Posted on 02/10/2019 12:24:11 PM PST by hapnHal
For women in particular, domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness. And the top causes of homelessness among families are: (1) lack of affordable housing, (2) unemployment, (3) poverty, and (4) low wages, in that order. And guess what states have the highest homeless? Hawaii and New York, have a higher per capita homeless rate than California's. Finally, records show California, indeed, has the highest total homeless population at over 150,000, far more than second place New York. Will the invading caravans from south of the border help relieve the homeless situation especially in California? And don't forget Los Angeles has declared it's now a sanctuary city.
Fake and unresearched rant.
The number one cause is mental illness.
Leftwing judges closed our mental institutions.
Climate change.
By definition there are a lot more homeless people than just the folks pushing grocery carts and living under the bridge.
That said mental illness and substance addiction is nearly the entire reason for people on the street and in homeless shelters.
Here in Orange County CA we interviewed the homeless urban campers who were occupying the Santa Ana River Trail.
One third were drug and alcohol abusers.
One third were mentally ill. Often they had been treated, but once released they don’t take the medicine prescribed for them.
One third were criminals.
There was overlap among the groups, especially substance abusers and the mentally ill.
“And the top causes of homelessness among families are: (1) lack of affordable housing, (2) unemployment, (3) poverty, and (4) low wages, in that order.”
Substance abuse doesn’t “crack” the top 4? Poverty is #3? Weird list.
“We should be prepared to institutionalize such people. “
This cannot be emphasized enough. The policy of de-institutionalization that became popular in the 60s and 70s is a great failure.
It’s no good for the mentally ill, and it’s no good for the cities where they wander the streets.
” We can design mental hospitals to give them a sense of having an apartment. It doesn’t need to be old-style of 4 white walls and a sparse bed.”
There is some of this being done here in OC, but only on a small scale. A much more humane way of treatment than the old prison looking institutions.
As you stated, it's primarily due to mental illness. But, that then begs the question: who are the mentally ill? When did the illness manifest itself? Surely, we can trace a 30-40 something homeless drug addict to the point when they were just a regular 17 yo high school "student".
IMO, the people who are the mentally ill drug addicts today where the HS stoners & losers. In other words, low IQ - and the recognition of such - afflicting the 5-10% on the left side of the bell curve. Actually, it probably goes back to 3rd grade, when dumb bullies where already being ignored and/or punished by teachers. The differential between favored students, and those relegated to discipline, begins really early. Those on the losing side - which typically come from dysfunctional families, as IQ is primarily hereditary - know their outcome from an early age.
Smoking, alcohol, drugs, petty crimes, etc form group association links with other losers. The establishment of some kind of identity, no matter how anti-social, is a key component of ego. The problem really becomes pronounced when these HS kinship groups move apart. The 20s are typically spent as raging alcoholics and drug addled fringe criminals. Some time in jail, maybe even prison, by the 30s seals their collective fates.
By the time they hit their 40s, there's really nothing left. At that point, they're operating at less than a wild animal. You can see them on days like today, not minding being stuck in the elements, as long as they can scrounge enough digging through garbage to afford a $5 hit of meth.
And, as one would suspect, being a mentally ill homeless drug addict isn't really a long term career. It's why you never see any older than 50 or so; death catches up quickly. It's also why the population is actually pretty stable. That is, local geographic regions may see an influx, but the overall population is growing any faster than any other segment. That's because for every new addition to the ranks, death takes away the older homeless at the same rate.
Of course it is. None of this was EVER mentioned while Ovomit was pResident.
A Leftist mentality is the cause.
“A lot of people are not aware that Gov. Reagan signed a bill letting mental patients out of asylums. Back in the 60s there were do-gooders who thought that locking people against their will was wrong.”
It was a perfect storm of bad ideas- Mainstream politicians hoping to reduce spending. Utopian libertarian fantasies that there is no such thing as mental illness. ACLU lawsuits making it harder to involuntarily commit insane persons for treatment.
Now southern California has been turned into an open air asylum. Has been for years, but now it’s getting to the point where typhus has become an issue.
The main cause of homelessness is allowing homelessness. Within cities and towns it should not be permitted.
1. People abused or down on their luck should have shelters with curfews, no drug policies, safe and helpful to get them back on their feet and safe ASAP. Mostly, these exist. Living on the streets should not be allowed and these people should be forced to rely on family or these public shelters.
2. Anyone found on the streets with sub-functioning behavior should be forced into mental and physical triage. A small panel of mental health and drug abuse experts should be able to separate these people into three groups. The group that is functional enough to go to #1 should go there.
3. People determined to be incompetent due to drugs should be made to enter an inpatient rehab where the stay is a mandatory few weeks when another panel will triage again. They will either go to #1 and move on toward freedom and a good life, or need to stay because they can’t get off drugs, or be sent to #4.
4. Those found on the streets and not drug abusers but not mentally competent should first be reconnected with loved ones and if that is not possible or they are too disturbed for it, should be institutionalized in a kind and decent village for the mentally ill. With time and may return to the triage, and possibly be made functional enough to go to #1. Some from #3 will be cured of addiction but found to be too mentally ill for functional life, so will end up here.
This system is based on the belief that freedom is essential, but that some people are unable to handle freedom, and it is a greater kindness to both them and their neighbors to take care of them.
This would show greater respect for our Creator and for civilization itself.
BUMS
Lack of hunger. If those on the streets were hungry, they wouldn’t be on the streets long. People enable them to be bums by providing them with a subsistence level existence through Disability, Welfare and tipping them for their creative signs.
For the vast majority, just getting by is perfect for them.
“Home, I have no home. The jungle is my home.”
I guess you can apply it to CA and NYC. #5 drug/alcohol addiction? #6 lack of education?.
Drugs and mental illness? What percentage are on drugs and what percentage have mental illness (or BOTH)? Can the homeless afford drugs? What percentage, if given a chance, would be willing to work?
I remember years ago if a person if needed money they would work in the fields to get a few dollars to buy a bottle of booze (drugs were NOT plentiful then). But NO longer, sorry senior, you can’t work in the fields. BLOCK THE BORDER, IT”S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. STOP THE ILLEGALS AND DRUGS.
The severely mentally ill need a private room, a day room, safe environment, access to the out doors and work to do if they can. All backed by techs who will insure that medications will be taken. With sufficient oversight to prevent abuse.
SSDI is a great cause of homelessness.
It gives the mentally ill and substance abusers independence that prevents them from needing the services that will help them live more normative lives.
“The biggest reason why homeless prefer the street, to shelters, is because they might get raped in the shelters.”
No, it’s not rape. The shelters have staff, it’s not a jungle in them. They have simple rules, but a lot of homeless don’t want to follow any rules at all.
The homeless aren’t shy about telling you why they don’t want to use the shelters, and it’s often because they can’t abuse drugs and alcohol in the shelters.
Democrats and the IRS.
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.