Possible to live in forest park homeless(stealthily of course) (Donald: motel, home)

[crisw]

Originally Posted by Copsgirl73

Completely agree! What is the deal with this? I have noticed this both in Portland and Eugene....the street family trend. Its so common, these groups with their signs, cardboard, pets, backpacks and instruments. To me, its a frightening thought to be homeless but its almost "cool" to these folks.

I wish that I could find some hard data on what percentage of street teens are actually homeless versus those who are there by choice because it's "cool" or "anti-establishment.". I've spent a couple of hours trying to find these stats and failing.

Teen homelessness is a very real and tragic issue. There are plenty of kids who truly are on the streets through no fault of their own, struggling to get by.

But it's also unquestionable that some are there by choice- I read one interview of a Beaverton kid who was hanging out and panhandling because he was "bored-" and that they come to Portland because of the cultural vibe. Kind of like San Francisco in the 60s but their music isn't so good and the culture less focused on peace and love

Working downtown, I see the droves of teens who arrive with the onset of warm weather. I have a feeling that it's probably the kids who aren't really homeless who cause most of the problems with panhandling and loitering. But I wish I knew what the facts were.

[TechmanOR]

If it's against the law to live there and the thread starter is asking if cops go there, this is asking for advise on doing illegal things.

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by crisw

... ...
Working downtown, I see the droves of teens who arrive with the onset of warm weather. I have a feeling that it's probably the kids who aren't really homeless who cause most of the problems with panhandling and loitering. But I wish I knew what the facts were.

My vote is you would be correct.

[TechmanOR]

The police just have to step-up their curfew enforcement. That might help locate missing runaway teens too.

[Steve Pickering]

Eugene bans them from the gathering areas if they get a citation.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

And you don't think many if not most of those living in these conditions suffer from the same issues?

Never said they didn't but most of them don't go ranting on Internet forums in the guise of asking "innocent" questions to which they more than likely already know they answers they will recieve.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

You here for advice or just looking for a fight?

Do you even have to ask him?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by crisw

I wish that I could find some hard data on what percentage of street teens are actually homeless versus those who are there by choice because it's "cool" or "anti-establishment.". I've spent a couple of hours trying to find these stats and failing.

Teen homelessness is a very real and tragic issue. There are plenty of kids who truly are on the streets through no fault of their own, struggling to get by.

But it's also unquestionable that some are there by choice- I read one interview of a Beaverton kid who was hanging out and panhandling because he was "bored-" and that they come to Portland because of the cultural vibe. Kind of like San Francisco in the 60s but their music isn't so good and the culture less focused on peace and love

Working downtown, I see the droves of teens who arrive with the onset of warm weather. I have a feeling that it's probably the kids who aren't really homeless who cause most of the problems with panhandling and loitering. But I wish I knew what the facts were.

That's something I do not miss about working downtown. It seems every year many of those kids got more aggressive and I do not think that a lot were really down and out but just role playing. I used to give food to kids who really looked in need and they would be happy to get it. But when I encountered brats who told me they wanted money, not food, I told them to take it or leave it and they threw it away. That's when I figured they were probably rich kids from the 'burbs playing games or were just kids wanting money for drugs.

Then there was the kid on Hawthorne who threatened me when I wouldn't give him money. I pointed to his expensive looking Nike shoes and told him to go sell those if he was in such a bad way. He slunk off with his friends. I have come to not trust most people who say they are homeless and in need. That includes the OP of this thread.

[turquoise1]

It is depressing. There was a woman panhandling in front of the MAX. So I gave her a MAX ticket. She practically threw it on the ground. I guess she only wanted money...

Has anyone purchased those food tokens for homeless people that are advertised downtown?

[Metlakatla]

Maybe she didn't have anywhere to go on the MAX.