"No more talking about the homeless"

[TrainChaser]

I read somewhere that there are tens of thousands of people in the U.S. living in their vehicles, and more every day. But doing that isn't politically correct, so it doesn't exist.

Britain outlawed guns, and the crime rate soared; eventually, it dropped back to the exact same level as before the guns were banned. But you're not supposed to mention that.

Some places, you can't speak against Genetically-Modified foods, because Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow, et al, don't like it.

I guess the First Amendment has been cancelled, and I wasn't informed.

[Everyroadleadshome]

I don't understand a lot of the codes and rules that go into housing when the become so cost prohibitive it leaves people homeless. So being totally homeless is somehow better than someone living in what government deems substandard housing?

[Putts]

Tsk tsk, are you expecting answers about government actions to make sense? Silly human.


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[TrainChaser]

I read some time back that there are about five vacant homes for every homeless person (18.9 million homes, 3.5 million people). And they're still building new homes.

Homeless and Empty Homes — an American Travesty: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-s...92546.html

The article (and others like it) says "It’s time to sort out the regulations and rates that would facilitate the solution: turning empty houses into homes for those in need".

But then you can go to YouTube and watch the videos of tenants who have destroyed Section 8 and other homes.

I don't know what the solution is, but maybe some pieces of land where van and RV dwellers can park.

[Ballenxj]

I read some time back that there are about five vacant homes for every homeless person (18.9 million homes, 3.5 million people).  And they're still building new homes.

 There certainly seems to be a problem if those numbers are correct. 

[GotSmart]

I have been there with a family, and destroyed my body working when I had no choice. As long as the big corporates continue to control government the average person can only get ahead by being lucky. Don’t get sick and miss any paychecks. 

I am talking pharmaceutical, insurance, banking and real estate.

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Well, if this is the new official homeless thread, here's an interesting article that appeared in today's New York Post:

https://nypost.com/2018/03/09/upstaters-...e-program/

[Optimistic Paranoid]

BTW, there's nothing new about shipping the homeless elsewhere.

I recall that during the sixties, New York's Mayor, John V. Lindsay (who was a former congressman) revealed that southern states used to give their homeless a one-way bus ticket to NYC, $20 cash, and a slip of paper with the address of the NYC Welfare Office on it.

Lindsay said his southern colleagues used to brag about it to him.

[Optimistic Paranoid]

And on the subject of tiny houses and the homeless:

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-...s-10156164

[Putts]

Sadly, the real solution to homelessness is a wholesale reorganization of our social structure, which I won't go into because it's virtually impossible given the chaotic political/commercial climate. All else is patchwork. Probably worth experimenting in, likely some particulate good will come of it, but patchwork nonetheless.

I do see the vandweller community as a bright spot in the picture. It really is a viable solution for a pretty big chunk of the homeless population, and for people to bounce into before the shit hits the fan for them personally. I, for one, saw the open door and went from having to work the salt mine until I died to being able to retire comfortable at 62.

I think vandwelling is going to continue in a high growth mode. We'll see lots of kerfuffle around legalities spawning both good and bad results for us. But in the end, given the numbers I would expect, vandwelling will become a phenomenon that will have to be dealt with...it's not going to just go away.

I do think it's a mistake for CVRL not to embrace this somewhat messy problem openly. Hell, they should probably have a "Dire Need" (or something) forum area specifically for that kind of thing. I know the first message that needs to get across to homeless folks is "You've got to do this." But there's still plenty of room, once the tough love message is on the table, to assist those in need with solid advice.