The homeless

[Dave Grubb]

From this morning's WSJ:

The number of homeless people in California grew about 50% between 2014 and 2022. The state, which accounts for 12% of the U.S. population, has about half of the nation’s unsheltered homeless, an estimated 115,000 people, according to federal and state data last year. It also has among the highest average rent and median home prices in the U.S.
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California spent a record $17 billion combating homelessness in the past four fiscal years. For the state budget year starting in July, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed another $3.7 billion.

Voters in Los Angeles and San Francisco, which have some of the largest homeless populations in California, were unhappy enough about it to approve taxes costing them billions of dollars to fund anti-homelessness programs and housing in recent years. So far, cost overruns and delays have left little to show for the money.

I'm sad to say it seems they need to find another approach

[UTAH]

I'm assuming most of CA's homeless are in the Southern part of the state. Cause, that's where the weather is warm enough to live on the street.

Utah's homeless population is counted yearly (which requires knowing where to find them - not as easy as it sounds). They're primarily in the Salt Lake Valley - where they can beg for money and access emergency services. We hover around 3,130 of them statewide.

I'll be blunt - I cannot imagine living on the street in SLC. For, each Winter, the temps hit zero degrees F.

If I were homeless in Utah, I'd work my way down to St. George - which rarely gets below freezing. And, the residents are relatively high-earners (theoretically making begging more profitable).

I'm surprised CA is spending several billion dollars a year on homelessness. I'd want to know (e.g., audit) how much of that is spent on maintenance (feeding/care) v. programs targeting homelessness initiators.

Hunter

[TriGuy]

one of the problems we have in housing the homeless in CA are the NIMBY's Everyone wants them housed, just not in my neighborhood. Here in Livermore we have fought a special interest group over a downtown housing and shopping complex for 6 years and 5 special elections and numerous lawsuits all because it would include 50 units of low income housing (out of 400). The lost every vote by a 2/3 margin and now even the courts have had enough and are requiring them to post a $100,000 bond to cover the city's legal fees every time they sue the city and lose in court.

This same entitled group is opposing a plan by the local Presbyterian church on the outskirts of town to build 16 tiny homes on their church property to house homeless families

[Dave Grubb]

The focus in this article besides CA was Oakland and a particularly troublesome encampment under the Interstate. It had been unofficially condoned for a long time and then had a major fire--which among other things displaced many from their hovels.

They did not give any numbers relative to north/south.

In NYC when the temperature drops (or forecast to drop) below 32F they start picking up the homeless and taking them to shelters----but some will not go---they are fearful of the shelters and prefer to risk the weather. Many go down in the subways but some remain on the street---sleeping on steam vents or a couple pieces of newspaper laid on a stone door step The city also operates "warming centers" all over Manhattan, I'm not sure of how many in the outer boroughs.
The Port Authority is one of the more popular places as well---often it seems as if the homeless outnumber the travelers.

Those who insist on staying on the street are among the most mentally ill. They need compassion not ridicule.

[TriGuy]

Oakland has 3 major homeless camps. Westside under 880 spilling onto Shadduck and MLK. that's the worst even with the city providing wash stations and porta potties plus dumpsters its a filthy ****hole of druggies and mentally ill. Fruitvale and 880 by Home Depot. that one was really bad but has been improved. w12th street at e 14th total shanty town on the median but some of those folks built some really nice tiny houses. One of the things Oakland had down is rent out all the vacant hotels by the Colosseum and moved in the non drug using homeless which has gotten a bunch of families off the street

[Kevin]

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.