Why don't these people find something to do? They plan to move back and forth between the parks until... forever?
The city can't provide 10,000 affordable housing units. The money doesn't exist. You can't just complain a billion dollars into existence.
Everyone there needs some sort of plan for moving on with their lives. Living on a sidewalk is not a long-term plan, and protesting for the right to live on the sidewalk is not dealing with the long term, just perpetuating an untenable situation for yourself.
If the city of Portland can't provide housing for homeless people, how can they possibly do it for themselves? They have much fewer resources than the city does.
Um, they could do it the same way I provide housing for myself, and you presumably house yourself?
They could avail themselves of the many many services which are already available to help Portland's homeless with everything from food, clothes, and shelter to substance abuse and employment. They could call a relative or friend. They could kick a bad habit that is holding them back.
If they need shelter they should check out the Resource Access Center that the City just built for $45 million dollars. If they are convinced the the City and its taxpayers don't do anything for them, they could also check out the Resource Access Center that the City just built for $45 million dollars.
I'm not calling them lazy, nor underestimating their obstacles.
I simply don't start from the (frankly bizarre) paradigm that it is the job of, or even remotely within the resources of, a local city government to provide housing for everyone who shows up.
Not starting from the position that it is the job of local government to provide housing, I find it hard to understand people on the streets or their supporters who seem to expect that to happen, and seem to think the city is being "mean" for not doing it. Asking someone who is in no way obligated to provide a housing unit to you to do so, which we all no is not cheap, is a very big favor to ask for. People should be thanking the stars and clicking their heels for the few units the City has been able to supply. What a nice service from an entity in no way obligated to provide it.
Liberals don't understand that when you treat any person or population like they are helpless infants that need you to usher them through life while paying their way and patting their back, you are in fact dehumanizing them.
In asking why they don't pull themselves together, I'm actually giving them more respect then you are. I don't think they are doomed to be useless wards of the state. You do.
I have 25+ years in public assistance. All studies have shown that the most effective way of achieving long term self sufficiency is to give a person $5000. Those given $5000 hardly ever find themselves in a position of need again. Often they use it to move to where they do have support, or to get the health care they need before they can look for work. Instead we dole out little bits of help here and there, never enough to make a difference but enough to say "we're enabling them and no change ever comes of it; let's stop". Over time the $5000 is much cheaper than years of "little bits" of taxpayers money. Of course, for those who are mentally ill or addicted, a little case/money management to coach them as to the best use of that money would be smart. The toughest sell is to the taxpayers who would be appalled at a $5000 giveaway.
The city can't provide 10,000 affordable housing units. The money doesn't exist. You can't just complain a billion dollars into existence.
Everyone there needs some sort of plan for moving on with their lives. Living on a sidewalk is not a long-term plan, and protesting for the right to live on the sidewalk is not dealing with the long term, just perpetuating an untenable situation for yourself.
They could avail themselves of the many many services which are already available to help Portland's homeless with everything from food, clothes, and shelter to substance abuse and employment. They could call a relative or friend. They could kick a bad habit that is holding them back.
If they need shelter they should check out the Resource Access Center that the City just built for $45 million dollars. If they are convinced the the City and its taxpayers don't do anything for them, they could also check out the Resource Access Center that the City just built for $45 million dollars.
"STOP BEING MENTALLY ILL"
"STOP CHOOSING TO HAVE A DRUG ADDICTION"
"RETROACTIVELY BE RAISED IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT GAVE YOU THE PROPER TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD AND ITS CHALLENGES"
"RETROACTIVELY ESTABLISH A 'BACKSTOP' OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES YOU CAN AND WILL HELP YOU"
"ON TOP OF THOSE OTHER THINGS I LISTED, RETROACTIVELY BE AS LUCKY AS I HAVE BEEN"
I simply don't start from the (frankly bizarre) paradigm that it is the job of, or even remotely within the resources of, a local city government to provide housing for everyone who shows up.
Not starting from the position that it is the job of local government to provide housing, I find it hard to understand people on the streets or their supporters who seem to expect that to happen, and seem to think the city is being "mean" for not doing it. Asking someone who is in no way obligated to provide a housing unit to you to do so, which we all no is not cheap, is a very big favor to ask for. People should be thanking the stars and clicking their heels for the few units the City has been able to supply. What a nice service from an entity in no way obligated to provide it.
Liberals don't understand that when you treat any person or population like they are helpless infants that need you to usher them through life while paying their way and patting their back, you are in fact dehumanizing them.
In asking why they don't pull themselves together, I'm actually giving them more respect then you are. I don't think they are doomed to be useless wards of the state. You do.
Well said Blabby.