The LA Homeless Problem

LA County spent $619m dollars last year to take care of 60,000 homeless.

Yet there are more homeless now than ever.

Things that make you go hmmmm...

 

Thats about $10,000 per street bum

No wonder derelicts are converging on LA

 

Considering the various bank scams lending to unqualified buyers a decade ago, it's not so mysterious. Plus, the government would rather spend tax dollars on bullshit wars than on affordable housing.

 

I'm with you on the bank scams and the wars but you only need to look at public housing to know that that isn't the answer. Take the folks on the streets of LA and put them into subsidized or even free housing and in short order they will destroy it and blame the government. A broader approach is needed in dealing with homelessness. We need to open large facilities to deal with mental illness. Nation wide their are large disused government facilities that could operate as processing centers to guide people to appropriate services. Many people on the streets are the working homeless, they work and still can't afford housing. For them we need WPA like programs as avenues to more gainful employment. Chronic drug and alcohol problems are probably the hardest to deal with and whatever we do for them there will always be some number of them who are unfortunately destined to the streets. Those people are more representative of the homeless population before things went out of control. I don't believe we can eradicate homelessness in it's entirety, but the government pisses away tax dollars on a lot of things that are useless and help nobody. All of the things I mentioned aren't as expensive as dealing with the fallout from homelessness across the nation. We have to remember that every one of those people on the street are Americans an should be a priority over anyone coming into the country legally and illegally.

 

The federal government is responsible for creating affordable housing?

Here is a question... why is housing so unaffordable in California?

 

We have plenty closed Malls just sitting rotting in place that could easily be converted to inexpensive housing for the homeless and the minimum wage workers.There are no shortages of vacant buildings.

 

Supply and demand. There is a limited supply of homes.

In Texas, we have a nearly unlimited supply of new subdivisions. That keeps prices consistently reasonable.

 

They all turn into Cabrini Green.

 

These people are not normal. Make an announcement to all homeless that they have 90 days to find a job and find housing, or they will be rounded up, considered mentally ill, and placed in an insane asylum. Our good citizens should be protected from their ways. And the insane should be cared for a well as possible.

 

The free market.

The separation of wealth and wage disparity. Same problems in San Francisco, Portand, Seattle, and other cities. You can't make enough on minimum wage to pay more than basic rent.

Min wage: <= 30,000 a year before taxes.
Typical rent >= 24,000 a year.

Then righties blame the liberal cities because the free market leaves people homeless. And when you're down and out, you can't even move. So people with full-time jobs end up living on the streets.

 

Yeah but it's Texass for gosh sake..

 

When the next crash hits, watch all of those surplus homes turn into a ghetto.

 

The problem is gentrification. When the smallest homes being built are 2500 square feet it is hard for people starting out to afford the average track home..

https://www.investopedia.com/articl...out-the-real-estate-market.asp#mortgage-rates

 

The free market at work

 

There are many vacant homes that are not getting sold but they are building new ones constantly..

 

People living on the streets can't even afford to rent an apartment.

 

The best place to raise a family.

But if someone is queer and wants to cruise for sex every night, they may not want to move here.

 

Housing is unaffordable to the 40% of working Americans who earn $15 an hour and less!!!!

 

I was under the impression that the nation is way behind on building affordable housing. It's because people don't want it in their backyard. Unfortunately there's nowhere else to go but the street.

 

What you just did is described high cost of living's implications.

Not the cause.

What causes housing to cost substantially more than wages earned?

Odd.. many major cities dont deal with the same cost of living and high housing costs your liberal meccas do. Ever wonder why?

 

What's an acceptable $/bum ratio?

Clearly $11k each isnt adequate in your eyes.

 

Problem is, with the homeless comes drugs and crime.

Nobody wants to live near a giant homeless camp. You'd tank everyone's home value and leave your city worse off.

 

I lived in Houston for four years.

I'd move back in a heart beat my wife didnt make my life decisions.

 

I guess you missed the OP...

Righties blame lefties for spending $600m dollars on a problem that gets worse every year. That's $11k a person. Put two bums in an apartment and pay their rent... voila. You've even got money left over.

How would YOU fix the homeless problem in LA County with $600m? Bet you have a lot of great ideas on what to do with that money, huh? I think I could fix it if I was given $600m. Surely you think you could too?

Sounds easy. Why havent they fixed the problem then?

I'd also be willing to bet that a good portion of that money went to stupid **** and relatives.

 

Out of curiosity...

Am I supposed to feel sympathetic for an adult who makes less than $15/hr? Serious question.

It's almost like because someone didnt work as hard as me or put in the hours that I did, I should pity them.

Is that not how you're supposed to look at it?

I get that are instances where people have health issues, but I'd be willing to bet the vast majority of that 40% is lazy, worthless, unreliable, incompetent, and probably doesnt give two shits about keeping their job.

I know because my wife interviewed hundreds of them. She even had one lady who no showed on an interview because she was "trying to make a baby with her boyfriend".

No really, she said that.

My wife recruits healthcare professionals now. Those people seem to be a lot less stupid.