Slog - Comments on Re: Homeless Encampments

Comment by Bauhaus

Bauhaus — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:07:01 -0800

There's one on a cliff above I-5 as one comes into Seattle from Sea-Tac - the blue tarpaulins visible now because of the leafless trees.

It's a sad, "Welcome to Seattle" sign-o'-the-times.

Comment by TheTruthHurths

TheTruthHurths — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:09:48 -0800

There are empty beds every night in Seattle shelters. Advocates arguing that one should be allowed to live like this while that pesky fact exists make them worse than the city kicking them out.

Comment by Fifty-Two-Eighty

Fifty-Two-Eighty — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:13:32 -0800

Yeah, like you have a God-given right to be smug because you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Well fuck yov. Brown '75 here, and you have no excuse.

Comment by mattymatt

mattymatt — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:26:03 -0800

Yes, they do need a place to go. Can that place not be a public area that we all pay to keep clean? I think there are some wide-open spaces in the midwest if they like living out-of-doors. Or if they feel their homes simply MUST be taxpayer-funded, there's always jail.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:32:15 -0800

Why do these pictures remind me of art gallery exhibits ...

Comment by Sachi Wilson

Sachi Wilson — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:00:51 -0800

The Ninth Circuit has held that it is unconstitutional for a city to make it criminal for people to live on the streets, unless the city also provides (or sets aside) some sort of place for the homeless to live, so that it is possible for them to live without being arrested. Down here in San Diego the city has identified specific areas where the homeless can sleep overnight. IIRC, the city doesn't permit permanent camps. We also have shelters and the like but not everyone can use them, so having some sort of spot where they can bed down in the open will be necessary.

Comment by art school confidant

art school confidant — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:04:30 -0800

Will @5, I was thinking the same thing; that the pics reminded me of our shared studio space in art school

Comment by -B-

-B- — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:11:47 -0800

This make the point about law enforcement that is important. The police are trained to be police but not trained as much as they should be to do with social issues like this. Social workers spend years in schools to deal with the homeless and people with mental problems. The police should know how to be both or have a social worker with them. They are not criminals they are homeless and many have mental problems.

Comment by LH

LH — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:19:31 -0800

Truthhurts,

There are a handful of empty "beds" (mats) each night. There are many, many more w/o shelter each nite. See last year's one night count:

http://www.homelessinfo.org/onc.html

More than 2,000 in shelter and another 2,000 without.

A few beds may go empty because of snafus (i.e. someone asks for a referral to a shelter that has an opening, but accidently gets sent to a shelter whose beds were just recently fully assigned)

Other people may be turned away because the "beds" available can not be filled by the person turned away. For instance - those cases when a woman needs a bed and there are only men's beds available.

Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me

You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:01:12 -0800

Work farms... send them all to work farms.

Give them food, shelter and something productive to do in exchange for it... (sorting recyclables out of the city's garbage?)

And put those work farms where farms belong� way, way outside of the city limits and outlying residential areas.

Oh, and give the State the legal power to institutionalize them without their consent so they can be kept on the work farm until they are ready to be responsible for themselves and contribute something to society.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:09:04 -0800

Remember @10, homeless people can vote in our Feb 9th caucus ... after all, many of them are our vets that the Red Bushies claim they love.

Comment by Reality Check

Reality Check — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:53:45 -0800

@10 That is a great idea...

Finally a plan that has potential.

Comment by Wowza

Wowza — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:04:23 -0800

Get Graves on that art - stat!!!

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:19:18 -0800

Why aren't the cops equipped to be both law enforcement and social services?

I'd rather pay taxes for that then stupid masturbatory spaceships to fucking Mars or stealth bombers or godawful wars around the world.

Comment by Giffy

Giffy — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:45:33 -0800

Someone needs to talk to the homeless about the importance of 'giving a hoot'.

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:41:20 -0800

Why the fuck are they burning Barbie Dolls? That's just sick.

Kill them all.

Comment by maxsolomon@home

maxsolomon@home — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:03:52 -0800

i think we should build them free permanent housing. after we build them free transitional housing. and then do the same for everyone in america who'd like to live in seattle for free.

Comment by pretentious

pretentious — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:41:05 -0800

i would rather live in the woods than in a shelter.

Comment by M

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:56:52 -0800

I'm dumping all my barbies out on Elliott Ave. tomorrow. Now I know they'll find good homes.

Comment by Judah

Judah — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:32:06 -0800

There's a tiny cross-section of people in social services whose understanding of homelessness comes close to addressing the reality. The rest of you are pretty much guessing. Which makes these little town hall internet conversations about what does or doesn't need to happen really irritating to watch.

Comment by Toby

Toby — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:30:54 -0800

I don't know about homeless shelters in Seattle but I can tell you why many homeless people avoid shelters in Toronto. Maybe some of these reasons apply elsewhere.

1) What little stuff you still have might get stolen.

2) The homeless, being homeless, are not notorious for practicing good hygene. Fleas, TB, Lice and Hepatitis are all ripe for the catching.

3) It is overcrowded, noisy, and you really don't get much sleep.

Comment by Mr. X

Mr. X — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:36:12 -0800

This seems like a typically sinister Tom Carr/Greg Nickels plot to drive homeless folks off of public property onto private property so they can start arresting them.

I hope I'm wrong...

Comment by PJ

PJ — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:40:55 -0800

In my mind, there are homeless people and then there are "homeless" middle class "punks" begging for change on Broadway or the U-district who've obviously chosen this lifestyle. The burnt Barbie Dolls and art work makes me wonder if this is the case of the later.