Posted on 08/18/2015 7:38:48 AM PDT by Kaslin
The Obama Department of Justice argued last week that a Boise, Idaho, law against "public sleeping in a city without adequate shelter space constitutes criminalizing homelessness itself, in violation of the Eighth Amendment." In a statement of interest filed in federal court, the Obama administration asserted that banning sleeping and camping in public places constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment." Republican candidates, please take note.
Mike Journee, spokesman for Boise Mayor David Bieter, described his city as "a fairly progressive island in a deeply red state." Bieter is trying to address homelessness, Journee told me, "from a holistic standpoint" -- and with compassion. That said, the Obama statement is "misguided" in that it is based on a notion that "those experiencing homelessness have no recourse and we are willy-nilly criminalizing this by writing tickets for people who have no options. That is not the case."
Homeless advocates have a mantra: No one chooses to be homeless.
I'm sure that's true for some people, but there are homeless individuals who make a series of self-destructive choices that inevitably lead them to homelessness.
"We fundamentally disagree that people don't have a choice," quoth Journee. Some "are choosing not to avail themselves of the services that are here." They congregate in camps where "there's inevitably conflict. There are inevitably public health issues. There is also illegal activity." That's why Boise police make arrests.
In this story, it depends on what the meaning of "adequate shelter space" is. Homeless advocates and the Obama administration have a high standard. Eric Tars, senior attorney for the National Law Center on Homeless & Poverty, which first filed the lawsuit against Boise in 2009, told me, "It's not OK even if there are enough shelter beds." And: "Not all people are able to access shelter beds." A city fails his test if there are available beds in a religious shelter that proselytizes; that violates a homeless person's First Amendment right to religious freedom. A veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder or a victim of domestic violence might feel "threatened or uncomfortable" in a crowded shelter.
I asked Tars: Does that mean anyone can pitch a tent on San Francisco's Market Street and the police can't do anything? He answered, "Anyone who needs a place to stay to survive should be able to shelter themselves as best they can."
Tars is right about the downside of law enforcement. Arrests can tarnish a homeless person's record and hence his or her ability to get a job. Law enforcement is expensive. It doesn't always work. Local governments should look for common-sense prescriptions that reduce homelessness. Tars points to a successful housing program in Salt Lake City. The key, he said, is to provide housing -- perhaps without preconditions, such as that those given housing not use illegal drugs or alcohol. Do that and "in the short term, you do have to tolerate the tent cities a little bit longer."
Those tent cities are breeding grounds for crime. So why is it that the only people who really get a choice under the Obama administration's regime are the people who make really bad choices?
Most homeless choose to be homeless.
I’ve talked with some these folks. They get into a home, get violent and thrown out.
They can’t in many cases live like normal people because they have hair triggers and won’t properly self medicate.
Having been there, I agree.
When you have been broken to that point, you care about nothing or no one - not even yourself. You EXIST, you don’t live. And as long as the basics are met, it’s all good.
I met and saw men and women beyond count in that state.
Why pay the wealth tax called property tax?
With regard to the title, I have heard from people who work with the homeless that a good quarter of the homeless population have no desire to cease being homeless and that this cohort is usually mentally ill and/or composed of chronic substance abusers.
I wonder if they ticket people who go on their lunch break and take a nap in the park? Or elderly people who nap on park benches in between feeding the pigeons?
Or do they specifically target the homeless?
I’m not sure the insane who are off their meds qualify as homeless by choice.
The point that there are those who are homeless by choice is nonetheless valid, and some of them are even reasonably decent folks — there is still a remnant of the old hobo culture (homeless and itinerant by choice, willing to work as day laborers or take odd jobs to support themselves, begging only when no work is available). Very few, but still there. A couple years back my younger son helped one such fellow find his cat when he lost it passing through our town.
Bums, hobo’s, “gypsies” (not the Romany families!) ....
Been with us a long time.
I know many homeless choose their lifestyle. Some because they are mentally ill, some simply because they want a lifestyle with no responsibility. They don’t want to have to think about bills, taxes, whatever. So much so that they would prefer to live day to day, meal to meal, in a tent community hidden away.
In that same line of thought, always consider the things mentioned in this thread when giving to the homeless you see. It is far better to give to an organization that helps the homeless than to give directly to a homeless person. You’d be surprised to find out the folks out there on street corners and intersections with signs make more in a day on handouts than you do.
When you give to an organization, research them a bit to see how much of your dollar is actually going to help people. Go to sites like www.charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org and look up a charity you are considering. If they have 40% admin fees, walk away. Donate to orgs that have a 4-5 star rating, 8% or less admin fees, and a high transparency with their financials.
Where do they get their welfare checks?
Maybe I’m just ignorant, but my assumption has always been that there are many programs in place to help the homeless but most of them choose to remain that way in order to save whatever they get for drugs and/or alcohol.
I’m sure there are also many who fell on hard times and have no family to help.
We’re not hearing much about the homeless lately.
If a Republican gets in office that will change for sure.
Since Marijuana was legalized in our state, there has been a large uptick in local homeless. There are throngs of people in their twenties on the corners holding signs.
I’m assuming they left a home somewhere and chose to live homeless here.
Actually, the shelters won’t let them drink or do drugs so they sleep outside.
Make it a country worth rejoining.
There is no place for the homeless, they are of no economic value. They are unfree creatures, and they know it. They look at us as if we are behind a glass wall.
They might be better off in a pastoral setting. The crazy homeless should be in an institution.
Most counties, cities have a post office that is close to the welfare office. They receive their checks, ebt’s, etc. in their name addressed to...
John Doe
General Delivery
Timbucktoo, Ca
93333
Then they pick everything up at the post office by a specific date. If it is not picked up by that date the post office sends it back to the Welfare Dept and they can pick them up there.
It’s a lot easier now since everything (cash, food stamps) goes onto a card that is reloaded every month. Now the General Delivery is only for the initial card.
I was an eligibility worker for food stamps and MediCal here once upon a time.
That girl looks like she’s waiting for a bus.
There are still homeless people? I thought Obama took care of that. Just like there were no more American deaths in the Middle East after “he won!”
What a guy.
In my little town, the local shelters will not even let them smoke. I think this is the right approach.
If they want to clean up and rejoin society, there is always a hand to help them. If they want to waste whatever money they can beg and steal, they are on their own.
Right this minute I have a man who works for me who was once homeless. He has been clean for over 3 years and is well on his way to becoming a solid citizen. He has little patience with those who do not try.
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