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 ...
Reminds me of the old depression joke about California.
A BUM says to his friend. “Let’s go to California!”
Friend: “Why! Things there are no better than here!”
Bum: “True, but you can at least enjoy the climate while you starve.”
That’s right. Pay your skyhigh CA taxes and then assume the burden of caring for a homeless person. That gives the state more money to pay for public employee pensions.
> you have to address whatever problems they have, whether it’s mental problems, substance abuse, anti social behavior, whatever causes them to be unable to live normally <
Well said. Unfortunately, the standard liberal position is to do what feels good at the moment. There is never any thought about the problems tomorrow will bring.
The law of unintended consequences will most certainly apply here.
Freepers are encouraged to look up the story of the German woman who decided to house a Syrian refugee.
I suppose if you take someone in, and it doesn’t go well, you’ll end up losing your property to that person, because some liberal judge will NEVER let you evict them.
because it works so well in the UK... NOT!
next, third amendment repeal to house the homeless. (for the children...)
It’s not just that the government doesn’t want to deal with them, it’s worse. They don’t even want to deal with the government much of the time... and who could blame them... except usually the government is giving instead of taking. The problem with volunteering to house the homeless is that a significant portion of the homeless are so because of mental illness or drug abuse, or both. Not to besmirch all homeless but these types are not going to leave your possessions or your way of living intact.
Actually, if you blow it up 400% you will see that it is a recipe. :)
Why do you think they ended up homeless?
So true. I used to teach English at a community college and one of my students came to my office to speak to me; she was desperate. Her brother was schizophrenic and refused to take his medication. She was at her wit's end; so worried about him and wanted some advice.
The main point is, she could not have him committed, where he would get the help he needed. That's the situation in the U.S. as well, I believe.
Leftists destroy everything in their path. Independence is a great thing, but some people actually need medical care but will refuse it if given the opportunity.
And it is sad, because it destroys their families. This woman could not even complete a basic English composition class to be able to move on and better herself.
Isn’t it completely nuts how it is happening here in the US? White is the new Kulaks. It is interesting where those exiled religious leaders picked up right where they landed and spread Christianity throughout Eastern Europe.
You FIRST!
Actually, if you blow it up 400% you will see that it is a recipe. :)
Dammit! I'm cubically challened here at work. loling like this will get me noticed.
How sad. Yes I’ve heard that but didn’t know details. So this woman couldn’t get her brother committed. So this shows that even caring family members often can’t do anything to help their homeless or homeless bound family members.
I don’t recall offhand, but I think I’ve heard, that there have been court cases on vagrancy laws and homeless, and liberal lawyers have made the case, that you have a constitutional right to be in the streets. So cities are hampered in doing anything because, unless they can cite homeless for committing some other crimes, police will be impotent to deal with problems created by homeless.
“I have to make a political statement too. Liberals believe in a government program for every conceivable social problem. I know there are government programs for homeless assistance. What does it say about the liberals who run such programs, that clearly the programs they have for the homeless clearly have not solved the problems???”
Obviously, they need more money! Increase taxes, NOW!!!
That’s not your home! You didn’t build it. The government made that possible. You have to spread the wealth.
> eviction laws as to why you don’t even want to think about inviting a homeless/destitute person into an abode you own or rent <
Good point, and one I hadn’t thought of. I can imagine some kind person thinking, “I have room. I’ll give this a try, and see if it works out.” But it doesn’t work out.
And now that kind person is stuck with a drug-addicted, violent roommate...for years.
Civil Asset Forfeiture is a handy concept/weapon for the Statists. This would be a perfect example for when the SJWs get total control.
On the other hand Muslim refugees tend to be sane, they just believe that murderous violence is in fact moral and good.
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