Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Just where are these folks supposed to go anyway?

There should be some help for them, whether it's temporary shelter or a location where they can pitch their tents and have portable toilet facilities.

They are human beings, regardless of their mental status or their employment status.

Mr. Mitchell must not realize that they, at one time or another, paid taxes and as residents of this state the property they have been "trespassing on" belongs to the residents of this state.

Where is the compassion?

alicarn: You have not been paying attention. These groups have been offered repeated help from the state. They sent out a cadre of social workers to these sites, set-up tables and signed these people up for every eligible program such as food stamps. They offered subsized housing and employment assistance.

Also, at no time have these people not been able to sleep in the homeless shelters.

The "leaders" of these groups have been quoted first saying that they don't want to stay in the shelters because of the rules (no guns, no drugs, no alcohol.) Then when the state offered assurances of temporary housing, the "leaders" rejected those offers because they instead demanded permanent housing. In other words, instead of seeking a transitional solution FOR FREE while they get back on their feet, they insted want permanent support from the rest of us - FOREVER.

With regard to those with mental health issues, that is a real problem but no easy solution. Often these people qualify for Social Security benefits which would provide enough for a simple but not impverished life. These people either don't apply or if they do receive those benefits, they lack the skills of desire to properly manage that money. In prior decades, we changed our laws to make it almost impossible to have people "committed" to the care of the state. Right or wrong, it is those laws that prevents the state from taking care of those with legitimate mental health issues. The biggest thing to remember with this population is that more money will not fix this problem. You could give a lot of these people a house and a million dollars and a year later they would be back on the streets - they simply lack the skills or will to manage their affairs in a way that we would think is normal. Either we need to change the committment laws or we need to stomach that this population will be living on the streets in a life that maybe in their mind is a good one.

But please avoid the temptation that the answer to every problem is that the state must do more (i.e. spend more money) when most of the time that doesn't solve the problem or makes the problem worse.

Steve is correct. Many of these homeless have chosen to stay homeless. Alcohol, drugs and sex are not allowed in the shelters and, many of these people have elected not to forgo these vices. There is help available for alcoholics and drug addictions. But, as far as sex with a chosen partner, you've got to make a choice. A bed and a roof over their heads or sex under the bridge. The offer of a shelter is on the table. But, you can't force anyone to enter the shelter.