Phoenix Homeless Problem not as bad as other big cities (Mesa: apartment complex, rentals)

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Goofball86

Why weren't a lot of these bills enacted when Ducy was Governor and has a Republican legislature?

Because one of the games in politics is to put up bills, knowing they will be vetoed, so at election time they can point the finger at the pol who vetoed the bills and claim that pol is dreadful and you should vote for me instead. Seen it for years.

[john3232]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Because one of the games in politics is to put up bills, knowing they will be vetoed, so at election time they can point the finger at the pol who vetoed the bills and claim that pol is dreadful and you should vote for me instead. Seen it for years.

You are probably right but will the city of Phoenix fight the recent court ruling? That is what the downtown business community wants to know.

...In emails on Tuesday, a city spokesperson said the city wouldn't be doing interviews about the ruling but did provide a statement. In part, the statement details that the city is "reviewing the specific details of the judge’s ruling as we continue our mission to create safe spaces for people experiencing homelessness."

..."They really have two options which is to appeal or to work with us toward a settlement," Wurman explained. "And we hope they do the right thing."

...Judge Blaney said the city must be prepared to demonstrate its compliance with his order in a trial scheduled for July 10.
https://www.12news.com/article/news/...e-0418d01eee1a

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Because one of the games in politics is to put up bills, knowing they will be vetoed, so at election time they can point the finger at the pol who vetoed the bills and claim that pol is dreadful and you should vote for me instead. Seen it for years.

Exactly. It's a shell game.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Per the link that I sited earlier, there are 86,000 total homeless people. And 12% that are living on the streets or 10,000 people in the entire USA.

The 86,000 (or is it 83,000) figure has to be the number of homeless who are unsheltered. Estimates I've seen from other sources for total homeless in the country are north of half a million. Here's the quote again...

In other words, an estimated 12 percent of the United States' homeless population, or close to 83,000 people, is unsheltered and chronically homeless.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by hikernut

The 86,000 (or is it 83,000) figure has to be the number of homeless who are unsheltered. Estimates I've seen from other sources for total homeless in the country are north of half a million. Here's the quote again...

Makes sense ^^. So, instead of $11 per person per year, I guess we need to multiply by 6 or 7. So charge everyone $70-$80 a year. Easy. Next topic.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Makes sense ^^. So, instead of $11 per person per year, I guess we need to multiply by 6 or 7. So charge everyone $70-$80 a year. Easy. Next topic.

Oh it's not so simple. I'm not an expert on the topic and won't pretend I am. My only direct experience was volunteering at a shelter when I was in college, decades ago. Of course the people using the shelter were the ones willing to stay sober so they could get a meal, a shower, and a warm place to sleep (this was in Wisconsin).

In this country we don't round up people and put them in institutions (or whatever) without consent. I doubt very many of the people living on the street would give such consent. So what do you propose doing with/to these people? It's a sad situation all around. Letting them live in public areas is not the answer though, IMO.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Oh it's not so simple.

It is simple! It is just another easy problem to solve that won't happen because of politics. In the meantime, I'm going to stay away from downtown. When they get their crap together, I'll check it out. Maybe in a decade, I'll see if they cleaned things up.

[WanderingRebel]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

It is simple! It is just another easy problem to solve that won't happen because of politics. In the meantime, I'm going to stay away from downtown. When they get their crap together, I'll check it out. Maybe in a decade, I'll see if they cleaned things up.

I can appreciate your optimism, but things tend to only get worse. Just look at the escalation of the homeless crisis over the years in places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. I think it's safe to say we are probably on the same path. Not to mention our state's political ideology taking a left turn will only exacerbate the problem. Stay tuned.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

It is simple! It is just another easy problem to solve that won't happen because of politics.

You seem to be discounting human behavior. For the moment, let's say you could get the vast majority off the street with your $300k (per homeless person, per year) solution. As soon as word gets out that all of one's needs will be provided by merely sleeping on the street for a while, those 83,000 will be replaced by many more, probably multiples of the original number. Then your $80 tax per citizen each year becomes hundreds of dollars... so thousands of dollars per year for a family of five.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by hikernut

You seem to be discounting human behavior. For the moment, let's say you could get the vast majority off the street with your $300k (per homeless person, per year) solution. As soon as word gets out that all of one's needs will be provided by merely sleeping on the street for a while, those 83,000 will be replaced by many more, probably multiples of the original number. Then your $80 tax per citizen each year becomes hundreds of dollars... so thousands of dollars per year for a family of five.

I vote to get people off the streets.... Or else. Analogy: In theory, some people want to live in prison too for three square meals. I'm not talking about outliers, I'm talking about the masses. If you think people are going to live in the streets for mandatory mental health and drug treatment by force (because they won't leave the street because it is illegal), we disagree. I'm not talking about building wonderful digs.

I think we have two different conversations going on.