Helping the homeless
Discussion
Here in New Mexico, just like many cities around the world we have a homeless problem. Maybe problem isn't the correct word, but it will have to do, so don't get upset.
To help the homeless get out of the spiral of poverty Albuquerque spent nearly $5 million of taxpayer money building a small village of 30 tiny homes. The idea being that the homeless can be better helped by giving them somewhere safe to live, a valid address to give to a potential employer and a chance to find a job and get back on their feet. To be eligible you simply have to be drug free, you cannot have drugs or alcohol in the village and you have to help keep the village clean and tidy.
So far only 5 of the 30 houses are occupied, but a new homeless encampment has sprung up next door to the village.
It seems that you just can't help people who don't want to be helped.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tiny-h...
To help the homeless get out of the spiral of poverty Albuquerque spent nearly $5 million of taxpayer money building a small village of 30 tiny homes. The idea being that the homeless can be better helped by giving them somewhere safe to live, a valid address to give to a potential employer and a chance to find a job and get back on their feet. To be eligible you simply have to be drug free, you cannot have drugs or alcohol in the village and you have to help keep the village clean and tidy.
So far only 5 of the 30 houses are occupied, but a new homeless encampment has sprung up next door to the village.
It seems that you just can't help people who don't want to be helped.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tiny-h...
Homelessness is a very complicated issue and there is no single quick fix. There are usually many different contributing factors that lead to homelessness, if you really want to understand and help those that find themselves in such a sorry position then volunteer to help those that are less fortunate than you. Plus, keep an open mind and prepare to learn something about a subject you might not have previously known about or fully understood.
Unknown_User said:
Homelessness is a very complicated issue and there is no single quick fix. There are usually many different contributing factors that lead to homelessness, if you really want to understand and help those that find themselves in such a sorry position then volunteer to help those that are less fortunate than you. Plus, keep an open mind and prepare to learn something about a subject you might not have previously known about or fully understood.
Unfortunately my dealings with the homeless were when I was a cop. And it would involve arresting them for; shoplifting, drunk in public, burglary, copper theft, car theft, drug possession, urinating and defecating in public. I could go on to list just about every petty crime, and some not so petty, like arson, but you get my point.You offer the homeless a helping hand and unless it involves simply giving them money, they're not interested.
NMNeil said:
Unknown_User said:
Homelessness is a very complicated issue and there is no single quick fix. There are usually many different contributing factors that lead to homelessness, if you really want to understand and help those that find themselves in such a sorry position then volunteer to help those that are less fortunate than you. Plus, keep an open mind and prepare to learn something about a subject you might not have previously known about or fully understood.
Unfortunately my dealings with the homeless were when I was a cop. And it would involve arresting them for; shoplifting, drunk in public, burglary, copper theft, car theft, drug possession, urinating and defecating in public. I could go on to list just about every petty crime, and some not so petty, like arson, but you get my point.You offer the homeless a helping hand and unless it involves simply giving them money, they're not interested.
NMNeil said:
Unfortunately my dealings with the homeless were when I was a cop. And it would involve arresting them for; shoplifting, drunk in public, burglary, copper theft, car theft, drug possession, urinating and defecating in public. I could go on to list just about every petty crime, and some not so petty, like arson, but you get my point.
You offer the homeless a helping hand and unless it involves simply giving them money, they're not interested.
Because they are mentally ill. Addicted to drugs and so the thought of giving up drugs is worse than sleeping in the cold. You have to take them through a bit of a journey first where the end point is the free housing not the start pointYou offer the homeless a helping hand and unless it involves simply giving them money, they're not interested.
Does the tiny house village offer any help in terms of getting and keeping them drug free?
For anyone with a serious drug addiction, offering them a house doesn’t much in terms of dealing with their drink/drug issues.
That’s before you even consider that drugs are more often than not a symptom rather than the actual issue.
For anyone with a serious drug addiction, offering them a house doesn’t much in terms of dealing with their drink/drug issues.
That’s before you even consider that drugs are more often than not a symptom rather than the actual issue.
In Cardiff the police and the council used to move them on or force them into hostels/shelters and begging was banned. Some do-gooders started giving the police and council workers are hard time for moving them on and the local online paper joined in so they were left alone.
Didnt take long for the main shopping street to start looking like this. The help they used to get in the shelters gone, free to do as many drugs as they like now.
Didnt take long for the main shopping street to start looking like this. The help they used to get in the shelters gone, free to do as many drugs as they like now.
Offering them houses and the chance to find jobs and get back on their feet again is all well and good, but the homeless people who want to go down that route have access to similar schemes across the western world. Good, hardworking people who end up on the street through no fault of their own need access to things like this, it's a lifeline to them.
These sorts of schemes however, are no good for junkies. These are people who lost it all because they put drink, drugs, gambling etc before everything else. Nothing in the world matters more to them than satisfying their cravings.
If you offer them free housing on the condition that they can't drink or do drugs and then monitor their compliance, you will find that many of them would rather sleep on the street. The reason homeless shelters in every city have empty beds every night is because many of these people prefer the street life and the access to the substances.
What we see as an offer of help or a route out of the gutter, to them is nothing more than a threat to the lifestyle they are accustomed to.
These sorts of schemes however, are no good for junkies. These are people who lost it all because they put drink, drugs, gambling etc before everything else. Nothing in the world matters more to them than satisfying their cravings.
If you offer them free housing on the condition that they can't drink or do drugs and then monitor their compliance, you will find that many of them would rather sleep on the street. The reason homeless shelters in every city have empty beds every night is because many of these people prefer the street life and the access to the substances.
What we see as an offer of help or a route out of the gutter, to them is nothing more than a threat to the lifestyle they are accustomed to.
NMNeil said:
Here in New Mexico, just like many cities around the world we have a homeless problem. Maybe problem isn't the correct word, but it will have to do, so don't get upset.
To help the homeless get out of the spiral of poverty Albuquerque spent nearly $5 million of taxpayer money building a small village of 30 tiny homes. The idea being that the homeless can be better helped by giving them somewhere safe to live, a valid address to give to a potential employer and a chance to find a job and get back on their feet. To be eligible you simply have to be drug free, you cannot have drugs or alcohol in the village and you have to help keep the village clean and tidy.
So far only 5 of the 30 houses are occupied, but a new homeless encampment has sprung up next door to the village.
It seems that you just can't help people who don't want to be helped.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tiny-h...
I think the lack of occupancy shows that the city hasn’t addressed the actual problem, it’s clearly not simply finding a roof it’s more commonly addiction. “Simply have to be drug free” ignores the point that for many people it’s not all that simple. To help the homeless get out of the spiral of poverty Albuquerque spent nearly $5 million of taxpayer money building a small village of 30 tiny homes. The idea being that the homeless can be better helped by giving them somewhere safe to live, a valid address to give to a potential employer and a chance to find a job and get back on their feet. To be eligible you simply have to be drug free, you cannot have drugs or alcohol in the village and you have to help keep the village clean and tidy.
So far only 5 of the 30 houses are occupied, but a new homeless encampment has sprung up next door to the village.
It seems that you just can't help people who don't want to be helped.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tiny-h...
The drug issue needs addressing but that’s a) bloody difficult b) requires a complete overhaul of drug laws rather than persisting with the current system and c) willing participation by addicts in any reform programmes. That’s a lot harder, a lot wider reaching and almost certainly a lot more expensive than building a few houses so you can claim to have done something.
survivalist said:
Does the tiny house village offer any help in terms of getting and keeping them drug free?
For anyone with a serious drug addiction, offering them a house doesn’t much in terms of dealing with their drink/drug issues.
That’s before you even consider that drugs are more often than not a symptom rather than the actual issue.
That's the whole idea. Keep them off drugs, and drink is a drug, help them get a job and the idea being that they can then become independent and not homeless.For anyone with a serious drug addiction, offering them a house doesn’t much in terms of dealing with their drink/drug issues.
That’s before you even consider that drugs are more often than not a symptom rather than the actual issue.
https://www.cabq.gov/family/services/homeless-serv...
NMNeil said:
Unknown_User said:
Homelessness is a very complicated issue and there is no single quick fix. There are usually many different contributing factors that lead to homelessness, if you really want to understand and help those that find themselves in such a sorry position then volunteer to help those that are less fortunate than you. Plus, keep an open mind and prepare to learn something about a subject you might not have previously known about or fully understood.
Unfortunately my dealings with the homeless were when I was a cop. And it would involve arresting them for; shoplifting, drunk in public, burglary, copper theft, car theft, drug possession, urinating and defecating in public. I could go on to list just about every petty crime, and some not so petty, like arson, but you get my point.You offer the homeless a helping hand and unless it involves simply giving them money, they're not interested.
The post above that mentions mental health is where you should start your journey when it comes to understanding homelessness. I hope you have a nice festive holiday.
NMNeil said:
Here in New Mexico, just like many cities around the world we have a homeless problem. Maybe problem isn't the correct word, but it will have to do, so don't get upset.
To help the homeless get out of the spiral of poverty Albuquerque spent nearly $5 million of taxpayer money building a small village of 30 tiny homes. The idea being that the homeless can be better helped by giving them somewhere safe to live, a valid address to give to a potential employer and a chance to find a job and get back on their feet. To be eligible you simply have to be drug free, you cannot have drugs or alcohol in the village and you have to help keep the village clean and tidy.
So far only 5 of the 30 houses are occupied, but a new homeless encampment has sprung up next door to the village.
It seems that you just can't help people who don't want to be helped.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tiny-h...
Same in the UK. In years gone by there has often been places for the majority of rough sleepers. They just don't want to abide by the rules that go along with those places.To help the homeless get out of the spiral of poverty Albuquerque spent nearly $5 million of taxpayer money building a small village of 30 tiny homes. The idea being that the homeless can be better helped by giving them somewhere safe to live, a valid address to give to a potential employer and a chance to find a job and get back on their feet. To be eligible you simply have to be drug free, you cannot have drugs or alcohol in the village and you have to help keep the village clean and tidy.
So far only 5 of the 30 houses are occupied, but a new homeless encampment has sprung up next door to the village.
It seems that you just can't help people who don't want to be helped.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tiny-h...
bazza white said:
In Cardiff the police and the council used to move them on or force them into hostels/shelters and begging was banned. Some do-gooders started giving the police and council workers are hard time for moving them on and the local online paper joined in so they were left alone.
Didnt take long for the main shopping street to start looking like this. The help they used to get in the shelters gone, free to do as many drugs as they like now.
Very very few hostels or shelters will tolerate drinking or drug taking. When an individual is addicted to drugs or alcohol and physically relies on substances then the end result is always returning to the streets. Addiction is considered an illness and not a lifestyle choice, and rightly so.Didnt take long for the main shopping street to start looking like this. The help they used to get in the shelters gone, free to do as many drugs as they like now.
NMNeil said:
survivalist said:
Does the tiny house village offer any help in terms of getting and keeping them drug free?
For anyone with a serious drug addiction, offering them a house doesn’t much in terms of dealing with their drink/drug issues.
That’s before you even consider that drugs are more often than not a symptom rather than the actual issue.
That's the whole idea. Keep them off drugs, and drink is a drug, help them get a job and the idea being that they can then become independent and not homeless.For anyone with a serious drug addiction, offering them a house doesn’t much in terms of dealing with their drink/drug issues.
That’s before you even consider that drugs are more often than not a symptom rather than the actual issue.
https://www.cabq.gov/family/services/homeless-serv...
It’s a superficially a good idea, but is deeply flawed for obvious reasons. The requirement to have been drug and alcohol free for 30days prior to being allowed a unit is where it’s completely falling flat on its face.
The vast majority of homelessness in the US (and most developed countries) is caused by alcohol/substance abuse and/or mental health.
Seems like an incredibly naive and shortsighted scheme, or a deliberately cynical one so that certain persuasions can gleefully go, “we told you so, look!”
Maybe if they’d spent that $5m on substance abuse and mental Heath services, and the existing social housing services instead, they’d have had a much greater success rate than getting just 5 people off the streets. $1m per person is where its at right now. Bunch of idiots.
The vast majority of homelessness in the US (and most developed countries) is caused by alcohol/substance abuse and/or mental health.
Seems like an incredibly naive and shortsighted scheme, or a deliberately cynical one so that certain persuasions can gleefully go, “we told you so, look!”
Maybe if they’d spent that $5m on substance abuse and mental Heath services, and the existing social housing services instead, they’d have had a much greater success rate than getting just 5 people off the streets. $1m per person is where its at right now. Bunch of idiots.
dvs_dave said:
The vast majority of homelessness in the US (and most developed countries) is caused by alcohol/substance abuse and/or mental health.
Most often:Live crisis or deprivation leads to mental health crisis leads to drug or alcohol use leads to rough sleeping.
Just going “here’s a roof and four walls. No drink or drugs. Get on with it” does nothing. You may as well tell someone they can live in a house as long as they don’t eat.
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