r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Garey_Coleman • 10d 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?

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u/MolemanEnLaManana 10d ago

No one wants to say it aloud (because it’s a vile and appalling outcome) but the logical conclusion here is putting homeless people in prisons and other institutions against their will. If you criminalize homelessness more and more, and you don’t create more spaces where the homeless can freely live, that’s what you’re building toward.

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u/HungryIndependence13 10d ago

Florida has made it illegal for them to sleep. No joke. 

You aren’t allowed to use someone else’s private property to sleep. 

You aren’t allowed to sleep on public property. 

So, they can’t sleep anywhere. They are not allowed to sleep. 

This 100% turns them into criminals against their will. No matter how hard they try to stay awake they will eventually fall asleep somewhere. 

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u/mynamewasusedalready 9d ago

I live in FL and can assure you those folks be sleeping anywhere and everywhere, so while it may be illegal it’s not enforced.

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u/HungryIndependence13 9d ago edited 9d ago

It’s enforced in some places. I have seen it and I volunteer/work with these folks. It’s enforced.  

People still sneak-sleep where they can. 

Some businesses, if the car or person shows up late and is gone early (well after & well before working hours) and the person leaves nothing behind (including the smell of urine, vomit - NO SMELLS) and has done nothing illegal except sleep…some business people will look the other way. If the cops don’t see them, they may not be awakened or arrested. 

Occasionally a land owner will look the other way if the person shows up with a tent, does not leave poo behind and is gone (with their tent) before dawn…but it is very rare. But that is dangerous. Gators, panthers, bears…they will go right through the tent to eat you. And it would have to be the greatest tent in the world to keep out fire ants as well as other spiders, roaches and other bugs that will bite or cause problems. Not to mention dangerous humans, if they find out about it. And they usually do. 

And if it’s on land where the person lives…I’ve never heard of that not getting a police call

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u/mynamewasusedalready 9d ago

I mean I would also call the police if a stranger slept on my property.

I’ve never heard of gators or panthers eating homeless people - it’s actually incredibly rare for them to attack humans- but sure the insects and heat will do a number.

Mainly I see them sleeping at bus stops, under bridges, along the side of the road. Public property.

My husband worked in a bad area where homeless people would camp by the business. The owners would call the cops, but this isn’t a high priority call, so typically by the time the police show up the person is gone.

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u/HungryIndependence13 9d ago

How much crime against homeless people have you heard about?

Unless it is a serial killer who gets caught for some reason, nobody even cares. 

I doubt you hear anything about it even though it happens daily.