r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Garey_Coleman • 9d ago

Where are the homeless supposed to go?

Cities have been cracking down on homeless people so they can’t have encampments or stay on sidewalks. At the same time usually the shelters are full. So those who are unable to get into a shelter, where are they supposed to go?

8.2k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

4.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

117

u/Code-Useful 9d ago

I have to tell you that there are MANY MANY homeless here in the US: single, families, etc, that are NOT drug addicts or have mental health issues, they are just a product of our times and lifestyles and the economy.

Just because the ones you see and remember are the crazies, doesn't mean there aren't 10x more normal people out there that you don't see, like you and me, who have fallen on hard times. Please don't 'other' them because they don't have a home. Some of these people are really good people who have literally tried their best and life kicked them in the teeth. Some of them are on the spectrum and never got the help they needed.

Nearly EVERY lower income family in the US is one major accident, health problem, natural disaster, etc away from homelessness. Without uncorrupted social safety nets that democratic representatives usually are the only ones to fight for, we are headed down the tube and can only rely on each other.. hopefully some new projects like this find success.

4

u/Macleo142114 9d ago

Former homeless here: Not once did I ever encounter someone just down on there luck, Not once all of us were eather addicted or mentally ill. All we did was trade goods and services "free shit" for drugs all the time every time. The social handouts the politicians fight for collectively don't work. I'm sorry but there has to be a better solution.

9

u/Maximum-Extent-4821 9d ago

Yeah but think about it. Why would someone who has a family with them, go interact with your homeless community? Not every homeless person is going to want to join the drug addict economy.

2

u/Macleo142114 9d ago

Well then where are they going? Section 8 housing? I'm only coming on what I seen with my own eyes. Saying that there's thousands of people out there just down on their luck that are not addicted or homeless and living on the streets is bullshit never saw it at least not where I was.

5

u/Vegetable_Permit_537 9d ago

Those people, assuming they are there, are not spending their time around drug bartering homeless people. They are living in their car, showering at the gym or living in at their place of work. You only saw drug addicts because you were wherever the drugs were at and so were they. The non-addicted homeless are staying away from the drug addicted homeless or they would have been in your group.

1

u/Maximum-Extent-4821 9d ago

They are going wherever they go. Some have housing programs to lean on. Some go stay with family. When you have kids with you and not addicted to drugs, you go where it makes the most sense, instead of where you can get your fix. It sounds like your situation you were doing what didn't make sense, but still fulfilled your addiction.

2

u/Macleo142114 9d ago

Exactly my point! Housing programs, and staying with family is not the same as living on the street. They're not effected by homeless encampment pogroms (maybe not the right word...yet) were seeing these days. All I can witness to is my experience and what I've seen, and to say that there are vast numbers of homeless people that are NOT eather addicted or mentally ill is straight bullshit. Living in subsidized housing or with family is still living indoors.

2

u/Maximum-Extent-4821 9d ago

It's not though, because you ran to drug dens and shit. You have no idea because you are literally living a different situation.

0

u/Macleo142114 9d ago

You've obviously never been homeless

2

u/Maximum-Extent-4821 9d ago

I have been homeless twice. But I don't do drugs.

1

u/bikinibeard 9d ago

I have and same; never saw anyone who wasn’t trying to get and stay high unless they were severely mentally ill, to ill to even think about drugs.

1

u/_ArkAngel_ 8d ago

You don't recognize them because they don't want what you wanted.