Most expensive coastal cities to live in VS Most reasonable coastal cities to live in

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by the city

I admit it, if you build it for homeless they come, but there are things you can do to help people. Why not make a shelter just for women and children? Why not build more women shelters? More self-help housing?

If these people really wanted to get off the streets, they could. For instance, the mission here in Redding will put someone up for 30 days. If, during those 30 days, you have made a real effort to find a job, they will extend the 30 days. They will help you with substance abuse recovery, they will give you money for a security deposit. They will allow you to stay there once you start working, so you can save up your money. They will get you free furniture...it goes on and on.

And if someone is mentally ill, and they are willing to stay on their meds, they can get free meds, and they can get free in-home health care helpers. There is a woman who is obviously mentally ill and maybe somewhat developmentally disabled in my building and she has an IHS (in home support, I think it stands for) who takes her shopping and I think she even cleans her apartment for her. Anyway, she could be on the street, but she takes her meds and has help - all paid for by Medi-Cal. So, even the mentally ill can get help and get off the street.

Heck, there's a homeless guy here in Redding that looks like Gandalf, which is my personal name for him. He has an apartment, and a regular disability check, but chooses to hang out on the street begging for money and food all day long, and sometimes he even sleeps on the street. He told me one time that his radio broke, and he didn't get to the bank in time today to get money to buy one. The guy expected me to go buy him a radio! He probably gets more money than I do, too.

I am not without empathy - for people who are ready to clean up their acts and get off the streets. But, we are actually enabling their lifestyle - the ones who don't want to clean up their acts. I'll see some for a while, then they leave to who knows where, and then they come back. They probably know that they can stay in the mission here for 30 days, then go to a certain town for the next 30 days, or whatever.

Most of the homeless in Redding are on SSI. They probably collect around $600 per month, from what I understand. There are seniors in my low-income apt building who were homeless before they moved in here. Most got help from the mission. These are the people who told me that most of the homeless actually are on SSI or SSDI.

So, they collect usually at least $600/month. What do they do with that money?

They are able to blow that money, and beg for who knows how much more on the streets, get free food, free clothing, healthcare, etc., etc. Why should they change?

And I think a lot of them are into the vagabond lifestyle. They show up looking young and healthy, to me, with their backpacks and their walking sticks. I think it's a growing sub-culture. I don't believe they're all mentally ill or unable to find work. I really think we've unwittingly created a sub-culture of vagabonds that we are supporting.

Anyway, that's my rant.

[his_little_one]

Chico, CA has become a haven for the homeless because of all the programs the city council started - we spoke with some young transients who chose the lifestyle because they didn't want to work - the 'rail news' recommends Chico ... for those of us who work downtown it's a nightmare! and going out to lunch? well, you have them staring at you or going to tables after you've left and eating your leftovers ... and there are PLENTY of feeding programs in the city

[the city]

I applied and interviewed for a homeless shelter position. They pay terrible too. Not a pleasant place to work. People's kitchen is ok and low-income housing, but I'm leaning towards being against shelters.