Houston ranked 'mean' to homeless

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 12, 2006, 1:47AM
COLD HEARTS OF TEXAS?
Houston ranked 'mean' to homeless
Two groups cite laws they say criminalize people living on streets


By MIKE SNYDER
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Houston ranked seventh on a list released Wednesday of 20 U.S. cities with particularly harsh measures that criminalize sleeping in public, begging or other behavior associated with homeless people.

In including Houston on the "meanest cities" list for the first time in the four years it has been compiled, leaders of two national homeless-advocacy organizations cited other neighborhoods' efforts to be added to the areas covered under a city ordinance that makes it illegal to lie, sit or place belongings on downtown or Midtown sidewalks from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The report's authors also cited rules the city adopted in April that prohibit people with "offensive bodily hygiene" from using public libraries. Advocates for the homeless say the rules, which also forbid sleeping on tables or using restrooms for bathing, obviously target homeless people.
(snip)

"A war on the homeless is being waged in downtown America," said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the national coalition.

"The criminalization of homelessness is a burning civil rights issue for this decade."
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3581766.html
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[dgauss]

1. "...a city ordinance that makes it illegal

to lie, sit or place belongings on downtown or Midtown sidewalks from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m."

Out of sight, out of mind. That's the cheapest way to deal with it. And nobody really has to think about it too much that way.

[rucky]

2. Paging Barbara Bush... n/t

[xchrom]

3. "offensive bodily hygiene" from using public libraries.

ok -- that's just sick.

[AnneD]

11. There is more to the story than that.......

these homeless were coming in to the downtown public library and using the restrooms as a shower facility and the library as a hotel room. And it just wasn't one or two either. It was getting so out of hand as to interfere with people actually USING the library for its intended use. Some of these folks were mentally unstable and the librarians are not trained for this and it posed a safety risk.
We do have shelters available for these things but these folks chose not to use them. Hermann Park Trust has a specific law that says that people can sleep in the park. Regarding sleeping from 7am to 11 pm... those are business hours for the downtown. The law is to encourage those needing a place to sleep to check in to the shelters. Business's do have a right to unobstructed passages into to their shops etc.
Some of the other laws that landed cities on the mean list were laws against urinating and defecating in public. If that makes me mean, then I am guilty without remorse.
I have been to India and I do not want my town to resemble a 3rd world city where I have to step over human excrement and bodies everywhere. You just don't want to let it start because it can get out of hand in no time.....

Besides, a town that took in a 1/2 million homeless can't be THAT mean.Think before you start trashing Houston.

[EFerrari]

17. Are you saying that it's okay for homeless people

to be in Houston as long as you can't see them?

That's a very strange solution.

[Justitia]

19. She's right - I'm in Houston too, & there is more to the story.

There were some downright scary folks in the libraries who were accosting people in the stacks, confronting them and causing incidents. In the bathrooms, too.

I live in an area with a concentration of homeless and the majority of them in my area are completely harmless and benign. The library situation was different.

It went on for a very, very long time. Besides some troubling incidents, librarians had noted that visitors to the library had decreased over time due to the issue and it began to threaten their funding. Can't get funds for visitors who won't come because they are physically afraid.

I have nothing but sincere sympathy for our homeless situation in Houston, but the library situation WAS a different thing altogether.

[EFerrari]

22. It sounds terrible for everyone concerned. n/t

[Greyhound]

32. This is such crap. Do you think that Houston is alone in dealing with the

inevitable results of what we call capitalism here? Do you think these people are living on the streets because they're 'camping enthusiasts'? They shun the 'shelters' because they will be raped robbed or beaten up, not because they prefer to sleep under the stars. If you've got aggressive, intimidating, panhandlers, there are laws already on the books against assault. They crap in the parking lots because there is no place else for them to go. The public restrooms are not really public at all, are they?
I've had the misfortune of working in Houston (God, it went on for months and months) and I do think there is something wrong with anyone that chooses to live there. If the country ever needs an enema, it go in Houston.

[Justitia]

43. Your contempt for Houston & Houstonians doesn't change the situation.

Sorry you have such disdain for my city, but I don't think your negative work experience here over a period of some months makes for much of an objective opinion on the problems between our homeless and our downtown library.

Since you "think there is something wrong with anyone that chooses to live there", I would love to know what utopian corner of the US you live in? Let's see if I can come up with some smarmy insult for each and every citizen of your neighborhood too.

[demforever]

41. Houston

I agree with everything you said. My husband and I both work in downtown Houston. He works for the City of Houston. He often goes to the library on his lunch hour to get me books. He said that the homeless go up to the higher floors so no one will bother them. Eventually, the employees come around and wake them up. I feel so sorry for them. Back in the 80's I used to take the bus home (to Kingwood) and I was afraid because there were a lot of mentally ill people on the streets that were just dropped off there because they had nowhere else to go. I just started taking the bus again and I don't see them anymore.

I also cannot believe that someone could call a city mean after it opened its arms to the people of Louisiana the way that it did. Do you live in Houston? You seem to know a lot about it. I moved here from Chicago in 1981.

[superconnected]

54. obviously you don't know how these things work.

Most shelters don't open till around 9pm and kick everyone out by 6 am.

They have to refuse people when they are full for health regulations.

Most shelters fill to capacity shortly after opening their doors. At least that's how it works in seattle.

If they're tyring to wash up and shower, I applaud them, it means they're trying to get their lives together - maybe they have jobs - as many homeless do, or maybe they're trying to get a job. I know people right now who are homeless working full time - they don't make enough to afford apts.

Sorry you feel the inconvience of the library isn't worth it to help some homeless people. I consider the people more important than the books. Why not take your books to your nice warm home, and be apathetic there. Oh, I guess it's easier to throw the people in the street and than be incoveinced. Prioritys...

[Nomen Tuum]

4. Where are the churches?

Oh, I forgot, this is Houston where the Jesus Marts are only open on Sunday...

[AnneD]

15. Many of our churches DO help the homeless...

providing rent assistance, food pantries, and a meals on wheels that dispenses meals, clothing and blankets to homeless. This painting all Christians with the same brush is getting a bit stale. You might want to do a bit of soul searching and ask what you can do to help solve the problem before you cast a stone. These attitudes and pithy remarks are what drive religious people out of the Democratic party.

[AngryOldDem]

28. If it weren't for church-based programs...

If you think the homeless issue is bad now, take out groups like St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Social Services, and independently run storefront missions out of the mix. My answer to these "attitudes and pithy remarks" (apt descriptions, by the way) is the old '60s saying, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." It's so easy to sit back and cast aspersions.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. I really wish the homeless advocates would find

more positive ways to get attention. I live in a small, liberal city and we made the list too. The people in this community have tried for years to balance helping the homeless and cleaning up downtown. The homeless advocates here are never happy. Nothing anyone does is ever enough and then all they can do is criticize everyone in the community because we are so 'mean'. This sort of thing does little to help homeless people or solve the problems that they cause in a community.

I speak from experience here. I was a member of a task force that was supposed to try to find a solution to the homeless problems we were having and by the time I got done I was so disgusted with these 'advocates' that I finally just gave up. It was just not possible to be rational with some of them or to even attempt to find solutions that would work for both sides.

[EFerrari]

6. My experience has been exactly opposite here in San Francisco.

Our local Coalition has a reputation for being combative but I've found them wonderful to work with. They know a great deal about what is happening in city hall and are a great resource. The little contact I've had with the National Coalition has also been positive.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I have met homeless providers from other cities

Some of them are very good and have good community relations and they get a lot done. Other cities are not so lucky. But this whole ranking the mean cities just gets my goat. Has one of the largest employers, outside of government, in my downtown area, maybe a little reaching out would be more effective. Telling homeless people that they can camp in the empty lot next to my business, which is what a local lawyer did, doesn't help make any friends.

[AngryOldDem]

12. My epxerience has been opposite, as well

We have bent over backward trying to appease City Hall, the business community, and nearby residents since our shelter moved from the center city to a refurbished warehouse just south of downtown last April. Nothing satisfies anybody. In fact, just this week we won a lawsuit that was filed by our neighbors that would have, if they had had their way, shut us down permanently. That would have meant that roughly 150 people -- children included --would have been on the streets nightly.

In the meantime, though, the city and county have absolutely no problem with using us as their drunk tank and dumping ground for every "undesirable" person they come across during the course of an evening. We get many extremely mentally ill people -- who should, by all rights, be hospitalized -- whom we have to take care of, because the hospitals won't take them and all the cops will do is take them off our property and dump them someplace else. As relatively untrained in psychiatry as we are, we feel we can take the best care of these people overnight rather than letting them take their chances on the streets. The homeless to many in this city are human flotsam and jetsam, and it is truly heartbreaking and discouraging to realize that the community resources are just not there to give them the help they deserve.

It would be nice if someone in any official capacity would be willing to work with us just a little bit to come to some understanding of how dire this problem has become. The real issue here is not the squabbling between the shelters and the powers that be; rather, it is the burgeoning crisis of homelessness in general. The lack of adequate mental health care, housing, and fair-wage jobs is putting more and more people out on the streets. What do we do about that?

[Notary Sojac]

9. Many "advocates" don't want the homeless problem solved...

They sap off everything that's given to and done for the homeless, making them - in my opinion - about as low as you can get. Ending homelessness would end their phony-baloney careers.

Then there is the matter of just how homeless some of the sainted "homeless" really are, but that's another can of smelly, drug-addled, foul-mouthed worms.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Yes, you know what I am talking about

We had a director here that was taking all the best food that was donated and pocketed $10000's. Then people can't figure out why there are clients in the same shelter for 5 to 10 years.

[EFerrari]

16. Bingo!

It's those brazilians of dollars homeless advocates steal. That's it! You've solved homelessness.

:rofl:

[Megahurtz]

77. It DOES happen,

little do you know that a lot of the non-profit organizations are guilty of this.

[AngryOldDem]

13. Thanks for the words of encouragement

There are many of us who do take our work with the homeless and the homeless issue seriously. Please let's not forget that.

[EFerrari]

14. That's about the worst thing I've ever seen posted here.

I hope you never have to deal with homelessness, or need the help of the people you just slandered.

[Notary Sojac]

24. I "slandered" no one...

Turning a blind eye to corruption and the misuse of funds isn't going to help a single needy person, it will only help those who are doing wrong. They shouldn't be rewarded, now should they?

[EFerrari]

27. Yes, you did slander a small army of hardworking people

who today are trying to help end homelessness.

Or, don't you read your own posts?

[Notary Sojac]

36. I applaud those who are indeed "tryng to end homelessness"...

...but I have a beef with those who are actually perpetuating it for their own gain. Don't you?

[AllieB]

18. Hi Notary Sojac

I was wondering if you lived in the United States, because if you do, then you must be unaware that the policies of the Bush administration, coupled with rampany underemployment,the rising housing prices and the high cost of living, have lead to many homeless FAMILIES in large cities. In the Boston area, which has one of the highest cost of housing in the country, many of the homeless are WORKING POOR. I suggest that you read Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed" before you pass judgement on the homeless. Most Americans are a paycheck away from not being able to pay their rents and mortgages.

[Notary Sojac]

25. Bush is fucking everybody, therefore we shouldn't question corruption?

I hate Bush as much as anybody, and what I said had nothing to do with him.

I was discussing the shamefully manipulative people who scab onto the homeless, pocketing money that could be better spent actually helping people. Is that so bad?

[AngryOldDem]

26. Can you post anything to back up these statements?

No doubt corruption exists, and it is especially despicable when done at the expense of the most vulnerable and powerless in society. But please, I'd really like to know more details about these "shamefully manipulative" people who are "scabbing" onto the homeless.

And yes, we do need to lay a lot of the blame for this problem at the feet of the federal government, beginning with the saintly Reagan Administration.

[DoYouEverWonder]

50. We had a fellow in my city

who was the director of a local homeless shelter for over a decade. For years there were rumors that this fellow was stuffing his pockets. He was also stuffing his face and whenever the local resturants donated food, he always made sure to take home the best for himself. A couple of years ago something happened (I don't remember what exactly) and he resigned immediately. Again there were rumors that over $60,000 was missing that no one could account for. These are the type of folks Notary Sojac and I are referring to. And if you don't open your eyes and face reality, people like this will continue to rip off the less fortunate. BTW: Most people in the community thought this fellow was such a great guy. He was so jolly, sort of like Santa. About as fat too. Funny I ran into him about a year after he left and he'd lost over 50 pounds.

[mitchum]

57. Bingo! "...beginning with the saintly Reagan Administration"

And how fortunate for saint Reagan that he was able to suffer with his dementia under round-the-clock care, rather than in a doorway.

[EFerrari]

29. Who would these people be?

And, how is it that you know so much about "them"?

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[raccoon]

65. I checked this profile, and found he/she/it was tombstoned!

Just as I had expected.

[Orsino]

8. In a nation that's mean to the homeless, that's saying a lot. n/t

[oneoftheboys]

20. I don't know about that.

After all, Houston took in quite a few of the refugees from NO after Katrina.

Perhaps they are "mean" to the so-called "homeless," who would be better defined as bums.

[EFerrari]

30. What did Houston get in return? Do you know?

And, btw, how many paychecks are you away from being a "bum"?

I can't believe what I'm reading on this thread.

Time for a walk.

[AngryOldDem]

34. Incredible, isn't it?

>>And, btw, how many paychecks are you away from being a "bum"?>>

Last I heard, statistically, the average American is about three paychecks away from being a "bum." And it does happen. A lot. People sit in our intake room on their first night and cry because "I never thought this would happen to me."

I'm walking, too.

[oneoftheboys]

37. I'm sure that the city govt. was reimbursed to a certain degree.

But that doesn't take into account Houstonians who gave their money, time and concern.

As long as I have (2) arms and (2) legs, I will never be a bum. Never.

Enjoy your walk.

[Bridget Burke]

45. The Feds have been slow on reimbursing the City

And our Mayor--who drove the evacuee program--is a Democrat.

There's more than one kind of bum. Those on the down & out can improve, with luck & effort. Others will be bums for life.

Enjoy your life.

[oneoftheboys]

46. The Feds are slow on everything...

But I beg to differ with you comments.

Those who are truly "the homeless," "can improve, with luck & effort."

But those who are "the bums," will be bums for life.

[Bridget Burke]

48. Some bums have jobs & money....

The word is not used in sociology. But its a pretty good adjective for those who drag down humanity.

[oneoftheboys]

60. If you are referring to the "beltway bums," I wholly concur.

[Pastiche423]

47. Please keep in mind

that you are only seconds away from being disabled for life. Then those (2) legs won't do shit for keeping you from being a bum. Forever.

[superconnected]

55. So true.

That was profound.

[oneoftheboys]

61. Actually, since I’m not driving at the moment, you are wrong.

[Pastiche423]

76. What does driving have to do w/it?

One does not have to drive to become disabled.

What am I wrong about? The truth is that one can become disabled for life in seconds.

Then try to get and sustain employment in whistle ass' Amerika.

[Megahurtz]

79. Good Points!

And I salute you for that!:patriot:

[mitchum]

58. My friend, you are tempting both fate and mental illness...

with that type of reflexive bravado.

[oneoftheboys]

62. Yeah, I suppose you are right.

But I don't believe in the supernatural.

[AngryOldDem]

78. Best of luck to you

I genuinely hope you never find yourself in such dire straits that you have to turn to a shelter for help. I also hope that you:

1) Never develop any kind of psychiatric problem, such as bipolar, depression, or schizophrenia.
2) Never develop any kind of dehabilitating disease or degenerative disease that will prevent you from doing the normal activities of daily living, such as diabetes, arthritis of all kinds, asthma, and cancer.
3) Never find yourself totally alone with no relatives or anyone else who will be willing to help you.
4) Never find yourself out of a job for longer than a month or so. And when you do find a job, I hope that it is commensurate with the one you had before in terms of pay, benefits, and skill-set requirements.

Many homeless I work with fit all of the above, and I'm sure that if at some point in the past you would have asked them if they would ever wind up in a shelter, I'm sure they all would have said, "No."

My point: Your health can fail. Your financial world can come tumbling down. It's a boat we all ALL in, which is why I take such offense at holier-than-thou attitudes about the homeless, especially from people who do not have a friggin' clue about the population to begin with, other than what they may see while driving down the street behind rolled-up windows and locked car doors.

[Greyhound]

33. Welcome. Don't worry about Houston 'taking in' all those Katrina

victims, shrubCo. will make sure plenty of $ will find its way into the pockets of the Houston elite in compensation.

[oneoftheboys]

38. I'm sure you are right.

There will always be wasted and when it comes to governments throwing money around.

[Bridget Burke]

49. The "Houston elite" did not set up the evacuee program.

Ma Bush made her sentiments clear.

Our Mayor is a Democrat & the Feds have been giving us a runaround. Hell, our Governor ("Tom Delay's Bitch") even complained about FEMA's dismal response to Hurricane Rita.

[AngryOldDem]

35. Just FYI

>>...who would be better defined as bums.<<

This perjorative word is just as abhorrent as when the mentally ill are referred to as being "crazy" or "nuts," or whatever other demeaning term enlightened minds can devise.

Bottom line: Whatever their faults, whatever their issues, they are still human beings.

[oneoftheboys]

39. I'm sorry if you don't approve of the word "bum."

And you are right about them being human beings. However, people must be willing to help themselves if they are ever going to turn their dismal lives around.

[AngryOldDem]

44. Who says they aren't willing to help themselves?

Again the stereotype of the "bum" rings loud and clear.

A lot of them hate where they are at and are working literally night and day to "turn their dismal lives around." Some have just gotten out of jail, others had jobs but lost them and their lives descended into hell after that. Some are coming out of or going into drug rehab, and more than you probably want to admit are military veterans who have been screwed over royally after they left the service. Others are going to school, wither to get their GED or a college degree. You have mothers who are struggling to find normalcy for their children in the environment of a shelter while making sure they get to school on time each day. They line up at the local job center beginning at 4:30 a.m., because the job center can only see so many clients in a day and they know they need to get there as soon as possible to get in line. They work at menial jobs for little pay because they want to feel as if they are being productive and not the leeches on society that too many people see them as being.

Don't be too quick to judge. It is unfair to pigeonhole the homeless population, just as it is unfair to pigeonhole any other segment of society. It is exactly that kind of mindset that discourages and angers the homeless, as well as those who help them. I've seen too many success stories at the shelter where I work at to dismiss most as being "lazy bums."

[oneoftheboys]

63. As I said before...

I have no problem helping those who are willing to help themselves. If as you say they,"are working literally night and day," then they are obviously helping themselves. In fact, I would argue that folks who have that kind of drive, don't need any outside help.

On the other hand, I have seen people begging across the street from businesses with help wanted signs plainly in sight. What do you call that kind of person?

[raccoon]

66. For all you know, they might have applied at these businesses

but weren't hired.

"On the other hand, I have seen people begging across the street from businesses with help wanted signs plainly in sight. "

[AngryOldDem]

80. "If as I say?"

WTF? Trust me. I know whereof I speak.

Did you ever, for one second, stop and think that a lot of these jobs barely pay a living wage? With no benefits? Have you looked at property rental costs lately? Do you think you could rent a safe and affordable place making minimum wage, or slightly above? Let's add transportation to the mix. Do you think you could afford to buy a reliable car on top of renting a place on the aforesaid pay? If you have to use the bus lines, your options for employment may be narrowed down even further than from what they are. In addition, many take day-labor jobs, which, in my estimation, is slave labor, pure and simple. Long hours for shit pay, with no guarantee the work will be there tomorrow.

Many homeless men and women these jobs to keep their dignity intact, as well as to build up their skills so that they can hopefully move on to better things. But it takes time. In the meantime, they need us, and I am damned glad we are there to help out.

And I'll repeat the answer a fellow poster gave you about that question: We have no way of knowing if people apply for jobs or not. But if you want to jump to the conclusion that they are too lazy, be my guest.

[superconnected]

51. In the 90's in seattle

a shelter for the homeless was torn down and the City of Seattle gave each person staying there was given a $1200 check. Half got on their feet with that.

Your "they must help themselves stance", sounds like the apathy of billionaires.

Many homeless people are mentally ill or substance problems (again mental) and the ones who are not mentally ill have hit upon severe circumstances that are hard to recover from - losing their job, getting evicted, unemployment running out, medical problems that made it so they couldn't work, mothers with 3 kids who suddenly were evicted(no father in sight which is common in many households), etc.

Many of the homeless in seattle do work full time jobs btw, they don't make a living wage though. I know someone right now working full time who is homeless and has been for 3 months. He's trying very hard to afford an apt at just above minimum wage jobs.

I worked for the city for 3 years - up to two years ago, and the building I was in was open every night for the homeless to sleep on the bottom floor. If the city had funds they would help because they know the truth about the homeless, as it stood, the city does not have funds and I was there when they had to close their parole office (coudln't afford it) and transfer people from the jail clear across the state to yakima jail - again, couldn't afford to keep prisoners in seattle.

My point is, not all of the homeless are alcholics or bums. Thinking they are is severely uninformed.

[oneoftheboys]

64. If all it took was $1,200 to turn someone’s life around

I would start writing checks today. And although your % of those who did turn their lives around seems a little high to me, it's still a good thing.

But what happened to the other half? Did they spend their $1,200 on fortified wine or 50 cent rocks? You may be naive enough to believe that all people are good and noble, but I am not.

[superconnected]

81. The assumption is that they wasted the money.

I know the percentage because I worked for the cities hr depts. Actually I worked with all depts there for 3 1/2 years.

You're wanting to attribute alchohol and meth to them just because they are homeless sounds like republican compassion to me. Sure some do it, but heck, plenty of people who aren't homeless do it too. Good luck with karma, your charitable nature sounds like it may need it.

[oneoftheboys]

82. Just because I don't believe that every

homeless person is a virtuous individual doesn’t mean that I’m not concerned about their plight. But whether you choose to believe it or not, some of these folks are just bad people.

I wish you success with respect to the work you do. I just hope you don’t waste too much of your time on the bad at the expense of those who are more deserving.

(BTW: I don’t believe in karma)

[superconnected]

83. Somehow I don't consider the vast majority of down and outs

to be bad people. The extremely wealthy usually fill those spots.

[oneoftheboys]

84. That's a fact. The extremely wealthy can be bad people.

I have no problem acknowledging that fact.

You, on the other hand, refuse to admit that some of the so-called "homeless" are bad people. Which of course, is also a fact.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oneoftheboys]

59. Actually, I can.

It’s all about attitude and demeanor. No shit, wrongy!

[raccoon]

67. Wow, what a genius, to be able to tell what a person is like just

by looking at him/her.

Too bad you didn't encounter Ted Bundy before he murdered so many women. Maybe you could've put the cops onto him. :sarcasm:

[Bridget Burke]

69. Well, some of us believe you can tell what a person is like....

Just by reading their posts.

[oneoftheboys]

74. Yes Bridget, I sure can.

[oneoftheboys]

73. Most people can tell quite about others...

just by observing the manner in which they carry themselves. It's too bad that you do not possess the awareness to do so.

[zann725]

21. On the same note, "new" Central Santa Monica Library had a "grand" opening

recently that was highly-publicized...inviting ALL to come and visit new facilities. I kept picturing in my mind all the media showing up to film a beautiful new facility, that already no doubt was swarming with the City's homeless. Most have no where to go and sit during the day, and use the bathroom. Ironically, at least reading or using computers at the library gives them something to keep their minds "alive," and pass their hopeless days. While the "public" in "Public Library" clearly applies here, no doubt the NEW library will find ways to limit and prohibit access to a lot of the "Public" from their new library.

Often, I've heard the City thins-out, "relocates" ("buses") many of the homeless to other neighborhoods, so as to not "inconvenience" local business owners who do NOT wish such close-up "unattractiveness" detract from their daily sales.

Ironically after Katrina, 2,000+ homeles were 'relocated' to already-crowded Santa Monica homeless community. Now it is almost impossible to gain access to a public bathroom in MOST restaurants and coffee houses (STARBUCKS, the biggest offenders). Now in many cases, public "bathroom access/ discrimination" even extends to well-dressed everyday citizens too. It is not uncommon for me to witness even families with kids being lied to by Starbuck "Barista's" that the "bathroom key" is "in use"...when indeed the bathroom is empty, and the "key" is actually, knowingly (to Barista's) sitting behind the cash register. I've noticed THIS cruelty (given that coffee makes one need to urinate) at as many as SEVEN local Starbuck's, and have complained on numerous occasions to Starbuck Customer Service (800 line)...to no result. I even wrote the CEO of Starbucks, who has NOT yet had the decency to reply. Surprise! That, and at least one Starbucks run their air-conditioning at about 60 degree temps early in the morning (6:00 a.m.) so as to "keep unwanted patrons" (who just bought coffee to warm and wake up) from lingering and enjoying said recently paid-for Starbuck product. In fact, I noticed at one Starbucks, a Barista immediately go OUTSIDE, and ask a homeless person who had JUST bought Starbuck product...to vacate the table OUTSIDE Starbucks. NOTE: Starbucks does NOT mind profiting from homeless business, just doesn't want them remaining anywhere near the premises (even outside) afterward.

Shortly after Katrina, I also noted a local Volkswagen Dealership call the police (who arrived with Tazer guns) to "move along" an obviously recent Katrina homeless relocatee who was pushing his cart along in front of the dealership (not lingering there).

These and other establishments and Cities need attention drawn to them, and boycotting of businesses begun.

[EFerrari]

23. When we lived in Santa Monica, I got chewed out

by my neighbor for putting up a flyer about my lost cat.

"This isn't BERKELEY, you know!"

All I could think was, damn right. It's not.

[SoCalDem]

31. Every human has to eat, sleep,and eliminate waste. SOMEWHERE

People who have places to live, have those issues solved, but when there is no money to pay for those things, and no family to take you in, just WHAT do you do? Vanish into thin air?

Towns and cities need to tackle the problem head on, not obliquely though charities & churches.

Whatever brought these people to a city/town is a moot issue.. they are THERE, and have no money to move anywhere else. It's time to deal with them.

Most of these people are NOT candidates for a work program. Most of these people are damaged people..addicts, alcoholics, veterans with PTSD, unemployed poor people, people with mental problems of varying kinds.

The only thing that would "rescue" these people would be to provide bathrooms and showers in discreet places for them to maintain themselves somewhat and structures where they could get in out of the elements.

It seems like a no-brainer, but people are not easily "herded" into specific areas willingly.

There was a time when they were "kept" (often against their wills) in mental facilities. Reagan thought they should be "freed" (meaning no more obligation to support these folks monetarily), and so they were...onto the city streets to wander like stray animals looking for handouts.

part of the problem is that people who offer help, often do it with long strings attached. The money given in aid to homeless can NEVER be "earned by them". Most are incapable of doing that, and to expect it, is silly.

These are the true underclass people and since they need to eat, sleep and eliminate every day, we can either help them do it in a civilized way, or they will find other ways..

It's just that simple. (and impossible:(..)

[0007]

53. A very good take on the present problem.

Crime rates will go up. Disease may become a problem.

How do civilized counties handle this problem? And why can't we follow programs that helps to deter these problems of our society?

Does anyone have stats.

[AnneD]

42. I cannot remember the study...

but it was reported on our local NPR that the average homeless was male and more likely to have a mental illness. AND I BELIEVE IT.
When I did my rotation at the Harris County Psych Facility, I would recognize those that I saw in Psych ER one week out on the streets the next. We would get them stable but then had no placement for them. This happened during Reagan as the Docs and old timers told me-we had too many institutionalized.
Half way houses are at a premium here and mental health is so under funded, both by the gov and by the state. Many of these homeless need to some level of supervision. Much of the violent behaviours are mental illness.
We do the best we have with what we have. In Houston ours is a patchwork of city, state, federal funding with a lot of church and private donations and volunteers that try to assist the homeless. I think we do well with our homeless families and single mother families. It is the males and the mentally ill that we have problems assisting. I have been to other states and cities. Some are better, many more are worse. We don't bus them to other place, we try to help. But we have to have guideline. Everyone has certain right, but everything else is a courtesy.

And about all those homless Katrina refugee's. I think that wasn't factored in when they did this opinionated puff piece. What funding we have gotten will not begin to cover the expenses for the 250,000 we took in. No one is making money off of it here. Landlords and hotels may have a higher occupancy rate, but we are not awash in money. And frankly we didn't do it for the money. We did it because it was the right thing to do, because it could happen to us-there but for the grace of God.

This is how we've gotten rich :sarcasm: For instance...We were told by FEMA that they would cover a certain percent of the cost of educating children (I think it was 80-85%). As of last month, the Houston School District had only received enough money to cover 1 YES ONE day of services for these kids (over 3 months into the school year). And the real corker...many were not receiving the services they were suppose to by federal law in NOLA (re:out more to provide services). Now, if that isn't enough...many of these children are behind academically. Part of our funding hinges on these test scores-so forget any bonuses. Many of us have been putting in long hours tutoring to bring these kids up to grade level. The district may have to lay off staff over this because (unlike Washington) we have to balance our budgets.

I just found the whole tone of the article offensive, esp to those of us working to make a difference. I found the tone from many posters to be petty and sniping. I can only imagine your response if it were suddenly foisted on you. Just a whole lot of stone throwing and not enough home building.

[superconnected]

52. being at a psych facility may bias your patients to be mentally ill..

I have known 3 homeless people personally in the last 5 years, all three had full time jobs. One is currently homeless and working full time. They all three didn't make enough working full time to sustain an apt. Oh, and I know a person who goes to labor ready everyday because he can't find a job - he makes $40 per day, he's homeless too. Almost forgot him. He lost his power for months before he got evicted from not being able to pay rent either. He lost his job in construction before taking any job he could and losing everything.

Edited to add, what happened in his case was he caught pnemonia after the power got cut off and he ended up in his apt for weeks barely able to breath in the dark and cold and couldn't afford to even go to a walk in clinic. He'd been trying to pay bills and get the power back on and then couldn't even go to work because he was so sick. He lost it all. He's working at labor ready now, as I said. Still homeless but trying to get enough money to get an apt.

[AnneD]

70. There was no bias....

but an observation that has been backed up by a study that shows a disproportionate number of homeless DO have untreated and undertreated MI. This part of the problem needs to be addressed in order to 'solve' the problem.

[raccoon]

68. I know a man who was homeless (isn't now, fortunately) who

received SS disability and has a part-time job.

[superconnected]

71. My mom is on SS and has a disability and would be homeless if

I didn't let her move in with me. My niece has a full time job but also can't afford an apt so she and her 6 yo moved in with me too a few months ago. She moved back from out of state and is really struggling to make ends meet with low paying jobs. She literally had 3 jobs until 2 weeks ago, I was begging her to quit one and get some sleep. She's more worried about money coming in than her mind and health. She's only 23. HS education, hard worker. Wants college really bad right now but doesn't know if she'll ever get time to go if she gets a gov grant. Luckily I'm finally getting it into her that since she has a place to stay with no rent, she should quit those extra jobs, consider a game plan and do college at any cost so she won't be homeless again - because low paying jobs won't cover rent. I know, college doesn't guarentee anything.

[raccoon]

72. That's real nice of you, superconnected. nt

[KansDem]

75. Lawrence, Kansas, ranked No. 2 ?!?!?

That's a huge university town. I lived there and attended graduate school at KU. Very liberal, very progressive. Never thought it would rank No. 2 for being mean to the homeless!