Homeless America by Chris Hedges

[cat in january]

Yup that’s what I see in Maine. Lots of homeless folks in Portland with its resources. Zero here in the small midcoast town. Drug problem here is pretty bad-lobstering is a cash industry requiring no education.

[Hopeless Sinner]

^^^no idea. I know there are meth heads and drunks in my tiny town of 1800 people. But we see zero homeless and almost zero in the ER with drug addiction. Maybe they all migrate to a little bigger city nearby? 35 miles away there are the typical amount of homeless in a city of about 80,000.

No resources for them here. None. Maybe that’s part of it.

There is no question they migrate to regions and cities where more benefits, drug availability, and anonymity make life easier.

[climberevan]

There is no question they migrate to regions and cities where more benefits, drug availability, and anonymity make life easier.

Do you have any data to back up that claim? It is very commonly made as though it is received truth, but I wonder if studies/surveys/etc have actually proven it.

[Trackhead]

Anecdotal observations only on my end. Maybe there’s a social bond with others in the same kinda situation? The homeless in Juneau often were in groups to some extent. Not sure about the big metro area dynamics.

[BCMtnHound]

I think there are plenty of homeless in small towns like the one I live in. But most are couch surfing with friends or family, and fewer in tent camps. Still homeless, but with a bit more ‘grass roots’ support perhaps? Certainly less govt and NGO social services available once you are a couple day’s walk from the more populous centres (>5000 pop or so)

[Peruvian]

Do you have any data to back up that claim? It is very commonly made as though it is received truth, but I wonder if studies/surveys/etc have actually proven it.

Some news reports that provide some insights.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-...nd-and-to-help

https://www.axios.com/2020/02/05/hom...america-cities

It appears that due to the pandemic allowing those with resources to take advantage of cheaper housing in rural areas, homelessness in rural areas may be increasing faster than in urban areas.

[Hopeless Sinner]

It's all anecdotal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/n...smid=url-share


https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/u...smid=url-share

[Peruvian]

It's all anecdotal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/n...smid=url-share


https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/u...smid=url-share

I'm not sure I understand your point. HUD data referenced in the one report show that Kentucky had a higher increase in homelessness (10.9%) than in Los Angeles (9%).

Pre-pandemic numbers showed that almost 1/5th of homelessness occurred in rural areas - https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites...HAR-Part-1.pdf

[californiagrown]

I think there are plenty of homeless in small towns like the one I live in. But most are couch surfing with friends or family, and fewer in tent camps. Still homeless, but with a bit more ‘grass roots’ support perhaps?

IMO, this accurate. When one becomes homeless in a rural area there is a far greater liklihood of having family or friends to let you crash on the couch/basement, but when folks are in bigger city's they are likely away from family and housed friends. there is less of a family/friend safety net in bigger affluent cities, than their is in more rural less populated areas. So homelessness is more visible in bigger cities than it is in more rural areas. Thats my theory on it.

[stuckathuntermtn]

I hear you saying wealth comes homelessness and agree. Stats agree. But I don't know anything about dirt poor rural places in the country outside of the
North East. What would make Big Springs TX or Ely NV. immune to the problem? Maybe fewer people being around people just like them breeds fewer societal losers?

Or people just leave because it sucks.
If there are no homeless around you, it sucks where you live.
Also, it might mean nothing is in walking distance.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Are you a landlord by any chance?

Lol, no.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Finally

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/mo...e-homelessness

[Trackhead]

Finally

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/mo...e-homelessness

In 2018, the Ninth Circuit wrongly found that the Eighth Amendment provided the right to “sleep, camp, and defecate in public spaces.”

[old goat]

When you ban people from camping then they go somewhere else and camp. When every place bans camping you are banning people from existing. Unless you decide to incarcerate them which is a whole lot more expensive than providing housing.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

In 2018, the Ninth Circuit wrongly found that the Eighth Amendment provided the right to “sleep, camp, and defecate in public spaces.”

*Sinclair station editorial posing as a news article*

[Trackhead]

*Sinclair station editorial posing as a news article*

??

[::: :::]

Sinclair is a nationwide conservative media ownership group that has a history of pushing editorials on its local stations without identifying the “reports” as such
[eta]here is the same news via the NYT indicating no untoward Sinclair influence in your orig link
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/u...e=articleShare

The worry I have if all these places allow homeless to be booted without housing available is that they will be given bus tickets to portland

[Core Shot]

Upton Sinclair is rolling in his grave.
Welcome to the jungle v2

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Sinclair is a nationwide conservative media ownership group that has a history of pushing editorials on its local stations without identifying the “reports” as such
[eta]here is the same news via the NYT indicating no untoward Sinclair influence in your orig link
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/u...e=articleShare

The worry I have if all these places allow homeless to be booted without housing available is that they will be given bus tickets to portland

Or Santa Cruz which has happened in the past.

I should have read that linked "article" before posting - I've conveniently forgotten that local NBC stations are sinclair trash now that I have streaming options.

[GiBo]

When you ban people from camping then they go somewhere else and camp. When every place bans camping you are banning people from existing. Unless you decide to incarcerate them which is a whole lot more expensive than providing housing.

I agree in concept, however, many homeless refuse the housing. Then what?

[zion zig zag]

When you ban people from camping then they go somewhere else and camp.

The person who has an encampment across the street, who's kids can't play in the park, or feel safe walking the neighborhood: "So what"

Honestly, a large percentage of the homeless that are mentally ill and/or addicts, need to be institutionalized, but it seems that ship has sailed.

[skaredshtles]

The person who has an encampment across the street, who's kids can't play in the park, or feel safe walking the neighborhood: "So what"

Honestly, a large percentage of the homeless that are mentally ill and/or addicts, need to be institutionalized, but it seems that ship has sailed.

Certain members of our population: "wE'Ll nEvEr bE AbLe tO Do tHaT - It's fAr tOo eXpEnSiVe!!"

Military/industrial complex:

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Private prison corporations:

FIFY

[skaredshtles]

FIFY

I consider that part of the MI complex.

[mcphee]

^those aren’t nervous chuckles from those 2