What to do with the homeless

[Sparkmechanic]

Hey that’s life sometimes, I appreciate it!

I often joke that some of the best things I learned in the Army was how to deal with the suck lol

Not saying at all that the homeless don’t create many issues, but thought I’d just throw out my situation as a counter to some of the all encompassing type statements

"Embrace the suck" is a real thing. Sometimes you know doing something is going to cause pain, cost you, push you to your limit. BUT you know you WILL DO IT.

 

[TanTJJim]

Not saying at all that the homeless don’t create many issues, but thought I’d just throw out my situation as a counter to some of the all encompassing type statements

Im assuming you get to see a little bit of what's going on behind the scenes with respect to some of the homeless population. From your perspective what do you think the problems are and what might fix them?

i.e. Are a lot of homeless hopeless drug addicts that society shouldn't waste our time on or are there a lot of people like you that just need to get back on their feet?

 

[JK13]

Im assuming you get to see a little bit of what's going on behind the scenes with respect to some of the homeless population. From your perspective what do you think the problems are and what might fix them?

i.e. Are a lot of homeless hopeless drug addicts that society shouldn't waste our time on or are there a lot of people like you that just need to get back on their feet?

Yeah a little bit, granted I’m staying at a Church sponsored mission so there’s rules to stay here (not intoxicated, no alcohol/drugs/weapons, 8pm curfew, need to be actively y looking for work or getting help improving your situation to name a few) and everyone is pretty calm/keep to them selves. So these people aren’t quite the tent in the park shooting up demographic but…

By my rough guesstimates/observations…
Theres maybe 10% that are definitely druggies and aren’t going anywhere short of a genuine come to Jesus event
Another 20% or so that are slightly more functional druggies or alcoholics
Maybe 15%-20% like me
15% or so older folks that aren’t drug addicts but just dont have support
And the other 35%-40% seem able bodied and functional? But are fresh out of jail/prison. Some younger cats that maybe were kicked out of their house. A good portion in this camp seem to have low wage jobs but don’t seem bright enough to really move up the ladder, but theres a chunk that just seem to have made some bad choices but are trying to do better

Its tough to say without interviewing people lol, I spend most my time here (between roughly 6pm-6am) surfing irate and arfcom then sleeping so like I said, just a rough guess

 

[TanTJJim]

Thanks for the insight. I'll admit, I would have thought the number of hopeless drug addicts to be a fair bit higher and one demographic I hadn't thought of at all are those coming out of the prison/jail system.

It sounds like the place you're at now does a pretty good job getting people pointed back in the right direction if they have the motivation. Is there anything else you think could be done to help more people, or does it just depend on the individual at that point?

 

[aczlan]

Thanks for the insight. I'll admit, I would have thought the number of hopeless drug addicts to be a fair bit higher

Perhaps the rules have weeded those demographics out (or at least the ones who aren't able to keep their noses clean enough to stay there)?

and one demographic I hadn't thought of at all are those coming out of the prison/jail system.

Me neither, but it makes sense if they don't have family they can stay with and want to stay away from those they went to jail over (at least on paper enough to keep their parole officer happy).

Aaron Z

 

[JK13]

Thanks for the insight. I'll admit, I would have thought the number of hopeless drug addicts to be a fair bit higher and one demographic I hadn't thought of at all are those coming out of the prison/jail system.

It sounds like the place you're at now does a pretty good job getting people pointed back in the right direction if they have the motivation. Is there anything else you think could be done to help more people, or does it just depend on the individual at that point?

Like aczlan hinted at below, I’d say the spot I’m at (plus it being Boise vs some other homeless mecca like Portland, Seattle, SF) is more filled with people who are for the better part trying to improve themselves and/or get out of the homeless life.

Personally I’d say the brunt of it comes down to personal motivation. Some people are just ok with maintaining their personal status quo vs me and other like minded people who are looking to get back to “normal” after their hiccups.

I’d like to see more affordable housing, its tough when a studio costs $1k/month…but shitty, lazy people ruin places like that for people like me so idk

Perhaps the rules have weeded those demographics out (or at least the ones who aren't able to keep their noses clean enough to stay there)?

Me neither, but it makes sense if they don't have family they can stay with and want to stay away from those they went to jail over (at least on paper enough to keep their parole officer happy).

Aaron Z

 

[Bonanza]

Very, very late term abortions.

 

[TanTJJim]

Personally I’d say the brunt of it comes down to personal motivation. Some people are just ok with maintaining their personal status quo vs me and other like minded people who are looking to get back to “normal” after their hiccups.

Thanks for the feedback, that lines up pretty well with my assumptions that the "homeless problem" pretty much lies on the individuals desires to avoid being homeless or not.

I hear you on housing costs, I've been close to your situation in the past and was fortunate enough to find roommates or cheap rooms to rent.

I don't know if you're looking for advise but if you want any pointers that I've learned the hard way let me know. Best of luck getting to where you want to be, I'm sure you'll get there soon!

 

[trampas]

Don't forget LA n san diego.

Maybe at a rescue mission in Idaho (with a list of stipulations) you can find persons with hope in the quantities mentioned but... out on the streets all i see are fukn BURNOUTS with a significant problem of substance abuse / alkies. It's really clear (to me) that in this area of 365 livable climate options, you have a high % of complete fucktards who are strung out on something / everything and they're done for life. They're miserable, often angry, seemingly hopeless individuals. They cannot function in society anymore even if they're (now) sober. They lack the ability to tap into society ever again, because it's too difficult, too emotionally straining, too expensive etc.

We were leaving a store one evening a couple months ago, cold night, nearing the holidays, and i stopped to offer a guy some oranges or... saying are you hungry can i offer you something. He turned to me and said "can you give me a new life?" and his tone was serious.

 

[welndmn]

IT's really a hard thing that no one has an answer for.
I deal with a lot of different homeless people in my job working around the Bay Area.
There are people like JK13 that seem to have made a mistake in their past / or had some life event that threw them off the tracks, but they want to be "Normal" again and be a part of society, that is a small subset of people.
I do want their to be programs for the people that actually want and need help but the other 80%? of people, no idea. We've proved that tossing trucks full of money at it didn't change anything.

 

[Ranchtruck]

Yeah a little bit, granted I’m staying at a Church sponsored mission so there’s rules to stay here (not intoxicated, no alcohol/drugs/weapons, 8pm curfew, need to be actively y looking for work or getting help improving your situation to name a few) and everyone is pretty calm/keep to them selves. So these people aren’t quite the tent in the park shooting up demographic but…

Think you'll donate to the shelter once you get your situation back to normal?

Living out of the 4runner is possible with good sleeping bags but it's a hassle finding a spot to park without being noticed or a place to take a shit. I've done some long periods wandering around out west and the only place I got moved along in the night was the chief joseph dam overlook. I never had to ask for money or shelter in my travels, but I wasn't anchored to a place by children either. Best of luck to you, hope you get life turned around soon!

 

[trampas]

IT's really a hard thing that no one has an answer for.
I deal with a lot of different homeless people in my job working around the Bay Area.
There are people like JK13 that seem to have made a mistake in their past / or had some life event that threw them off the tracks, but they want to be "Normal" again and be a part of society, that is a small subset of people.
I do want their to be programs for the people that actually want and need help but the other 80%? of people, no idea. We've proved that tossing trucks full of money at it didn't change anything.

It's sad. SD is spending countless millions for different programs and now "official tent cities" but i still see encampments. Some of them have moved into the brush since tarpaulin tents are no bueno anymore and will get removed.

 

[JK13]

Think you'll donate to the shelter once you get your situation back to normal?

Living out of the 4runner is possible with good sleeping bags but it's a hassle finding a spot to park without being noticed or a place to take a shit. I've done some long periods wandering around out west and the only place I got moved along in the night was the chief joseph dam overlook. I never had to ask for money or shelter in my travels, but I wasn't anchored to a place by children either. Best of luck to you, hope you get life turned around soon!

I think so, either monetarily or by volunteering somehow.

Oh for sure, a little cramped but totally doable. I’ve got blankets and sleeping bags and its not too hard to find places around here to park if you’re keeping lowkey. But access to showers and somewhere to shit in the middle of the night is nice as well as waking up and getting ready somewhere warm, it was 2* this morning lol

I appreciate it man 🤙🏻

 

[[486]]

Very, very late term abortions.

they abort themselves all the time
but narcan reverses overdose

 

[Landslide]