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I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

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Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#161

Post by littlecorner »

edude03 wrote: post #137

I think anyone who has actually been hands on trying to improve the lives of the unhomed know that 1) it’s a gradient between “I get kicked out of x everyday and go back at night” and “I’m sleeping under a bridge” and 2) rarely is it the actual cost of the home that’s the problem. Often it’s mental health / substance abuse / lack of a support system. Heck I think there is enough movies/shows about how people fall thr…

While there's some things that's can be done in the political and legislation spheres, there's a lot more need for just basic human relationships. Talking to those people and making friendships with those who different than you, and might be a little scary or uncomfortable. I suspect a lot of out social and political problems could be solved were we to get off of these shiny screens and spend time being in our bodies, building relationships with real people who don't fit all of our lofty ideals

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#162

Post by darkerside »

edude03 wrote: post #137

I think anyone who has actually been hands on trying to improve the lives of the unhomed know that 1) it’s a gradient between “I get kicked out of x everyday and go back at night” and “I’m sleeping under a bridge” and 2) rarely is it the actual cost of the home that’s the problem. Often it’s mental health / substance abuse / lack of a support system. Heck I think there is enough movies/shows about how people fall thr…

Putting in a plug for a great book called Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. https://www.amazon.com/Another-Bullshit-Night-Suck-City/dp/0...

This is the book that humanized homelessness for me. I better understand how it can happen to just about anyone, the vicious cycles involved, and how it affects observers on a deep level.

For the record, I found the article pretty annoying as well. Overwrought and vague. The best satire is (was?) subtle and yet incisive. This feels like a verbal pep rally. But maybe tastes are changing.

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#163

Post by queenkjuul »

littlecorner wrote: post #161
edude03 wrote: post #137

I think anyone who has actually been hands on trying to improve the lives of the unhomed know that 1) it’s a gradient between “I get kicked out of x everyday and go back at night” and “I’m sleeping under a bridge” and 2) rarely is it the actual cost of the home that’s the problem. Often it’s mental health / substance abuse / lack of a support system. Heck I think there is enough movies/shows about how people fall thr…

While there's some things that's can be done in the political and legislation spheres, there's a lot more need for just basic human relationships. Talking to those people and making friendships with those who different than you, and might be a little scary or uncomfortable. I suspect a lot of out social and political problems could be solved were we to get off of these shiny screens and spend time being in our bodies…

These problems existed before phones

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#164

Post by colejohnson66 »

beAbU wrote: post #104
gadders wrote: post #60

I don't think housing will help the people with mental health issues and addiction problems. Honestly I think sometimes building (compassionate, 21st century) mental health "asylums" and treatment centres would do more to end homelessness.

Not every homeless person has mental health issues. And most probably those with mental health issues _because_ they are homeless. Rounding all the homeless up into an asylum is just sweeping the problem under the carpet.

Asylums, historically, were just a way to jail more "undesirables" in a way that isn't legally a jail. Some definitely started with good intentions, but they all tend to morph into jails.

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#165

Post by aaron695 »

edude03 wrote: post #137

I think anyone who has actually been hands on trying to improve the lives of the unhomed know that 1) it’s a gradient between “I get kicked out of x everyday and go back at night” and “I’m sleeping under a bridge” and 2) rarely is it the actual cost of the home that’s the problem. Often it’s mental health / substance abuse / lack of a support system. Heck I think there is enough movies/shows about how people fall thr…

[dead]

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#166

Post by UncleMeat »

beAbU wrote: post #94

Giving housing to the homeless means we change the homeless into neighbours. And who the hell wants a poor person as a neighbour.

Homeless people are people. Society has an obligation to everybody, not just me. Unless your plan is "just imprison homeless people forever" then people are going to need be around homeless people while homelessness exists.

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#167

Post by diet_jerome »

I'd like to advertise deregulating housing construction as a very clear way to help solve desperate housing problems in many countries (such as in the USA). You can check out more about it here https://www.econlib.org/build-baby-build-now-under-construct...

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#168

Post by queenkjuul »

bmicraft wrote: post #100
jvanderbot wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mentally ill and drug abusers are also the ones who need to be dealt with in a way totally separate from those who are struggling but trying to get back on their feet and need a place to shower and sleep safely. They cause disproportionate damage to cities and the cause of aiding homeless itself. It's asinine to conflate the two issues and waffle back and forth between "more houses" and nimby name-calling. Neithe…

And yet it works almost flawlessly everywhere it's been tried. But sure, the US is different, special. That's always the argument, right?

Americans love being exceptional, especially when it excuses their mistreatment of the poor

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#169

Post by naasking »

teekert wrote: post #155

My country has enough homes (in principle, and there is pressure on the system), but we still have homeless people. Maybe in the US it is about building houses, but at some point it isn't anymore. I once wrote this here: [0] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25903859

There should always be a surplus of homes, the point is to get a sufficient surplus in the places that are in demand that this places downward pressure on prices, aka competition.

Re: I will do anything to end homelessness except build more homes (2018)

#170

Post by UncleMeat »

selfmodruntime wrote: post #138
beAbU wrote: post #94

Giving housing to the homeless means we change the homeless into neighbours. And who the hell wants a poor person as a neighbour.

Different sources say 40 to 50% of homeless have substance abuse problems. A lot of people don't want addicts as neighbours.

A substantial reason why these people have substance addictions is because they are homeless and use substances to cope.

Reducing the price of rent can prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.

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