Orange County Was Set to House the Homeless, and There Was a Popular Revolt

I always thought it was pretty obvious that we are going to have a growing homeless population even when i was a kid. My idea is to give big tax breaks to people who adopt homeless families. And they need to build homeless centers to actually house them and get them back into society. They could always buy empty hotels. This is what i wanted to do if i ever won the lottery. What is your great idea for helping the homeless?

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Graylight · 51-55, F

It's not just housing. It's not enough to turn hotels into living domiciles for the homeless. Osceola County, FL turned every hotel on its tourist strip into this (stay on Disney property!!) and it becomes loitering under a roof.

This isn't to say the homeless don't want or won't take help. It's that, after low-rent housing, they have no other resources. Mental health services, addiction counseling, resume workshops, job training, day care and after school programs...so much is needed to create a community of people who can rise above their luck and circumstances.

Maybe if we spent less on the "war on drugs," locking up petty offenders or, say, spending tens of thousands of dollars on media reports to see what Stormy Daniels said in the media (ahem...Trump), there'd be funding available to truly help.

There are some programs underway now who house, then train and work with the homeless and their results have been very promising.

puck61

@Graylight Seattle Washington has tried this. The homeless trashed the housing. It's the same with a lot of "projects" in northern cities. There a certain people who simply can't 'adult' very well. Simple as that.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@puck61 These programs are working in several cities, and working well. You should look into Salt Lake City for one of the best run pilot programs.

We're not talking about coops or low rent housing. These are furnished apartments which come with strict conditions for continued tenancy. As you say, addiction and mental illness permeate the homeless community. These are not simple conditions, and there has to be allowance for great give and take in order to see success.

puck61

@Graylight Oh my god! We agree! Hell just froze over! Yes. If there is a 'structure' provided, we should by all means do everything we can as a society to help people heal and live with comfort and dignity! The structure is definitely necessary though!

Graylight · 51-55, F

@puck61 Right? It must be some kind of Easter miracle! Funny how the most unexpected things can bridge common ground between people.

puck61

@Graylight Never fear! I'll find some reason to be at your proverbial throat again! Give me a few minutes! 😆

LILY61

@puck61 you can't just leave them alone to fend for themselves. they need guards and on location counselors

puck61

Both Bellingham and Seattle tried that, and it was a disaster. The places became a shooting gallery and a dump.

LILY61

@puck61 i think it is time for some other form of life to take over the world

puck61

@LILY61 I'm not quite that cynical. For all our faults, humans are still pretty awesome as a general rule.

LILY61

@puck61 you must be talking about other humans