Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott send Letter to Bottoms over Homeless intimidating guests (Atlanta: apartments, leases)

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by Otakumaster

How many homeless people are in Alpharetta? Could it be that no one came because they didn't have real transportation to get all the way up there?

There are far more homeless in this area than you would think. They can get to us, they come for food and clothing every day, but, for whatever reason, they prefer their rough living to having a hot meal and shelter at night.

There is a MARTA stop on our corner.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by jsvh

How do you know it is not "jail"? Why not empower them with more options and resources to decide what they need? We are already locking up the homeless. Why should we not better equip our jails to provide supportive services for things like mental issues and offer the option for those in need to stay there if they choose?

I can agree that jails need supportive services. When you are talking about the chronically homeless however, most of them need those type of services, but are not willing to accept the restrictions those services come saddled with.

Honest question, have you ever served time in jail jsvh? I doubt anybody who has would advocate that it is a better place to be than a homeless encampment.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Mattie

I can agree that jails need supportive services. When you are talking about the chronically homeless however, most of them need those type of services, but are not willing to accept the restrictions those services come saddled with.

Honest question, have you ever served time in jail jsvh? I doubt anybody who has would advocate that it is a better place to be than a homeless encampment.

Never have I ever. But I would choose to voluntarily go to jail if there were no shelters available. Especially if the facility was created to provide shelter for non-violent folks as a key purpose.

Why should we deny people that choice? If no one takes that option then nothing is lost.

Do you disagree with any of these ideas:

Originally Posted by jsvh

A. A new class of "minimum security" jails / prisons that would cater to non-violent offenders and offer increased access to mental health and support services in addition to food, water, shelter, and healthcare.

B. The ability for anyone, by choice, to stay at that facility and get access to said food, water, shelter, healthcare, and services.

C. Legalize private / non-profit shelters everywhere.

D. Review and potentially update laws on trespassing, loitering, etc.

E. Enforcing laws on trespassing, loitering, etc.

[jsvh]

Also, I like how I am the one "putting homeless people in cages" by offering options to provide more shelters and more supportive options for folks in jail.

Meanwhile, we literally have a law against "Urban Camping" that no one here seems to care about it. Nor does anyone care that we are literally outlawing new shelters: MUST Ministries makes second attempt to get homeless shelter approved

[Mattie]

Perhaps churches and hospitals, along with other tax-free entities, should be required to set aside beds for the homeless in order to keep their tax exemptions. Either option would be more palatable to the homeless population, right?

Now, who should pay?

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Mattie

Perhaps churches and hospitals, along with other tax-free entities, should be required to set aside beds for the homeless in order to keep their tax exemptions. Either option would be more palatable to the homeless population, right?

Now, who should pay?

Perhaps. But bet those entities, especially some churches will fight that hard. We can't even legalize building shelters places where organizations are already willing to fund it themselves.

"Jail" seem to be a trigger word for some, but they are already configured to house people on a long-term basis. If we want a ready to go solution to get people in housing it is the answer.

On a long term basis we need a Guaranteed Basic Income that could also be used to fund basic food, water, shelter at a facility if nothing else.

Either way, think we have to acknowledge that there are simply some people unwilling or unable to provide for themselves. As your example of having an open shelter going un-utilized shows. If no one else is providing for them (such as family or a non-profit shelter) it seems obvious that they should be in the care of "the state" (government). Leaving these people rotting in the street should not be an acceptable option to anyone.

[Mattie]

Leaving people on the street may not be an acceptable option for you, but as I've seen time and time again, there are those who prefer it to living under a roof with rules. And as long as that's the case, homelessness will continue to be an issue. It isn't always an issue for society to solve either. The same free will that allows adults to make poor choices regarding alcohol and drugs is the same free will that leaves them without a home.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Mattie

Leaving people on the street may not be an acceptable option for you, but as I've seen time and time again, there are those who prefer it to living under a roof with rules. And as long as that's the case, homelessness will continue to be an issue. It isn't always an issue for society to solve either. The same free will that allows adults to make poor choices regarding alcohol and drugs is the same free will that leaves them without a home.

But those are the exact situations where they end up "caged" in "jail" against their will. We already have trespassing, public intoxication, loitering, and "urban camping" laws on that send those exact people to jail.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by Mattie

Perhaps churches and hospitals, along with other tax-free entities, should be required to set aside beds for the homeless in order to keep their tax exemptions. Either option would be more palatable to the homeless population, right?

Now, who should pay?

Churches...

I'm sure Joel Osteen will open his doors for the homeless.

[sciblue]

Do faith-based shelters proselytize to those who might seek shelter?