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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?

#51
post #22

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.

Drinking alcohol in public places has always been illegal in San Francisco.

Perhaps it was police at the time deciding to take a less aggressive stance? This was ~15 years ago.

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

#52
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 Fran…

"Greyhound therapy" has been around for many, many yesrs. I heard of it ca. 1980 and it wasn't new then--somebody was talking about it adding to the troubled population of Washington, DC.

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

#53
post #44
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.

I think the primary way of compelling people is to make it a nice place to live. A private tiny home for privacy and security, a large garden to work in, a group kitchen, library, rec room, crafts, and of course tv/internet.

Most of these people in question are repeat offenders, so they could be offered the choice of a year in jail or 2 years in the country.

This wouldn't be free for the taxpayers, but remember, they are already paying a lot. I erred in the other post -- apparently it's ~$100M on homeless services. That's a nice chunk of change for servicing ~7000 homeless people.

http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2013/06/04/sf-homeless-services...

http://www.sfgov3.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=4...

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

#55
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A fair question, I suppose, but before judging too harshly it's worth remembering that many people do not want to be helped.

I heard a good few years ago that Denmark had 16 homeless people. 16. I think these are probably the few that don't want to be helped. "Many don't want to be helped" is probably an overstatement.

The number is more likely around 5000.

[2011] http://www.english.umd.edu/sites/default/files/interpolation...

[2007] http://udenfor.dk/uk/Menu/News/The+number+of+homeless+people...

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