 to 12 miles away with none. I see a high concentration of certain religious sects in one town and none in the next town over. I see homeless individuals who are homeless by choice and do not care to have it any other way and refuse any help other than pan handling donations. Being late November here in the NY Catskills and the weather soon to turn I suspect all of the self imposed homeless around here are en-route to warmer climates and those who do remain will take shelter in government provided places where they are located. It is not a nice place here when the temps go very far below zero in the coming months.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Since Republicans are part of the single party system, controlled by RINOs and nothing more than play actors or lap dogs of the left why did you exclude their masters?

    We're seeing those stories now and I see No Republican President. The term is meaningless they are nothing more than the right wing of the left as the former Democrats are left wing of the left of the Socialist Party.

    As a bit of history their flag was designated back in the fifties as one blood red banner with a single white star in the center.

    Gotta get out of the dark ages and join the real world it's the 21st century and you are stuck i the past.
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  • Posted by straightlinelogic 10 years, 6 months ago
    Bernard Goldberg wrote a book in 2002, Biased, and devoted a whole chapter to explaining how homelessness only becomes a news story during Republican administrations. Nothing has changed since 2002. Elect a Republican governor in CA or a Republican president next year and you'll see a lot of stories about homelessness.
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 10 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    "Homes are exceptions that we take for granted." Interesting. I always think of shelter as a basic necessity - perhaps taking it for granted.

    Would Ragged Dick be suitable for children, say 10-12 years old?
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