What Draws so Many Homeless People to Ballard?

[Beenhere4ever]

Did some law make boarding houses illegal? A boarding house where you pay for meals is just exactly what millions need in this economy. There was a time I saw a few of them, but that was decades ago. I think maybe the real estate industry in some sneaky way got them eliminated the same way the auto industry shoved aside major competitors. Frankly, all sectors of the real estate industry have way too much power in America. And society has some festering sores as a result.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Did some law make boarding houses illegal? A boarding house where you pay for meals is just exactly what millions need in this economy. There was a time I saw a few of them, but that was decades ago. I think maybe the real estate industry in some sneaky way got them eliminated the same way the auto industry shoved aside major competitors. Frankly, all sectors of the real estate industry have way too much power in America. And society has some festering sores as a result.

You can't blame that yon the real estate industry, it's just not practical as a profitable business. Many Bed & Breakfast places that charge $250/night can barely make it, how could anyone make a living with a boarding house where the homeless could afford to stay? Back when, that was a nice little way for an elderly widow with her big house paid off to make a few bucks, but that won't happen these days.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

You can't blame that yon the real estate industry, it's just not practical as a profitable business. Many Bed & Breakfast places that charge $250/night can barely make it, how could anyone make a living with a boarding house where the homeless could afford to stay? Back when, that was a nice little way for an elderly widow with her big house paid off to make a few bucks, but that won't happen these days.

You'd need to get a permit to run a boarding house and your house has to be structured a certain way. My friend had the thought of running a boarding house, so she looked into it. There's way too many stipulations and she doesn't have the money to reconfigure her house that way. With that said, I think there actually are boarding houses in Seattle.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

You can't blame that yon the real estate industry, it's just not practical as a profitable business. Many Bed & Breakfast places that charge $250/night can barely make it, how could anyone make a living with a boarding house where the homeless could afford to stay? Back when, that was a nice little way for an elderly widow with her big house paid off to make a few bucks, but that won't happen these days.

"Industry"? It never was one. It was a way for people to keep their houses by sharing space. In fact, though it wasn't a boarding house, my first residences were rooms rented in some home. Needed very little money to keep off the streets.