The large psychiatric hospitals that would have housed many of these people were closed (in the 80s, I think) without anything much put in place to take care of the problem.
Visitors are horrified, but the local populace seems unfazed in many of these cities by how much they have allowed the homeless to dominate the urban landscape. I won’t be returning to SF anytime soon.
We absolutely loved visiting the Pacific Northwest, both Seattle and Oregon. I put on the table going back for vacation and my DH took it off the table because of what we’re hearing about the uptick in crime because of the homelessness.
I live in the mid-Atlantic - even in my small, tourist town we have a homeless problem. There are homeless camps in various places around town, most of the time unnoticed by local residents. I was exiting the highway the other day, an exit I take all the time right in the heart of everything, and noticed a homeless camp in the small wooded area in between the highway and major thoroughfare that I’d never noticed before. There are also several homeless men always hanging around in the historic/tourist area - the same guys have been hanging around for years. When it gets super cold, various churches take turns providing food and shelter to those willing to go.
D17 goes to college in San Diego. Though it makes sense that warmer climates would have a higher homeless population, I was still surprised to see so many homeless people.
Why is it assumed that the homeless are mentally ill? Some are, but thats a pretty broad-sweeping over-statement.
I really didn’t notice anything major in SF or LA. I mean, there are homeless people, but I don’t find it “horrifying”.
It doesn’t seem to deter people from moving there (to rent/buy a home, even at great expense).
Mental illness is a big problem in the homeless population. https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/consequences/homeless-mentally-ill.html
Of course it is a big problem. But the implication in post #18 that the homeless are mentally is not accurate.
@jym626 Of course not all the homeless are mentally ill! But many of the homeless who cause the problems described (blocking sidewalks, defecating in public, being generally scary) are mentally ill, as are many of those who refuse to come inside in harsh weather when that option is offered to them, or who only agree to come inside in the harshest weather.
Per the above study, 45% are mentally ill, and another substantial percentage appear to have substance abuse issues or addictions.
The mental health system is in shambles. But to say that the homeless are mentally ill is beyond the scope of the problem. And in fact this is a reciprocal problem.
Yes OF COURSE there are mental health issues in many of this population. But the statement in post #18 implied that the homeless were mentally ill and that simply is not so. Maybe that’s not what they meant, but thats how it came across. https://www.bbrfoundation.org/blog/homelessness-and-mental-illness-challenge-our-society
Many are, @jym626. We can debate about the exact percentage and whether it is a plurality or majoriry, but acknowledging that mental illness is a very big part of the problem is necessary to find effective solutions.
OF COURSE many are. Please read again. I work in mental health and am sensitive to, and frustrated by the implication that homelessness= mental illness. Similarly, people assume that many criminals are mentally ill. Some are, but many are not. Post # 18 seems to equate homelessness with mental illness and frankly I find that offensive. Maybe thats not what was meant but it is what it says, and its inaccurate.
Well, no matter how much people complain about the homeless any solution will require government action. Since so many people are unwilling to fund government action through paying taxes I imagine the problem will continue to grow… Too many Americans don’t care enough about the problems to support efforts to solve them if it requires reaching into their own pockets.
The program “Seattle is Dying” hit the nail on the head. The people living on the street are drug addicts.
Recently there was a meeting with the local city council man about homelessness. The city defines ‘homeless’ as anyone who doesn’t have a permanent home of their own. People laughed. They said 'so my adult kid who moved back home is classified as homeless?". The answer was ‘yes’.
So the real term is living on the streets, or in an RV with no hook ups. Those people are drug addicts and /or mentally ill. They are not just people out of work. There is plenty of work with a record low unemployment rate.
Everything that the Seattle program mentioned is happening in California too. No jail time. An arrest is a revolving door and people are really upset.
Homeowner and business owners are saying 'what about us" and when they say that they are called NIMBYs. It is infuriating and I think a real anti-vagrant- drug user movement is building.
Correct. Street people do not constitute all of the homeless. Some could live in shelters but choose not to. Many, MANY have drug/alcohol and/or serious mental illness. Many government MH facilities have closed and dumped their patients on the streets without adequate clinics or resources. Veterans with and without MH issues have a significant problem with homelessness. Domestic violence causes homelessness. As does under/unemployment. I would LOVE to see the government address the MH needs head on— but please do not say that the homeless are mentally ill or equate homelessness with mental illness.
Normally I would agree with you, Joblue, but it is highly unlikely that citizens in Houston are paying more in taxes than those in SF.
In Seattle by the city’s own estimate 80% of the homeless (those living in unsanctioned camps, RVs etc) are addicts. It is true when they clean out a large encampment few if any accept help. There really aren’t any easy answers. The city is now suing a pharmaceutical company which is essentially the first time the city has really acknowledged that drug addiction is a huge cause. There are definitely people down on their luck mixed in as well as people with mental illness. The city works hard to help those who want help…which is good.
Where I live, as the drug problem has increased, the panhandling has too. I would assume those begging for money are also homeless. I watch them work in teams relieving one another at “work.” I imagine they live together in abandon structures (we have many thanks to a ten year recession and a state that people are leaving due to high taxes). I also read an article in the paper that many of the drug addicted live under some of the local bridges. It appears the place to start would be with the drug availability, addiction, culture.