A Law to Criminalize Sleeping ?

[Woof]

One of the main causes of homelessness (aside from mental illness) is the simple fact that there isn't enough cheap housing that's easy to get into. There wasn't much homelessness back in the days when cities had many SROs (single room occupancies or flophouses), which didn't really go through some interminable references check, didn't need huge deposits, and cost a pittance compared to today's prices. It wasn't unusual 40 years ago for such a room to cost $60 per month. Even corrected for inflation, that's a lot less than now.

People often mention public housing, but did any of you realize that middle class people with decent incomes are just as qualified to get into those apartments as poor and homeless people (in fact mentally ill homeless people are much less likely to get into such housing due to the extensive application process and the background checks). That's why you see so many new cars parked outside those buildings .... sure some of them are drug dealers, but most of them are owned by people with a relatively high income from good jobs.

If the requirements were a low income, perhaps no more than would be received from social security, that would open up a tremendous number of apartments for the genuinely needy. Together with partly subsidized SROs and outreach for the mentally ill, the problem of homelessness would be mostly solved.

[Roaddog]

One things for sure, allowing the homeless to sleep and pollute the public streets is not the answer to the problem, massive homeless shelters, education, rehabilitation and teaching self worth would be much better to turn their lives around and make areas cleaner and safer for everyone.

[MtnSurfer]

Roaddog,

I agree with you. But unfortunately many towns like Santa Cruz will simply take a 'path of least resistance' approach IMO. The quickest, easiest way to 'attempt' to solve the problem is to just try and drive them out by force if necessary.

Of course there are always two sides to every story. I'm sure local residents don't necessarily want homeless folks sleeping in their parks and neighborhoods. And as grand as many of the ideas are about alternative solutions, what will the city do in the mean time without also these new shelters, rehab programs, etc...? It really is a complex socioeconomic public issue - one that won't be solved overnight no matter how many new laws or programs are started.

The real question is does Santa Cruz have the moral fiber to actually take a proactive approach and work on long term solutions. Or will they just attempt to brush them under the carpet and 'clean up' the streets by force.

[notmeofficer]

clean up the street by force? youve got to be on another planet...

does anyone here really believe that a policeman wants to go screw with some homeless person... no way... we dont.. not unless that person is a criminal

If people dont like the laws.. theres process.. your leaders made them.. vote em out

[MtnSurfer]

Well,

I think the police officer is just doing his job. So no I really don't think he 'wants' to screw with homeless people. But if that becomes law he 'will' do it.

So it really is an issue of local legislation. And that is my point. The officer is just along for the ride - a pawn in the politcal process in a similar way that the homeless guy/gal is. And of course he ends up looking like the bad guy when people observe him performing 'the bust' or chasing them off.

But again as I stated above, the real question is "does Santa Cruz have the moral fiber to actually take a proactive approach and work on long term solutions?" While touted as a liberal, open minded town, what will they do about a real societal problem beyond the path of least resistance?

[Woof]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

....But again as I stated above, the real question is "does Santa Cruz have the moral fiber to actually take a proactive approach and work on long term solutions?" While touted as a liberal, open minded town, what will they do about a real societal problem beyond the path of least resistance?

Well, I've been homeless in Santa Cruz, so I can tell you that there are a remarkable number of resources for a city that size - I think about 75,000 population?

There's a city homeless resource center down on Coral St, it serves breakfast and supper, has showers, toilets, mail, nurses station, a shelter there on the grounds which houses a few people, and busing to other shelters - church and armory. In another place the Catholics serve a very good lunch and also have showers.

I think there might be some sort of counselling, but in general Santa Cruz is very lacking in good mental health care. There's no outreach whatsoever, and the mentally ill who can't tolerate being around other people are a large percentage of the homeless who choose not to sleep at the shelters. But there are others like some drunks and drug addicts who don't want to do without their drug at night, and these are probably the biggest source of trouble with thefts, robberies, and panhandling.

[MtnSurfer]

I am glad to hear about some of the resources currently available there. And I appreciate you sharing your story. I have a cousin who was homeless up there and so I can sympathize with the problem. Obviously it is a complex one.

As you mentioned there are different reasons for people being homeless. The mental health issue is a big one which sounds like still goes largely unaddressed. Many of these folks are not 'bad' people but rather just down on there luck or have mental issues that need real intervention. Its good to hear that some of the churches are stepping up.