Lots of homeless walking at stop lights with signs. why so many? (Austin: home, live)

[vizionblind]

Is there no homeless shelter in the Austin area? I have never seen so many homeless looking for food etc...

[Mr. Solis]

I have noticed this too in Austin.....other cities as well mind you......guess i didn't realize Austin was becoming more like a bigger city.....oh well.....i give them a little change to help them out...some of them neways

[mark311]

I'm sure this thread is bound to turn in the wrong direction.

Yes, there is a homeless shelter, but they actually "make" money by standing on the street corners. They don't "make" any money if they're inside the homeless shelter. The reason that you see more here is because the police aren't allowed to make them move from the street corners like they are in other cities.

[eepstein]

Yes, I have noticed this as well. But the city of Austin doesn't want to even hear about these homeless people. As long as these people aren't causing any direct issues with the city "elite population downtown", don't expect the city to do anything about them.

Originally Posted by vizionblind

Is there no homeless shelter in the Austin area? I have never seen so many homeless looking for food etc...

[atxcio]

Homeless shelters only typically offer a bed for the night. Every 7AM or so, they kick everyone out until the next evening. So even if every one of them is staying at a shelter, you'll still see them on the street during the day.

Austin is a mecca for homeless, like many places where the overall population is doing pretty well (panhandling is easy), and the weather outside is tolerable... although I don't understand how they can stand out there on the streetcorners in the heat of the summer. But obviously, they do.

Oh, and what makes you think they are looking for food? Do they look super skinny or something?

[centralaustinite]

Ever lived in a warm weather city? always lots of homeless. It is much harder to be homeless through a Chicago winter than an Austin summer. In some northern cities, "help for the homeless" is called a bus ticket south!

[10scoachrick]

Not so sure they are all homeless. There's no requirement that one not have a home to panhandle. Just sayin'.

[XLadylawX]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Not so sure they are all homeless. There's no requirement that one not have a home to panhandle. Just sayin'.

Agreed!!

Check out this story in the Statesman.

Philanthropy: What happened to Danny and Maggie?

[atlanta hope]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Not so sure they are all homeless. There's no requirement that one not have a home to panhandle. Just sayin'.

There are some interesting ones on the south side of town... look pretty good, healthy and clean. I'm curious to if they're scamming people or if they really are down and out on their luck.

In Atlanta there was this old dirty guy that hung out under I-20 and would salute cars as they turned to get onto the on ramp. I started bringing food and drinks in my car to give him when I drove by. He was a bit of a character so I didn't mind helping him. I'm a little hardened by most cases though.

The worst homeless situation I saw was visiting San Diego. I don't think Austin is really all that bad.

[CptnRn]

Austin has become know as a sanctuary city and winter resort for vagrants who have no desire to work or be responsible.

Note I'm NOT saying homeless = vagrant, there are genuine homeless people who want to improve their situation and we should try to help them.