Does Atlanta have a visible homeless problem? (Decatur: extended stay, motels)

[matilda79]

Yes, and you'll find it just about in any big city. I find that it is very concentrated in downtown, where I work, conveniently enough, because a number of shelters and churches are there. We have quite a few charities like the Atlanta Mission (formerly Atlanta Union Mission) that seem to do a good job. There are some hospital partnerships that I know of that perform medical examinations and such.

However, until we have a health care system that is integrated, treats the "whole" person, and links that person to other social services, you will continue to see this. Don't blame the government, because this is a big complicated issue that has to be attacked from multiple angles and is expensive as all heck.

Witness a schizophrenic patient off their meds repeatedly, and you'll see what I am talking about.

[bellhead]

I was in Atlanta for work at the beginning of the year just having moved back south from the NJ/NY area and noticed a lot more visible homeless and they are a lot more aggressive in asking for money. Especially in the 5 points area where work was located.

[LowTune]

Originally Posted by matilda79

Yes, and you'll find it just about in any big city. I find that it is very concentrated in downtown, where I work, conveniently enough, because a number of shelters and churches are there. We have quite a few charities like the Atlanta Mission (formerly Atlanta Union Mission) that seem to do a good job. There are some hospital partnerships that I know of that perform medical examinations and such.

However, until we have a health care system that is integrated, treats the "whole" person, and links that person to other social services, you will continue to see this. Don't blame the government, because this is a big complicated issue that has to be attacked from multiple angles and is expensive as all heck.

Witness a schizophrenic patient off their meds repeatedly, and you'll see what I am talking about.

I'm not "blaming" government. Though I am saying the people who run the government are in the best positions to make decisions and create services to help the homeless, it doesn't seem as though (especially here in Seattle) that they've put much effort or thought on how to get a handle on their homeless issue.

[DirkMcGirt]

Why not just clean up the city by herding them up and shipping them out to Clayton County where there is much less for the community to lose?

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by LowTune

I'm not "blaming" government. Though I am saying the people who run the government are in the best positions to make decisions and create services to help the homeless, it doesn't seem as though (especially here in Seattle) that they've put much effort or thought on how to get a handle on their homeless issue.

It's a public policy issue which has to be addressed at multiple levels federal, state, and local. We could fix 70% of the homeless problem by getting the ones that want help off of the streets and into housing. The other 30% are the chronic homeless who suffer from mental illness and dependency issues. These are the ones we are not going to be able to help without a lot of effort.

Deal with low hanging fruit of families and the working poor who due to work issues and other problems find themselves homeless and need some help to get into housing. After you take care of this part of the homeless population then you tackle the harder to help homeless who suffer from mental and dependency issues.

[afdinatl]

In pockets but not as bad as San Francisco or LA

[bornjacksonian]

If you want to see a third world of homeless people check out Broad St. south of 5 points. You will see all types of homeless individuals. It's a sad sight to see at night.

[LowTune]

It doesn't appear as though Georgia is as bad as California, Washington, Florida, Oregon, New York, or Nevada... But it's still on the higher end as far as it's homeless population goes.

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[JMatl]

Originally Posted by LowTune

It doesn't appear as though Georgia is as bad as California, Washington, Florida, Oregon, New York, or Nevada... But it's still on the higher end as far as it's homeless population goes.
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During the day, the numbers in the heart of Downtown are not as high as Seattle's seem to be. The last time I was out there, I was frankly surprised at the huge number of homeless in the park just north of Pike Place Market. That had not been the case on previous visits. I know the income disparity is getting crazy there now, though. Pioneer Square has always seemed to be the epicenter, and we don't really have a similar vibrant district here that compares.

But we do have a lot here, as you would expect for the largest City in the region. It's sad, but unfortunately a fact of life in too many places nationwide. I would say it is slightly less visible here, but I'm sure the numbers may actually be higher than Seattle due to the size difference alone.

[magnetar]

There's not a difference between having a "visible homeless problem" and having a homeless population. Homelessness is bad, and in some ways it's better when it's visible because then people can't ignore that it exists. Working to end homelessness is an honorable cause, wanting to move it somewhere you don't have to see it is disgusting.