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0 points1024core10y ago0 comments

> The key thing to note here is that with very, very few exceptions, everyone living on the street was a 'normal' person.

That is where you are dead wrong. I would highly recommend you walk down 13th street (aka Duboce or Division, can't remember) and talk to the people living in the tent colony lining it. I have; it used to be my way to work till the hassle became too much and I started taking a detour. I would posit and say 100% of them are there by some sort of choice (not following the rules of the shelter is a huge #1). Drugs, alcohol and theft (bike, specially) are rife there.

I live in SF, and just can't stand the holier-than-thou approach taken by those who have not experienced SF's homeless firsthand. These are not your "lost my job and house and am forced to live out of my car" homeless; these are people, most of whom made a conscious decision to come to SF because they're attracted by the generous benefits, or got hounded out of whatever city they were in.

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kweks10y ago

I've not worked with the homeless in SF, but I have seen it first hand.

Noone is contesting the infiltration of alcoholism, drugs, etc that is a huge part of the homeless puzzle.

However, it's important to consider that the abuse comes as a result of being on the streets, and the desire to numb against the hardship, or if it was the catalyst that placed the people in that situation. My experience is that it's more the former than the latter.

Call it holier-than-thou, but I've been working with homeless for over 5 years, 2 nights per week. I am sure that SF's situation has its nuances, but I'd be surprised if it was totally different.

beatpanda10y ago

Serious question: how many people working in the software industry do you know who don't use drugs or alcohol?

If everybody in San Francisco was held to the insane standards shelter clients are held to, nobody would be able to stay in an apartment for more than a week.

1024coreOP10y ago

That's a strawman. There's a difference between drinking a couple of pints of beer with buddies, and emptying a pint of cheap vodka and passing out on the street, covered in your own urine and/or vomit.

beatpanda10y ago

And your comment is also a strawman, because people get kicked out of shelters for simple possession.

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0 points1024core10y ago0 comments

> The key thing to note here is that with very, very few exceptions, everyone living on the street was a 'normal' person.

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kweks10y ago

I've not worked with the homeless in SF, but I have seen it first hand.

Noone is contesting the infiltration of alcoholism, drugs, etc that is a huge part of the homeless puzzle.

Call it holier-than-thou, but I've been working with homeless for over 5 years, 2 nights per week. I am sure that SF's situation has its nuances, but I'd be surprised if it was totally different.

beatpanda10y ago

Serious question: how many people working in the software industry do you know who don't use drugs or alcohol?

If everybody in San Francisco was held to the insane standards shelter clients are held to, nobody would be able to stay in an apartment for more than a week.

1024coreOP10y ago

beatpanda10y ago

And your comment is also a strawman, because people get kicked out of shelters for simple possession.

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