Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#41

Post by VladRussian2 » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 4:15 AM UTC

collyw wrote: post #39

baddox wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> California accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire homeless population in the United States And, just for reference, 12% of the US population lives in California.

So around double what you would expect.

don't forget "export" from other states:

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2021804212_mentally...

"The state of Nevada and its primary psychiatric hospital “intentionally and wrongfully” foisted the cost of caring for indigent mentally ill people onto California cities and counties by issuing patients bus tickets out of town without making proper arrangements for their care, a lawsuit filed Tuesday in San Francisco charges."

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#42

Post by benmccann » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 4:25 AM UTC

theorique wrote: post #4

One answer that I had heard was that it's been standard practice for various municipalities to buy vagrants one-way tickets to SF. (Don't know if it's true or apocryphal.) (edit: TIL it is called "greyhound therapy" as described in brandur's comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6830558 ) That, combined with the mostly hospitable climate for homelessness, and the municipal tolerance for ... unconventional ...…

The first estimates I found on Google show 130,000 homeless in California with 500-1,500 sent here via "greyhound therapy". It's not a small amount, but it's still only ~1% of the homeless population.

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#43

Post by Spooky23 » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 4:26 AM UTC

Because the political climate allows it.

Court rulings made crimes used to arrest homeless people illegal. That's why a ranting maniac can soil himself in the public library and not be booted. Back in ye olden days, the cops would arrest him and sober him up for a day or two.

Even with that, there are more homeless in San Francisco, and I'd say that it's a combination of opportunity, a sympathetic environment and the fact that it's a real life city! (Vs a car suburb)

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#44

Post by judk » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 4:50 AM UTC

pstuart wrote: post #5

My mother was one of those "crazy bums". She spent the last 3 years of her life on the streets there. She lived in the East Bay before, so when she finally lost it it was natural to migrate to the nearest large city where she could "live in peace" on the streets. I think a key problem is not just that the mental institutions are closed, but that it's now impossible to detain them unless they are an immediate threat t…

How would a monastery work successfully? We still have the issue that people can't be compelled to stay in residence.

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#45

Post by Fishkins » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 4:53 AM UTC

yetanotherphd wrote: post #7

duncan_bayne wrote: post #2

One possible answer: http://theprofoundprogrammer.com/post/31260129412/

What does that mean?

It seems he's saying/joking they're all failed startup founders.

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#46

Post by duncan_bayne » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 5:04 AM UTC

Fishkins wrote: post #45

yetanotherphd wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does that mean?

It seems he's saying/joking they're all failed startup founders.

Joking ... and getting downvoted into oblivion for it. Perhaps I struck a nerve? ;)

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#47

Post by kakali » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 5:09 AM UTC

pstuart wrote: post #13

ams6110 wrote: post #10

Earlier 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 know the poster before you got a lot of down votes. But I thank you both for asking and answering a serious question. It's hard to comprehend that situation until you are stuck in the middle of it.

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#48

Post by SilasX » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 5:11 AM UTC

mathattack wrote: post #18

I 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.

"Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding."

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#49

Post by reillyse » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 5:48 AM UTC

brandnewlow wrote: post #14

This 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...

Good article, only issue I have with it is Downtown Los Angeles is definitely not a success story. From dusk to dawn skid row is a total tent city. Thats not an exaggeration, people set up tents up and down the sidewalk. I was seriously shocked when I first saw it.

Re: Why are there so many crazy bums on San Francisco streets?

#50

Post by __chrismc » Mon, Dec 02, 2013, 11:18 AM UTC

I had my first trip to SF last week. I knew ahead of time there was a problem of large numbers of homeless, and some of the underlying reasons for it. Even though, I was completely unprepared for the sheer scale of the issue - it was way beyond anything I'd ever imagined. It felt like everywhere I looked there was at least 1, and often, if I looked again closer there were 2-3. Walking around some areas of Market Street felt intimidating as there was a virtual "gauntlet" of homeless to walk through.

It didn't really take away from my trip, but it was certainly an eye-opener. The links in this thread will be good further reading in preparation for my next visit!