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What is a solution for the homeless who number in the millions across our country. (USA)

Please no trolling.
BlueMetalChick · 26-30, F Best Comment
According to neocons, we need to berate them and tell them to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." And that solves the problem.

Sarcasm aside, I think a national public works project would do a huge deal to help homelessness. Create a large number of jobs, even if they're low wage menial jobs, doing construction to overhaul America's miserably dilapidated infrastructure. Everything from roadwork to revamping the power grid and modernizing the dated public transport system. At least the homeless people would be getting paid some money, and we'd be doing something good for the country.
@BlueMetalChick Excellent response and one that is based on real- world experience where we have done this before. The dam built outside of Las Vegas is a good example. Plus, this sort of effort would help rebuild self esteem for the new working. Maybe I'm a dreamer but this sounds the most sensible to me.

Thanks for an insightful answer.

Gusman · 61-69, M
The US gave $50 Billion in foreign aid last year.
But how does one convince governments to look after their own first?
There are no votes in helping the homeless so the problem will get worse in every country.
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
@suzie1960 It's not about hatred of anyone.
The U.S is failing. It just saw it's President take out a massive Trillion dollar tax cut to the wealthiest !
Somebody's STILL got to PAY for it !!

The Leave vote was driven by politicians with one eye of their own promotion and businesses who didn't want control of the lendng/borrowing given to the ECB and entirely FINANCED by GERMANY !

Farage is an idiot. Even folk here know that !
suzie1960 · 61-69, F
@Picklebobble2 I know people who voted to leave to "stop those [expleted deleted] foreigners coming here." I don't think they realized it would also prevent British people retiring to France and Spain. It could even see those who already have being booted out and sent back here if we out government starts getting awkward.

Farage is an idiot. Even folk here know that!
Well, that's something we completely agree on. :)
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
@suzie1960 I love the idea of 'folk retiring to France and Spain'.
Half the country working public sector jobs hasn't had a pay rise above 1% in over TEN years !!
For those kids in their mid-20's working minimum wage jobs and having known nothing else, they'll NEVER SEE retirement !!!
SW-User
Get someone in office that will really improve the economy, so there are more jobs
Gangstress · 41-45, F
@SW-User There is a magnitude of ways they can do this. But they chose to keep them homeless. Most of them are ex vets
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
@SW-User Already do
SW-User
@Gangstress i know. It makes me very sad.
Gangstress · 41-45, F
Getting rid of half the presidents / politicians who cater for only the rich
Making people feel that their lives are worth living instead of them depending, on the most part, on drugs. A more holistic American Dream and society would naturally create less homelessness. Instilling in people survival skills should be mandatory. Hunting. Building shelters and homes using basic materials. Homelessness should not mean people struggle to exist, only that they lose residence of somewhere which is not their own property

Make areas of land free to inhabit!
@FlatEarthChocolateCookie Wonderful answer
irluva · 41-45, C
@FlatEarthChocolateCookie in theory this is great but go to cities like Portland OR where the laws against homeless camps are very little and resources like tents and warm clothes are provided. The set up camps and stay mostly to themselves but there is a huge problem with trash and feces and in general very unhealthy conditions that they create for themselves.

Just providing a place to live and shelter won't fix people with drug and alcohol problems or problems with mental health issues. Many homeless people have plenty of ability and skills to get labor jobs and even use free resources to further education and job training. But they won't do these things on there own without some type of incentive.
@FlatEarthChocolateCookie Mabe we need to bring back the 60's, sure a lot of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but some wonderful ideas were borne of that generation and did a lot of the things you suggested.
While they're figuring out how to fix the problem, there are a few bandaids that would certainly help.

In every population center, mobile shower units, laundry facilities. (More could find work if they didn't look homeless.)

Heated housing - maybe tents fir the winter, cooled for the summer. Mobile clinics for acute things like injuries and diseases.
Wurkoutgurl · 46-50, F
First and foremost we need more help for the mentally ill. I've met a lot of homeless and this is a big part of the problem, vets included. Also, drugs are a huge reason for .being homeless. I'm not sure how to fix that situation. You take away one drug and they'll sniff bath salts. That's a toughie. And it really irks me that the government is blamed for all homelessness. The drug thing was the users choice. However mental health, that's where the government needs to step it up.
irluva · 41-45, C
Didn't read all of the comments but it is funny to me how political they all are. The majority of our homeless problem is mental health issues, and yes I am putting drug and alcohol addiction in the same category. Fix the mental health problem and provide better more accessible resource for those that can be helped and you will solve a lot.
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
Gotta know the cause first.
It's not just a US problem where roughly .17% of the population was homeless in 2017. Canada is doing a much better job (we should ask them) with only .09% of population homeless in 2013.
Australia in 2011 .46% and the UK in 2016 .43% of the population.

It's a mess.

It's not the majority, certainly, but at least some of the homeless choose to be homeless. I don't know what we can do about them.

(This list was in Wikipedia, not exactly the be-all end-all in accuracy.)
User41 · 36-40, M
I think we should feed them to the starving.

Two birds. One stone.
SW-User
Same as any where, education, healthcare, culture.
SW-User
Border guards. Line 'em up.
This message was deleted by the author of the main post.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
@Picklebobble2 we literally spend millions each year just conducting these kinds of "surveys"... instead of buying actual food...
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
@wildbill83 Well,you have to question who does the interviews and why nothing changes then.
REALLY disturbing the numbers of foodbanks in operation in the UK these days. Like people just accept it as a part of modern life.

 
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