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San Diego unveils unorthodox homelessness solution: big tents
UK Guardian ^ | March 29, 2018 | Kelly Davis

Posted on 03/29/2018 9:12:32 AM PDT by C19fan

Bob McElroy strode through the busy entrance of the vast, gleaming-white tent, greeting people right and left. The prominent homeless services provider calls the new structure, located on the outskirts of downtown San Diego, “the Rolls-Royce of tents”.

It is double-insulated and has wifi. And it is the sunny seaside destination’s millionaire-funded attempt to get a grip on an emergency that sees thousands of homeless people sleep on its streets every night.

The industrial-sized tent holds 324 people in neatly spaced, numbered bunks. People can bring their pets, and 70 dogs also live in the shelter. It offers a bed and services – from healthcare to employment assistance to showers and laundry – while people wait for a place of their own. In appearance, it evokes a military installation or a refugee camp.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: homeless
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Money quote:

“Folks with jobs and good credit and college educations, they can’t find places to rent … If [housing] was there, we’d be taking them out by the friggin’ busload.”

Fake news. Nobody has the right to live where they want if they can't afford it. If San Diego is too expensive move to another much cheaper area. Those type of people are a small minority. Most are people with addictions and serious mental health issues. A lot of these new homeless are from out of California induced to come to CA because the state will pay for treatment regardless of length of residence. Once the maximum amount for tax payer treatment is meet they are kicked out of the so called rehab centers.


1 posted on 03/29/2018 9:12:32 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: C19fan

Sounds like the temporary camps for the Okies in “The Grapes of Wrath”; we’re devolving into nomads. These places are for those who can’t afford the RVs, I guess (I know those stories are from further north).


2 posted on 03/29/2018 9:22:41 AM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: C19fan

I was working on my rental. It needed a roof and I am replacing one wall of vynl siding. An inspector stopped and demanded my permits. As a landlord, I am not allowed to pull a permit. I must use a contractor. They charge three times what they would charge an individual. So the rent goes from $825 to $875 and the payout moved about 18 months out to ten years.

Incidentally, I am not allowed by law to even fix a sink leak.


3 posted on 03/29/2018 9:24:03 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: C19fan

Zoning laws, strict building codes, Section 8, and so-called tenant rights laws are the root cause of homelessness.


4 posted on 03/29/2018 9:27:32 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (If the illegal immigration issue were Social Security, it'd be privatized by now.)
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To: Gen.Blather
My nephew was looking to buy a rental. I suggested to get one up here in Idaho, but he wanted one in Ca, closer to his home as if that would make it easier to maintain..... BTW a tent wouldn't do so good here, as a solid roof often has struggles in the winter, requiring a occasional snow raking.
5 posted on 03/29/2018 9:27:57 AM PDT by davidb56
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To: davidb56

Tell your nephew to make all of his repairs before he rents it. As a home owner most places allow that. Once he becomes a landlord he is viewed as an exploitable resource.


6 posted on 03/29/2018 9:32:34 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: C19fan

There are reasons why they are homeless.

Very few are homeless because of expensive housing.

Most have mental and substance abuse problems which make them unable or unwilling to live a normal life.

And regarding housing costs, what are we saying? Are we saying that someone earning minimum wage should be entitled to a costly apartment? Do people ever think about having roommates anymore, to cut housing costs, for example?


7 posted on 03/29/2018 9:32:54 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Gen.Blather

WHAT? In NC, I must (as landlord) get permit for items that are contractor done, or additions/porches/decks, etc.

However, small jobs for items already there, I can do the work myself. Sinks/plumbing or electrical are done a lot by owners. Replacing some siding makes no sense to need a permit. Not sure about a roof, but I will find out, as I plan to install one in few months...

This country is overloaded with unnecessary permits, that run up price of properties, like the environmental permit ..that is in addition to other permits...$$$ OY Vey!


8 posted on 03/29/2018 9:33:39 AM PDT by Ambrosia
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To: C19fan

People in this country need to start treating the lousy, expensive places to live like folks treated the dust bowl - pack your bags and move, just betting on your talent and skill that where ever you go you’ll make do.


9 posted on 03/29/2018 9:33:52 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Dilbert San Diego

You are right. I had roommates, although I saw them as a necessary evil, it did help pay for rent/expenses. It will get a person interested in saving/working extra job, whatever it takes, to get one’s own place! lol


10 posted on 03/29/2018 9:38:48 AM PDT by Ambrosia
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To: Ambrosia

A contractor in Leon county told me the permitting office staffed for the housing boom and didn’t Kay anyone off when it ended. They are “self funded.”. The director told them, if you want to keep your jobs, get out there and write violations. He adds $3000 for every $50,000 in cost.

BTW, I suspect you will find the actual law is that a landlord isn’t supposed to do any work beyond painting.


11 posted on 03/29/2018 9:40:54 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: C19fan
“Folks with jobs and good credit and college educations.."

Absolute BS. Maybe a few percent. Homeless come to San Diego for the same reason as everyone else, the weather! You are highly unlikely to freeze to death here! Even the drug addicts and insane have figured that out. San Diego will spend hundreds of millions in the long run to house and care for these folks, and these people will still be insane and addicted to drugs. And more will come for the weather and free stuff, bringing crime and disease with them! Save money and buy them one way tickets to Hawaii.

12 posted on 03/29/2018 9:45:13 AM PDT by ETCM
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To: C19fan

I have an unorthodox homeless solution — WORK.


13 posted on 03/29/2018 9:52:11 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: C19fan

Will Republican strategists be tin-eared enough to keep on claiming that “we are the Big Tent Party”?


14 posted on 03/29/2018 10:06:57 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: C19fan
Free wifi so they can check their portfolio with their free Obama smart phones.

I'm actually surprised they let the homeless bring their dogs. Usually these enablers are control freaks who try to control and manage every aspect of the lives of those they overlord. Nevertheless, I do support allowing well-behaved dogs into the facility.

15 posted on 03/29/2018 10:17:52 AM PDT by AlaskaErik (I served and protected my country for 31 years. Progressives spent that time trying to destroy it.)
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To: C19fan

Let’s spend the money to treat those who are mentally ill and send the rest across the border to Mexico. See how they like it. They might even want to pay for a wall to keep them out.


16 posted on 03/29/2018 10:28:17 AM PDT by willk (everyone)
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To: Gen.Blather

I will check that out and get back to you. I have found, in the past, COUNTIES are sometimes not in sync with one another. Thanks...


17 posted on 03/29/2018 10:29:14 AM PDT by Ambrosia
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To: Ambrosia

Here, before they will answer ANY question they demand an address. As long as you can’t be seen, ignorance is the way to go. If you do something outside, start late Friday and have it completed by late Sunday. (Note that a friend got zapped on a Sunday afternoon for replacing a dishwasher. The guy was off duty. $250. He put it out on the front porch.)


18 posted on 03/29/2018 11:03:10 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: Gen.Blather

WOW... that sound oppressive to me. Not enough sunshine to make me want that kind of interference....lol


19 posted on 03/29/2018 11:34:39 AM PDT by Ambrosia
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To: kearnyirish2

My aunt and uncle lived in the camp and I spent lots of time there. They first had 2 tin cabins, then moved up to a 2 bedroom adobe house, then finally to a 2 bedroom townhouse.
We all went to Vineland school 1-4, then Sunset school 5-8.
It’s still open and full of Mexicans. Of course all the old living quarters are gone (except for the museum part of it) and new houses were built for them.
They hold a Dust Bowl Days out there every year.

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/arvin-farm-labor-center-weedpatch-camp-bakersfield-ca/

http://dustbowlcamp.org/


20 posted on 03/29/2018 11:49:22 AM PDT by sheana
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