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Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

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Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#51

Post by nickthemagicman »

habosa wrote: post #31

In many discussions like this I see the argument that some/most/all homeless people are drug addicts or mentally ill or otherwise not deserving of help. I have always been of the opinion that I don't care why someone is homeless, I would like to help them. There is nobody that deserves to live on the street in a nation with as much wealth as America, even if they've made bad decisions (drugs, alcohol, crime, etc.). I…

This could be a good place to start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_by_co...

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#52

Post by ja27 »

nperez wrote: post #5

My only advice is to provide socks too. Socks get gross and/or wet or hard if you can't easily wash them.. and they're not too expensive.

Funny. My son's Cub Scout pack worked with a local homeless group and the top requested things they packed in gift bags for them were cheap flashlights and tube socks. They use the socks for everything.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#53

Post by nezumi »

I don't live in SF but I work for a Bay Area company and have often wondered, while waiting to get onto one of those shiny buses, why a city with such a high concentration of rich, smart people is failing its least fortunate residents so miserably and obviously. Why are the technological elite so helpless in the face of this problem on their own doorstep?

Reading the comments here it seems that there is a massive gap in understanding, empathy and plain old data - are there no studies answering the questions being speculated on here?

If you could find a way to address that gap of understanding - provide the technologists with data, and fully describe the constraints - perhaps there can be a useful discussion in the technology community.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#54

Post by robbrown451 »

SeckinJohn wrote: post #30
robbrown451 wrote: post #24

It seems a bit like trying to fix the pigeon problem in the city by putting out pigeon food. The harsh reality is that the more accommodating to the homeless the city is, the more homeless there will be. I think there are solutions, and they can be compassionate, but simply making life easier for the homeless has long term drawbacks that are greater than the short term upsides.

I agree that the goal shouldn't be making the life too easy for the homeless - instead I believe that we should focus on helping them re-integrate back to the society, at least for the ones that would like to. Homelessness is the main concern for resident of San Francisco according to recent polls, and it would be a shame if this stayed like this for another 10 years. With this campaign, we can start creating campaig…

Well, I could suggest lots of ideas better than giving them stuff while leaving them living on the streets.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#55

Post by robbrown451 »

losf wrote: post #39
robbrown451 wrote: post #24

It seems a bit like trying to fix the pigeon problem in the city by putting out pigeon food. The harsh reality is that the more accommodating to the homeless the city is, the more homeless there will be. I think there are solutions, and they can be compassionate, but simply making life easier for the homeless has long term drawbacks that are greater than the short term upsides.

I disagree. We should not make life more difficult than it is already for homeless people. We should provide them a path to integrate to society (access to shelters, bathrooms, education, medical and social help). Some homeless might grab the opportunity to leave homelessness, but let's not fool ourselves, some will remain homeless. The remaining homeless would be at least healthier and less outcast. That will attrac…

> If every city in the Bay would do the same, there would less incentive for homeless to congregate in SF.

So then any such program shouldn't be city specific. Why would residents of a city do things that result in more homeless in their own city? Basic game theory.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#56

Post by robbrown451 »

nickthemagicman wrote: post #50
SeckinJohn wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that the goal shouldn't be making the life too easy for the homeless - instead I believe that we should focus on helping them re-integrate back to the society, at least for the ones that would like to. Homelessness is the main concern for resident of San Francisco according to recent polls, and it would be a shame if this stayed like this for another 10 years. With this campaign, we can start creating campaig…

Making it 'easy' for the homeless? Lol you think basic fundamental survival goods like food and blankets are making it easy? Are you SERIOUS? Because I completely agree! You guys are absolutely right on. If you encourage homelessness EVERYONE will become one.

"Easy" is a relative term. The issue is whether you want to make it easier than it previously was.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#57

Post by habosa »

nickthemagicman wrote: post #51
habosa wrote: post #31

In many discussions like this I see the argument that some/most/all homeless people are drug addicts or mentally ill or otherwise not deserving of help. I have always been of the opinion that I don't care why someone is homeless, I would like to help them. There is nobody that deserves to live on the street in a nation with as much wealth as America, even if they've made bad decisions (drugs, alcohol, crime, etc.). I…

This could be a good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_by_co...

Am I missing something? Are you suggesting that we put homeless people on an aircraft carrier? Or that we spend less on the military? Overall I'm confused by your response.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#58

Post by CCs »

SeckinJohn wrote: post #37
11001 wrote: post #28

Go out and talk to some social workers, figure out what tech could actually help with. This is just silly.

I would love to talk with more social workers/activists/organizations working on this and similar issues. Please feel free to send an email to me at seckincansahin@gmail.com I have been iterating on this campaign for at least a month now according to feedback I have received from 50+ people in all walks of life, but I agree that there is still a huge room for improvement. And I would love to hear more about the campa…

http://streetlifeministries.org/ is run by an ex-homeless (David), you can ask him.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#59

Post by losf »

robbrown451 wrote: post #55
losf wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. We should not make life more difficult than it is already for homeless people. We should provide them a path to integrate to society (access to shelters, bathrooms, education, medical and social help). Some homeless might grab the opportunity to leave homelessness, but let's not fool ourselves, some will remain homeless. The remaining homeless would be at least healthier and less outcast. That will attrac…

> If every city in the Bay would do the same, there would less incentive for homeless to congregate in SF. So then any such program shouldn't be city specific. Why would residents of a city do things that result in more homeless in their own city? Basic game theory.

It is not a game. The goal is not put homeless under the carpet. Because they are out of sight does not mean that the problem is solved.

SF is "the homeless capital of the United States"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_the_United_Stat...). So, SF must be doing something right, for homeless to come in the City. I wish other cities would do the same, for the homeless's wellbeing not necessarily to attract more homeless. But if every city would do the same, homeless would not need to travel, so no more no less homeless. Right now some cities do nothing (or even make life more difficult) for homeless, hoping they leave...

I don't think it is the right strategy.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#60

Post by robbrown451 »

nezumi wrote: post #53

I don't live in SF but I work for a Bay Area company and have often wondered, while waiting to get onto one of those shiny buses, why a city with such a high concentration of rich, smart people is failing its least fortunate residents so miserably and obviously. Why are the technological elite so helpless in the face of this problem on their own doorstep? Reading the comments here it seems that there is a massive gap…

I think the mistake you are making is when you talk about it as failing "its least fortunate residents," without regard for the fact that those residents may only be there because of how well it does treat them.
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