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An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

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Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#171

Post by wyclif »

kevincrane wrote: post #107
enneff wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried to take this attitude a while ago, but after being abused and accused of mistrust too many times (the homeless aren't actually starving in Australia) I returned to ignoring such people. The worst was when a couple implored me to give them some money for accommodation, as they had been evicted. I said "Sure, let's go to a hotel right now and I'll check you in." They called me a bunch of expletives and stormed…

Same. A homeless guy walked by an alley near my house once and asked for money for food. I walked inside and came out with a half-dozen cans of tuna for him, and he started swearing and saying he didn't want "that cat food". I just stared at him, said "I eat this stuff. If you don't want it, then nothing for you." The guy just flipped me off and walked away. Good deed averted.

You did the right thing; that person was trying to score. I also offer them food only. If they don't accept it, it's usually because they are junkies and want someone to extend their habit.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#172

Post by wavesounds »

dsrguru wrote: post #26
akaru wrote: post #3

I've been homeless. No one in SF is hungry. In a span of a few blocks a person could eat for free 5 or 6 times a day. Money is used for drugs or McDonald's. My advice: don't give anyone money or food. If you want to help, give your time.

As someone who hasn't spent much time in SF but plans to move there very soon and doesn't want to live off of ramen, I genuinely want to know: where does one get those free meals? Edit: namank and iamwill beat me to it.

Honestly your going to have to wait in long lines with some of the worst smells you can possibly imagine.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#175

Post by amorphid »

A few years ago I learned a lot about trying to help homeless people with money, food, housing, and employment. Here's a blog post which details my experience of trying to help two random people from the streets of San Francisco:

http://captainrecruiter.blogspot.com/2010/10/cathy-and-lance...

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#176

Post by gadders »

bcantrill wrote: post #90
djmdjm wrote: post #30

What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…

If you want a glimpse into San Francisco's hardcore homeless, read this excellent Chronicle series from 2003: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SHAME-OF-THE-CITY-HOMELES... This problem is in no way unique to San Francisco; our engineering team has offices in San Francisco, Seattle (Pioneer Square) and Vancouver (Gastown) -- and we can collectively report that there are large, hardcore homeless populations in all th…

This is a good article as well:

http://www.city-journal.org/2010/20_4_san-francisco-homeless...

The tl;dr; version: The homelessness industry of charities etc has a vested interest in the problem continuing.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#177

Post by mping »

jyturley wrote: post #157
sebastianmarr wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

most homeless are mentally ill to some extent I'd love to see some numbers on that.

There is some truth to this: "According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20 to 25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness."[1] Mental disorders prevent people from carrying out essential aspects of daily life, such as self-care, household management and interpersonal relationships. Homeless people with mental disorders remain ho…

Yes, but where they ill when they first got homeless?

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#178

Post by gadders »

As an aside, one thing I noticed recently on my walk from London Bridge Station to my office is that when it snows or is very cold, I see more beggars.

It's almost like (gasp!) they come out especially in the cold weather as they can expect more money from begging.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#179

Post by Tichy »

arcatek wrote: post #94
geebee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the mid-90s, when I lived in New York, panhandlers would follow me several blocks while negotiating for change (you got tokens? I take subway tokens!). In Paris in the mid 80s, the same thing happened constantly in the metro station. Panhandlers would also come up to you while you were stuck in traffic, ask you to roll down your window, and try to bum money off you. It was constant. I was punched by a bum in Dubli…

As a parisian currently living at Montreal, there is a huge difference between the two mentalities. There is homeless people at Montreal too, but .. well .. most of them are civil : they don't try to annoy you to get money (some of them even say "Have a nice day" when I decline). One of the thing which surprised me when I first used the montreal subway was that the 'musicians' were actually real musicians, played onl…

In some cities it is illegal to just busk anywhere. I think in Munich you had to get a license to play anew every day, which means getting up very early and queuing at some office (never did this myself). Certainly no licenses for playing on the subway are given out.

Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin

#180

Post by INTPenis »

drstewart wrote: post #111
INTPenis wrote: post #96

I also heard you have tent cities in the USA. Seriously guys, stop fighting brown people and start feeding your own people. / Your allies in europe =/

Well we need practice since you guys are starting up your Nazi parties again. / Your allies in the US =/

I know we're being half ironic and all but I just can't let this one slip.

We're starting up nazi parties? Really? That's what you're going to go with? We also started the Pirate parties, and the fact that we're starting any sustainable party at all besides the two primary ones should be amazing to you. :D

/ Sincerely, Europe.

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