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When we talk about the homeless, people usually think of those living on the streets in a tent, panhandling for money because they're drug addicted and alcoholic.
This article refers to those other homeless, the ones who are basically the "elite" of the homeless world, the ones who live in their vehicles. These are the homeless that could be helped with lower housing costs. What can we do to help them?
When we talk about the homeless, people usually think of those living on the streets in a tent, panhandling for money because they're drug addicted and alcoholic.
This article refers to those other homeless, the ones who are basically the "elite" of the homeless world, the ones who live in their vehicles. These are the homeless that could be helped with lower housing costs. What can we do to help them?
Well... Seattle and Portland are VERY homeless friendly to autos / RV's, but these programs have not been successful in HELPING to integrate these people into viable contributors to society.
Surprise.. This 'solution' https://dignityvillage.org/ became very 'elite' among the homeless (i.e. restrictive, not accepting ALL homeless)... and now there are over 20x the number of people living on the streets in Portland (every night). Locals are moving out due to QoL / personal safety issues.
Portland's homeless went up in arms when an EMPTY 400 bed jail was offered as housing. (it had bathrooms / showers / kitchen ...)
How to help...?? It does not get much easier than 'buying back' your towed vehicle for < $100, There are hundred for sale every Wed at the towing auction (That is where I buy mine!). Living in a car beats living in a cardboard box / grocery cart in the We_t PNW.
Just ONE of the many NGO's I support provides 400 beds / night and 600 meals / day in Portland. ONE!!! of many.
Tiny homes / ADU's are now being allowed / encouraged.
Tyson Thurston, an employee of Sergeants Towing, which has a five-year contract with PBOT to tow abandoned autos, says RVs are the biggest waste of time and money, and that even the nicer motor homes they pick up are "90 percent garbage." The manpower that goes into dismantling them doesn't get recouped from scrapping the metal, he says.
...the ones who live in their vehicles.
These are the homeless that could be helped with lower housing costs.
What can we do to help them?
The help most need is being persuaded to buy a few tanks of gas to relocate themselves.
Similar applies to the rest who insist on staying where they'll NEVER earn enough.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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There are many reasons for people being homeless and many reasons for them remaining homeless. Many if not most of those in the "tent cities" are working, otherwise stable people that just don't have the cash for a deposit and to compete for a rental home. The same goes for some of the car/RV residents. Some help with either loan or subsidy to help with that could be a big help, but then landlords are still going to rent to the applicant with the best income and rental history. Many of the people living on the Pine street sidewalk and under the freeways are not interested in working or living in an apartment or house. Their current situation gives them the freedom to what they want, including drugs, and to avoid having to follow rules. Others in those places are just mentally ill and unable to do any better for themselves. Current laws and policies prevent anyone from doing anything to help them unless they decide to do something about it themselves. There isn't a magic recipe for this problem, and as we can see in Seattle, just throwing some money at the problem is not helpful. The city has budgeted $63 million and tried to get more by new taxes to address the homeless problem, yet the numbers have gone up. In King County it's now 12,112 people, up 4% from 2017, and most (over 70%) are in Seattle.
When you want more of something, subsidize it with government funding.
Want higher tuition? More government funding. Medical costs? yup. Infrastructure costs going up? Yup throw in more government funding.
Ironically if you help the homeless, you create more homeless.
Let’s not even talk about Portland lol. Living here is miserable, I can’t wait to leave. Homeless people everywhere and the city treats them like a protected special class. They can live anywhere even in cars on your curb in front of million dollar houses. Any city that didn’t have its head right up its butt wouldn’t allow that, especially given one of those two people pays taxes and the other doesn’t. But then again we’re talking about another city that wants to ban straws and ban ICE. We have the dumbest mayor in the US.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skeddy
they should buy tents and go live under the bridge. Stay out of my way.
Those spots filled years ago (river View, no property taxes).
There are now up to 200 people living in (each) traffic circle along the freeway. (Seems kinda noisy and dangerous to me). Last I heard the city was trying to clean out 600 sites / week.
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
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@StealthRabbit. Just wondering how many nites do you spend on the airplane-airport/year?
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