Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott send Letter to Bottoms over Homeless intimidating guests (Alpharetta: income, tax)

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

I think what we need is a wall. And we'll make commuters pay for it.

With congestion zones and tolling every interstate in the metro @ $20 per mile!

[bu2]

Originally Posted by jsvh

You don't think we have been trying to "fix the problem of overcrowded shelters first"? Clearly that is not working.

Can you specify which points exactly you think are so evil? It it "A." where we start to better equip our jails with services to assist people with mental health or other problems? Or is it "C. Legalize private / non-profit shelters everywhere."? I mean, you don't actually want to risk a shelter popping up in your neighborhood do you? That is only an issue a neighborhood like mine should have to deal with, right?

Have you ever heard the phrase, "The cure is worse than the disease?"

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by bu2

Have you ever heard the phrase, "The cure is worse than the disease?"

Yep, I have. Please elaborate exactly how you think it applies here. Our current system has many sleeping on the streets and we have a current laws on the books that allow police to jail anyone for "urban camping" as they see fit to target. We are already putting the homeless in "cages".

So, please elaborate on how any of these changes make things worse for anyone:

Originally Posted by jsvh

A. A new class of "minimum security" jails / prisons that would cater to non-violent offenders and offer increased access to mental health and support services in addition to food, water, shelter, and healthcare.

B. The ability for anyone, by choice, to stay at that facility and get access to said food, water, shelter, healthcare, and services.

C. Legalize private / non-profit shelters everywhere.

D. Review and potentially update laws on trespassing, loitering, etc.

E. Enforcing laws on trespassing, loitering, etc.

The only problem people seem to have in this thread is that their delicate sensibilities might be upset because many of the "homeless" might choose "jail" over the status quo. If their situation is that bad they should have that option in order to get access to food, water, shelter, healthcare, and other services. Something y'all seem perfectly fine denying them and keeping them rotting on the streets. The only risk here is that y'all may have to actually accept we are failing these people so hard that they prefer "cages" to what you have to offer them (which is nothing).

[Mattie]

I work for a non-profit in North Fulton. Our organization partnered with area churches last winter to provide hot meals and beds for homeless people when nighttime temperatures fell below freezing. It was well publicized, and the local police departments were informed of the availability of shelter should they find somebody in need during their patrols. Not a single person came, night after night.

I don't know what the answer is, but it isn't jail. We see the homeless population every single day. They want food, clothing, and sometimes sleeping bags and tents. They don't seem to want shelter type housing.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Mattie

I work for a non-profit in North Fulton. Our organization partnered with area churches last winter to provide hot meals and beds for homeless people when nighttime temperatures fell below freezing. It was well publicized, and the local police departments were informed of the availability of shelter should they find somebody in need during their patrols. Not a single person came, night after night.

I don't know what the answer is, but it isn't jail. We see the homeless population every single day. They want food, clothing, and sometimes sleeping bags and tents. They don't seem to want shelter type housing.

How do you know it is not "jail"? Why not empower them with more options and resources to decide what they need? We are already locking up the homeless. Why should we not better equip our jails to provide supportive services for things like mental issues and offer the option for those in need to stay there if they choose?

[joey86]

Originally Posted by jsvh

How do you know it is not "jail"? Why not empower them with more options and resources to decide what they need? We are already locking up the homeless. Why should we not better equip our jails to provide supportive services for things like mental issues and offer the option for those in need to stay there if they choose?

You know no one suggested that jails shouldn’t have mental health services. You know no one suggested that we shouldn’t empower the homeless with more resources and options.

Stop pretending anyone is saying these things. We are just saying that jail isn’t right.

You understand that. You know you are suggesting jail. Yet you continue to be disingenuous.

[Otakumaster]

Originally Posted by jsvh

The only problem people seem to have in this thread is that their delicate sensibilities might be upset because many of the "homeless" might choose "jail" over the status quo. If their situation is that bad they should have that option in order to get access to food, water, shelter, healthcare, and other services. Something y'all seem perfectly fine denying them and keeping them rotting on the streets. The only risk here is that y'all may have to actually accept we are failing these people so hard that they prefer "cages" to what you have to offer them (which is nothing).

Are you seriously arguing that the homeless want to be arrested and forced into jail where they would obviously be locked up vs. going to a shelter ? What?!

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by joey86

You know no one suggested that jails shouldn’t have mental health services. You know no one suggested that we shouldn’t empower the homeless with more resources and options.

Stop pretending anyone is saying these things. We are just saying that jail isn’t right.

You understand that. You know you are suggesting jail. Yet you continue to be disingenuous.

This image keeps popping into my head, although the "men" and "women" labels would need to be changed.

[AtlJan]

whatever you call them--jails, shelters--they have to have some basic rules and a lot of the people on the streets don't want to (or can't) obey the rules. . .No alcohol, no drugs, no belligerence. See Mattie's comment above.

[Otakumaster]

Originally Posted by Mattie

I work for a non-profit in North Fulton. Our organization partnered with area churches last winter to provide hot meals and beds for homeless people when nighttime temperatures fell below freezing. It was well publicized, and the local police departments were informed of the availability of shelter should they find somebody in need during their patrols. Not a single person came, night after night.

I don't know what the answer is, but it isn't jail. We see the homeless population every single day. They want food, clothing, and sometimes sleeping bags and tents. They don't seem to want shelter type housing.

How many homeless people are in Alpharetta? Could it be that no one came because they didn't have real transportation to get all the way up there?