Posted on 11/21/2017 9:13:58 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
OAKLAND — For everyone who has ever passed one of this city’s sprawling homeless encampments and wondered how to help, Mayor Libby Schaaf has an answer — open your door to someone in need of shelter.
The Oakland mayor is asking residents to offer their spare rooms, Airbnb units and rental properties to the city’s homeless, a radical proposition that has prompted both cautious optimism and scathing criticism from her constituents.
In her annual “State of the City” speech, Schaaf challenged Oakland residents to “give up that Airbnb. Fix up that back unit,” and offer the space to people in need.
“I hear so many times every day people ask me, ‘how can I help the homeless?'” Schaaf said in an interview. “And so this is an inspirational example of how already more than 100 landlords are helping.”
“It’s a last-resort idea,” said Oakland homeowner Rebecca Chekouras, 66, “and I think it doesn’t make sense for anyone involved.”
There are plenty of Oaklanders with extra space, but many say they rely on rental income from those spare rooms to help pay their own living expenses. There are 2,761 homeless living in the city, according to the most recent count, though experts agree that number is likely low.
Some in the community argue Schaaf should set an example by opening her own home.
“Why would anyone else do it if she wasn’t willing to do it?” asked 48-year-old Judy Elkan, owner of the Mary Weather clothing store and art gallery in Oakland, and a member of the local Homeless Advocacy Working Group.
But Schaaf won’t be signing up her own home anytime soon. She says she doesn’t own rental property or a secondary unit, and has no space for tenants in the house she shares with her husband and two children.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
How many are her honor and the city council taking in?
Uh, wasn’t there a scene like this in Dr. Zhivago?
Good grief. CA is looking exactly like Bangladesh. No wonder conservatives are coming to TX as fast as they can get out of CA.
Interestingly, one of the reasons given for their moving is “religious freedom.” Isn’t that guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution in EVERY state?
See, see! These homeless are from the Reagan era!
This will go over big. Most urban californians are lefties and lefties have hearts so big that they gladly spend other peoples money on effort to solve big problems. But not their own money, never that.
Oh jeez!!! What could go wrong with this brain fart idea?
What could go wrong? Inviting a homeless psychopath in your home?
There are plenty of Oaklanders with extra space...? WTF??? Why not fill your extra space with street people your government won’t deal with?
What percent of the homeless have severe mental and drug problems? 95%? 99%?
Oh yeah, I want some of that crowd living in my house...
I’ll do my part. From here in Texas.
I’ll pay for a one-way bus ticket to Oakland for a homeless person. They got free and open housing there?
All cities should honor Oakland’s generous spirit here and send their homeless to Oakland.
the good mayor is not taking in any homeless at this time, but, is willing to consider it, at a later date.
“do as I say, dont watch what I do., I’m a limousine liberal, trust me, I know whats best for you”
Good grief. CA is looking exactly like Bangladesh. You bet it is...all brought to you by Douchebag Democrats in Sacramento.
I’d rather have a homeless person in my house than a politician.
HaHaHaHa. Bingo.
That wasn’t just a movie scene. That was reality during the Russian revolution. If you were wealthy or a Kulak, your home and assets were seized and redistributed. You would be lucky if they didn’t make you disappear or if you actually got a room in your own home.
The difference here is that for the moment they don’t have the power (yet) to take your homes by force.
Of course their plea does not apply to them or their friends, only to the average citizens.
Enter the USSR, and families live in communal apartments sharing a kitchen and bath.
But, a leftist will say that communism wasn't implemented well enough. They can do it better with much better results the next time.
And the next and the next.
See Venezuela.
Is that a lost dog flyer on that kettle?
The dog probably had better sense than to live like these people do and left for better environs.
“Your attitude has been noticed, you know. IT’S BEEN NOTICED!!!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.