Surely it's better asked as two questions. Why are bums often crazy, and why are so many in SF? Answer to the first part is pretty obvious and supposedly part of the answer to the second comes down to climate and buck-passing by other states.
Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
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Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#22I recall a period during my stint in SF where they started allowing drinking in the parks because "the homeless live in parks and should be allowed to drink at home" I think they're there because they don't freeze and an idealistic population allows it.
Drinking alcohol in public places has always been illegal in San Francisco.
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#23California accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire homeless population in the United States [1], largely due to its climate, its support programs, and its dense network of municipal services and population centers. Approximately 14% of all homeless in the US are military veterans, many of whom suffer from PTSD and were turned out of VA clinics in the 1970s and 1980s due to budget cutbacks. The article is correct…
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Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#24Don't forget Greyhound Therapy either! (Over which SF is currently suing the State of Nevada) http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/23/nevada-sued... The history in this article is very interesting, but I always figured that the answer was more simple: (1) generous social programs compared to the country's norm, and (2) mild climate.
There's a great south park on that subject.
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#25This article offers the best, most detailed explanation for why there are so many homeless in the streets of SF and why that's not going to change anytime soon: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/arise-tender...
Wow, that article is fantastic, and provides an amazing degree of background and depth to the picture I'd already had of the TL. Thanks for linking to it!
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why did you let your mom live on the streets?
She was in a "care home" and checked herself out against doctor's orders. I wasn't in a position to have her live with me, and had been dealing with her illness for about 30 years and was, quite frankly, so frustrated and burnt out that I had given up. I had no resources to work with, what the hell was I to do? Edit: I shared my story for 2 reasons. The first was to point out that these "bums" are somebody's family m…
I don't have anything to say- but just wanted to post to say that you have no requirement whatsoever to defend your life circumstances to complete strangers on the internet for whom it is very easy to judge you, comfortably behind their screens.
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#27Toronto has a similar problem. It isn't just Regan.
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#28California accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire homeless population in the United States [1], largely due to its climate, its support programs, and its dense network of municipal services and population centers. Approximately 14% of all homeless in the US are military veterans, many of whom suffer from PTSD and were turned out of VA clinics in the 1970s and 1980s due to budget cutbacks. The article is correct…
My understanding is that the story of deinstitutionalization is a bit more complex: there was a movement in the 70s and 80s to have the mentally-ill returned to the community, instead of being treated in state institutions. However, many of the local facilities that the mentally ill were to receive treatment in were never actually established. At the same time, commitment laws were changed in many states, as part of a civil rights movement, to make it almost impossible to commit someone against their own will unless they were a physical danger to themselves or others.
Additionally, Reagan was never a legislator, but only served in an executive capacity, as Governor of California and as President of the US.
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#29California accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire homeless population in the United States [1], largely due to its climate, its support programs, and its dense network of municipal services and population centers. Approximately 14% of all homeless in the US are military veterans, many of whom suffer from PTSD and were turned out of VA clinics in the 1970s and 1980s due to budget cutbacks. The article is correct…
My understanding is that the story of deinstitutionalization is a bit more complex: there was a movement in the 70s and 80s to have the mentally-ill returned to the community, instead of being treated in state institutions. However, many of the local facilities that the mentally ill were to receive treatment in were never actually established. At the same time, commitment laws were changed in many states, as part of…
Fair points, especially about the commitment laws. And point noted about the use of the term "legislator" w/r/t Reagan. Good catch.
Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?
#30Vancouver (Canada) has a similar problem to SF. I think it's the climate, since compared to the rest of Canada it is quite mild. I think the causes here are different though, and mostly drug related, but someone with more knowledge can correct me.