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Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

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Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#41

Post by hutzlibu »

wallace_f wrote: post #7
Mz wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did it for 5.7 years (for health reasons, not to save a few bucks), though I did not camp on a sidewalk and I did freelance work instead of having a job. I don't recommend it. I also doubt that you would save as much as you think.

Would I be able to ask some questions? What health reasons would cause you to sleep in a tent that doesn't involve saving money? And where did you sleep? And why not sleep in a vehicle? And why did you not save as much as you thought? By the way, if you want to live in a vehicle, tent or something like that while freelancing, you could always just move to Eastern Europe, India or someplace else and live well for what…

"Or, I've wondered about buying a van in Europe and hopping between countries for a couple years, but I've never heard of a non-eu citizen doing this, has anyone?"

I think I met some. But why should it be much harder for US, except for Visa? (you just visit a non EU country from time to time)

Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#42

Post by pitaj »

fsloth wrote: post #21

Aren't there any state housing programs in the US? Where I live a person basically needs to contact social wellfare and their rent will be handled by the state when they can prove they don't have income or savings. And our GDP is nowhere close that of US (GDP, Finland 40k per capita, US 51k per capita)

There are pubic housing programs. Whether these housing programs work for mentally ill homeless people is another question.

Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#43

Post by Mz »

ringaroundthetx wrote: post #31
Mz wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really want to discuss my health issues. That is always all kinds of drama. I slept in a tent in whatever greenery I could find, usually on the edge of town. The reason I did not sleep in a vehicle: I gave up my car years before I went homeless. I no longer drive. I didn't say I didn't save money. I said the OP likely would not save as much as they think. OP said they would save $3000/mo. Let's assume that is…

Thanks for the in depth reply! I asked a question and got downvote censored pretty quick - by time of writing - and I'll probably be shadow banned soon for asking. So, I really appreciate the discussion. I never considered that motel checkins would be a recurring thing for people that live that lifestyle.

Motel check-ins are not a recurring thing for most homeless people. They can't afford it because they aren't out there due to imagining that sleeping in a tent is some clever life hack that will save them money. But if you have enough income where it is feasible to spend $3000/mo on housing (that is more than I live on all month, supporting a family of three) and you imagine that sleeping in a tent on the city sidewalk will save you $3000/mo, that is just not realistic.

When the storms come, you will say "Fuck it! I am not sleeping in this! I am checking into a hotel. I can afford it for one night."

As soon as I had enough resources to check into a hotel periodically, my highest priority was being in a hotel during life threatening storms. It was often a financial hardship that I stressed about, but I did it anyway. So, I think the odds are really poor you will willingly subject yourself to sleeping outside in a bad storm as a matter of course if you don't absolutely have to.

I wasn't in Seattle. I was someplace a lot drier. Given how much rain Seattle gets, hotel stays on stormy days could easily exceed $3000/mo. On a per night basis, hotels are usually much more expensive than housing.

Additionally, you will not be welcome at homeless services. Those are aimed at helping poor people, not clever hippies giving the middle finger to society to save a few bucks. And people will likely be much less tolerant of you setting up a tent on the sidewalk than of actual destitute people doing so. If the neighbors and cops figure out you are adding to the homeless problem in spite of being able to afford housing, you may find yourself subject to a campaign of harassment until you either go elsewhere or relent and get back into housing.

If you want to save a few bucks, a better plan is to do some research and look for a cheaper housing arrangement. This might involve getting a roommate or moving to a cheaper town and commuting or something else that adds inconvenience to your life. If you can't tolerate those inconveniences, you really don't want the hassle involved in living in a tent with no plumbing, no electricity, no means to secure your possessions, etc.

Also, I don't imagine they will shadow ban you for asking a naive question in good faith. I don't think that violates any rules here. ;-)

Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#44

Post by thinkythought »

fsloth wrote: post #21

Aren't there any state housing programs in the US? Where I live a person basically needs to contact social wellfare and their rent will be handled by the state when they can prove they don't have income or savings. And our GDP is nowhere close that of US (GDP, Finland 40k per capita, US 51k per capita)

There are, but they're completely overwhelmed and have enormous waiting lists. There's also large issues with basically every attempt to construct housing being blocked, because no one wants it near their house

Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#45

Post by olfox »

oblio wrote: post #26
olfox wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Switzerland has an exceptionally low rate due to a couple of reasons pretty specific to them. In general, Europe seems worse off than the US. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_homeles...

Those numbers don't really support your claim...

There's around twice as many european countries with a lower percentage of homelessness than the US on that list compared to those with higher. Though, those where to a larger degree more populated. You could probably cut it how you want it, but framing it as Europe having lower homelessness is too simplistic and that was my main point.

Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#46

Post by oblio »

olfox wrote: post #45
oblio wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those numbers don't really support your claim...

There's around twice as many european countries with a lower percentage of homelessness than the US on that list compared to those with higher. Though, those where to a larger degree more populated. You could probably cut it how you want it, but framing it as Europe having lower homelessness is too simplistic and that was my main point.

Many of those countries have 1/3 to 1/4 of the US GDP per capita. That has to count for something... ;)

Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.

#47

Post by V-2 »

piva00 wrote: post #38
V-2 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw plenty of homeless and deranged people every time I went to Berlin. One woman actually lived in a tent in front of a police station in Pankow (for safety).

Me too, I go to Berlin about once or twice a month, there are homeless and deranged people around but NEVER anything like what I saw in SF. One day when going to the Van Ness' Muni station I saw a couple of homeless people, they had syringes hanging from their arms, right before I reached the turnstiles. I never saw so many deranged people on the streets, screaming as loud as one possibly can as I've seen in San Fran…

Admittedly I've never been to Frisco, but when I visited New York (back in 2003 I believe), I haven't encountered anything what I - being from Europe - would perceive as out of the ordinary in this aspect.

I have no such recollection at least.

Obviously I may not have gone to the right places; or other locally specific factors could be at play, such as some homeless-hostile regulations.

For this reason though I'd be sceptical of broad explanations such as "that's because the core values of your society are so and so".

Ironically, it's no other than San Francisco that is reputed to be (culturally) the most European city in the US...

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