I can't even imagine not having some kind of home-like place to lay my head at the end of the day. Any more than I can imagine not even having "the end of the day." This is a situation which shouldn't even exist in this country. Because let's not let it get away from us-- this isn't the richest country in the world, it's probably the richest country (or continent!) that's ever existed. So fucked up.
I know too many people who were raped or assaulted in some way at youth hostels. If you could somehow fix the safety issues, I think it could work for some people in some places some of the time.
I resoundingly second this motion. Personally, I wouldn't look askance at banning, or at least taxing the living daylights out of, foreign ownership entirely. The place I used to work began by 'managing' a housing development that was largely Section 8 and almost completely foreign owned. They didn't want to spend a penny on those places but boy they sure were in line when distribution time came around.
The Democrats used to bend over backwards wasting time trying to please the GOP only to have them vote against all the fucking reforms and appeasements that the right wing scum demanded.
I was living outdoors for a while back when I was having substance problems. I got to know a lot of other people living in tents and such. A fair number of them had no interest in any kind of formal housing. They didn't want to follow anyone else's rules. They didn't want to stay in the shelters for lots of reasons, personal safety being a major concern. They wanted to go back to their camp at the end of the day and get drunk or high without anyone hassling them. I don't see how you can fix that, and it's not a small percentage of those staying in the woods.
Republicans in Congress will howl because they are devoid of the light of understanding (and that's putting it kindly), but this is the kind of basic stuff you have to do if you want to keep a capitalist economy and society stable.
We need *lots* more affordable housing in almost every state in the country. The problem is 1. builders don't like to build small, affordable apartments and houses because the profit margins are much lower and 2. middle- and upper-class homeowners don't like "affordable" housing in their neighborhoods because they think it will impact their own property values. (As well as attract, you know, *those* kinds of people) And comfortable homeowners are also the kinds of people who vote a lot and raise holy hell with their city council when push comes to shove. So, until you get politicians on board to provide robust incentives for builders (e.g. eliminating startup fees) and stand up to NIMBYism, we're not solving the homeless problem anytime soon.
And also, you can build all the mental health facilities and programs you want. Who's going to staff them? We need to be offering free college and med school benefits to anyone willing to go into the mental health field, particularly pediatric services. Many people who end up homeless started out as kids and teenagers who never received needed services for their emotional or mental health needs and ended up as damaged adults with drug or behavioral problems who can't hold down a job.
Actually, most schools (middle and high), at least in NY, do teach these things in one way or another. The problem is none of this stuff is part of any formal testing or assessment system, so it's given pretty low priority next to STEM and language arts, and most of the students don't care and don't pay attention to any of it. If your graduation depended on being able to cook a good omelette and interpret some basic statistical/probabilistic information, maybe people would care. But that's not how it is.
Because people either vote republican or are purity bastards who refuse to vote for Dems. Duh.
I can't even imagine not having some kind of home-like place to lay my head at the end of the day. Any more than I can imagine not even having "the end of the day." This is a situation which shouldn't even exist in this country. Because let's not let it get away from us-- this isn't the richest country in the world, it's probably the richest country (or continent!) that's ever existed. So fucked up.
Everyone having a home?? Pure socialism!!
You are not alone. Seems that almost every family I know is facing a similar situation
Well you better tell the Federal Reserve because they plan to make sure a lot more of us are homeless.
I know too many people who were raped or assaulted in some way at youth hostels. If you could somehow fix the safety issues, I think it could work for some people in some places some of the time.
Even where I live a rented room has gone from $500 to $800 or more. That's with a shared bathroom. It's insanely greedy.
This is a big fucking deal.
I resoundingly second this motion. Personally, I wouldn't look askance at banning, or at least taxing the living daylights out of, foreign ownership entirely. The place I used to work began by 'managing' a housing development that was largely Section 8 and almost completely foreign owned. They didn't want to spend a penny on those places but boy they sure were in line when distribution time came around.
The GOP ain't gonna like this.
The Democrats used to bend over backwards wasting time trying to please the GOP only to have them vote against all the fucking reforms and appeasements that the right wing scum demanded.
I was living outdoors for a while back when I was having substance problems. I got to know a lot of other people living in tents and such. A fair number of them had no interest in any kind of formal housing. They didn't want to follow anyone else's rules. They didn't want to stay in the shelters for lots of reasons, personal safety being a major concern. They wanted to go back to their camp at the end of the day and get drunk or high without anyone hassling them. I don't see how you can fix that, and it's not a small percentage of those staying in the woods.
Republicans in Congress will howl because they are devoid of the light of understanding (and that's putting it kindly), but this is the kind of basic stuff you have to do if you want to keep a capitalist economy and society stable.
How dare they?!
We need *lots* more affordable housing in almost every state in the country. The problem is 1. builders don't like to build small, affordable apartments and houses because the profit margins are much lower and 2. middle- and upper-class homeowners don't like "affordable" housing in their neighborhoods because they think it will impact their own property values. (As well as attract, you know, *those* kinds of people) And comfortable homeowners are also the kinds of people who vote a lot and raise holy hell with their city council when push comes to shove. So, until you get politicians on board to provide robust incentives for builders (e.g. eliminating startup fees) and stand up to NIMBYism, we're not solving the homeless problem anytime soon.
And also, you can build all the mental health facilities and programs you want. Who's going to staff them? We need to be offering free college and med school benefits to anyone willing to go into the mental health field, particularly pediatric services. Many people who end up homeless started out as kids and teenagers who never received needed services for their emotional or mental health needs and ended up as damaged adults with drug or behavioral problems who can't hold down a job.
Actually, most schools (middle and high), at least in NY, do teach these things in one way or another. The problem is none of this stuff is part of any formal testing or assessment system, so it's given pretty low priority next to STEM and language arts, and most of the students don't care and don't pay attention to any of it. If your graduation depended on being able to cook a good omelette and interpret some basic statistical/probabilistic information, maybe people would care. But that's not how it is.