Posted on 08/29/2015 12:04:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
San Francisco has had it with the homeless.
First came the Chronicle’s obsessive summer of op-eds and thinly reported screeds; then came Mayor Lee’s announcement threat that the homeless must leave before the Super Bowl PR machine rolls into town; and yesterday Supervisor Scott Wiener put a semantic twist on the whole fracas, arguing it’s not the homeless we’re vilifying but unsavory “street behavior."
The public outcry has no real center but, like a dragnet, implicates everything from mental illness and substance abuse, to access to public restrooms and street encampments. There’s a cacophony of complaints (and rallying cries) but precious few actionable solutions aside from criminalization.
Which is what’s notable about HandUp.
As KQED reports, HandUp is a crowdfunding site for “homeless people and neighbors in need” that this week launched a program whereby San Franciscans can donate $25 gift cards to the homeless.
The gift card, which can only be redeemed at Project Homeless Connect (HandUp hopes to recruit more gift card partners in the future), can be exchanged for food and clothing, or put into a savings account for dental or pet care. Project Homeless Connect will also refer homeless clients to housing, employment, and health services.
Even if the gift card isn’t redeemed, HandUp says 100 percent of the $25 will still go towards homeless services. HandUp has facilitated more than $897,000 in donations since launching in 2013.
While a gift card won’t solve homelessness by a long shot, and while the challenges of scaling such a program are significant, it's at least preferable to reading another self-satisfied media lament.
Because booze isn’t free.
I recall the recent story of the journalist who reported that the stench of urine is strong in many parts of San Francisco.
San Francisco has historically been very liberal towards the homeless. How will they cope with so many visitors coming in for the Super Bowl, and getting a very negative impression of their city??? Interesting..............
Hey! We’re America! The Land of the Free Stuff!!! The Pinata Grande!
The best idea is to give them one way non refundable tickets to liberal cities, in liberal states.
Couldn’t they convert the public bathhouses to,public toilets and showers, and make cleaning them a court-ordered community Service?
Winning!
Whatever you subsidize and tolerate, you will get more of.
San Francisco has a growing problem with the homeless, because historically they have been liberal towards the homeless.
Being so liberal and tolerant, homeless have been drawn to SF.
Next thing you know, you have so many, that your homeless problem has spun out of control. And this is happening in spite of various programs put in place to help the homeless find shelter, get back on their feet in life, etc.
I think some liberals are genuinely stunned at how the homeless problem in SF has grown. In spite of their allegedly compassionate efforts, there are more homeless infecting more parts of the city than ever before.
I don’t understand why a homeless person would want to live in San Francisco. It’s freezing cold there.
This is why you can’t feed the bears in Yellowstone. SF Democrats are too stupid to run a city. Proof: Nancy Pelosi will die in office.
Look at all this abject insensitivity. I’m so tired of liberal and progressive attitudes of the domicile impaired! How dare they question the alternative lifestyle these people have made? Not everyone wants to live under a roof, not everyone is adequately educated on the use of modern plumbing facilities or chooses to avail themselves of them! They want to be one with nature!
Why would you saddle them with gift cards that will go straight into the pockets of evil multi-national restaurant chains when their natural inclination is towards urban scavenging? This is nothing more than corporate welfare.
Hard to believe these people are judging the lifestyle choices of others. The demands of conformity must be abolished.
Yeah, great idea. They’ll use them to trade for booze and drugs.
Geez louise.
Well, there’s the problem with urine in SF, but then we see there’s also a problem with #2. Holy smokes..........
some of the former military bases in the bay area will be used to temporarily house...aka cage....the “homeless” during super bowl “season”
Transresidential?
How much does the corporatist issuer of the cards get? How much of that then found its way back to the politician’s pockets? Is this really about the “homeless”?
Next:
1. Bed, Bath, & Beyond
2. Forever 21
3. Crate & Barrel
4. Victoria’s Secret
Lowes
Home Depot
Urban Outfitters
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