Is the missing piece to Seattle’s homeless solution a job? (2013, house)

[elkotronics]

They need re-habbing, but rehab centers don't come cheap. If the addict is insured, insurances will pay for all or some of the treatment. Its not a quick, 2 week or 1 month fix, either. The problem is big and large, and I don't see it getting really solved in this greedy, selfish system of things. I wish it would get fixed, though. At least start taking steps towards fixing this problem.

[Diana Holbrook]

Those who have problems that can be easily fixed with money or a job already have many options available to them for help.

I worked in Social Services for many years, and there are lots of programs created and run by really caring, good people who are ready and willing to help with money and time and resources. They help lots of people, and could help more. I went to their conferences and listened to their challenges. They often struggle with how to get more people in the door. The problem is not lack of people or money to help.

The chronic homeless who are living on the streets or in tents for years, are not people who only need a job or a little bit help to get on their feet. They are those who will not, or cannot, accept help. Help is voluntary, and success takes work and participation from the person being helped. The chronic homeless are not able to stay in these programs, they have rejected them. They are addicted or mentally ill. This is what the "Seattle is Dying" documentary and it's followups should have helped illustrate if people were paying attention.

The people who are living on the streets, shooting up and leaving needles in our streets and parks, they need something else. We need to decide if they have a right to live that way, or if society can or should take control of them when they reach that point, and put them into some kind of forced treatment or separation from society until they can in fact function within it. These are decisions the do-gooders of the world are going to have to come to terms with if we want to "fix" the problems we're seeing on our city streets (and nearby jungles).

[elkotronics]

Very good and informative post, Diana Holbrook. A lot of this is up to the person - many like living this way. Seattle's downtown situation unfortunately looks like a giant Snicker's bar to a person who loves Snicker's bars and is tightly addicted to some substance.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

These are decisions the do-gooders of the world are going to have to come to terms with if we want to "fix" the problems we're seeing on our city streets (and nearby jungles).

Not just the "do-gooders" - the "lock 'em up!" crowd wants someone else (apparently the poor, themselves) to pay (through a draconian slashing of services) for the massive expansion of police, court, and incarceration/commitment resources that would be required.

It was the clearing of "the Jungle" that initially led to scads of the homeless spilling out onto the sidewalks.

[Diana Holbrook]

I consider the “lock ‘em up!” crowd part of the “do gooders”. They’re also trying to solve the problem and do “good”. It’s all about finding the best way to get there.

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

They need re-habbing, but rehab centers don't come cheap. If the addict is insured, insurances will pay for all or some of the treatment. Its not a quick, 2 week or 1 month fix, either. The problem is big and large, and I don't see it getting really solved in this greedy, selfish system of things. I wish it would get fixed, though. At least start taking steps towards fixing this problem.

Yes, but instead SSC has raised the legal amount of drugs one can have in their possession (per "The tale of 3 cities"). There will be NO gains made with that lax drug law as it basically condones the sale and transfer of drugs below that limit. Might as well rename Seattle to Sea-Amsterdam.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

I consider the “lock ‘em up!” crowd part of the “do gooders”. They’re also trying to solve the problem and do “good”. It’s all about finding the best way to get there.

"Do-gooder" more generally means "altruist", but with the added implication of allowing oneself to be foolishly misled by one's own best intentions.

[rupp-certified]

If the premise of this thread's article is true then that's yet another reason why raising the minimum wage is a dumb idea. I'm not saying without the minimum wage we would be living in a utopia of economic activity - poor people would still be poor. But minimum wage does not lift people out of poverty, it just prices out anyone who isn't productive enough to meet that minimum.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

There is a serious problem with providing work for the dysfunctional and mentally ill, and that is the fact that the employer is going to be sued for big money if the dysfunctional employee injures someone or even just hurts their feelings.


The baker in Portland who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple was fined $135,000 and there was no damage there, just hurt feelings. Fines for saying the wrong thing can be huge. It's hard enough riding herd on rational employees who can follow directions, without trying to keep control over an employee who isn't capable of relating to people in a normal acceptable way.


People on drugs or excessive alcohol cause accidents and people can get badly injured. Example the bulldozer operator high on marijuana who misjudged distance, ran into a brick building, knocking it down and killing six people. Whoever owned that construction company was the one who was sued. No point in going after the stoner bulldozer operator because he doesn't have any money. No, the guy who hired him is the one who pays millions for the damage.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Adding this: the fully functional with jobs who can't afford housing could be relocated to less expensive areas to live. There are towns in the USA where you can buy a house for $20,000. Seattle is one of the most expensive places in the USA to live. People who can't afford to live in Seattle have a huge selection available of places with a much lower cost of living.