# Homeless encampments **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 1, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527 "2022-06-01T22:07:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/61 "2022-06-02T23:42:42Z")
It really reminds me of the 1980’s and: > Fight AIDS, not _people with_ AIDS. That such things need even be said … ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/62 "2022-06-03T00:35:10Z")
I’m in a few Facebook groups. In one, people were genuinely praising a park bench design that had the middle of the seat missing ‘so people in wheelchairs did not feel left out’. I pointed out that the design had nothing to do with wheelchairs. It was designed so that the benches could not be slept on. Several members agreed with me (quite vehemently). Others, poor deluded fools, insisted it was about wheelchairs. Here in Philly, the benches that remain in parks and at bus stops and such have armrests or faux armrests to keep people from sleeping on them. Many historic buildings have spiky ‘ornamental’ fences to keep people from sleeping in convenient nooks. If we look at the homeless as our brothers and sisters (and I maintain this is the only way to look at them) this is a really crappy way to treat them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/63 "2022-06-03T04:34:33Z")
To some extent. The danger of fires (here in SoCal, at least), the refuse issues, raw sewage, etc. However, we need some sort of solution, and just destroying them is not a solution. Until we can come up with real homes, how about vacant land where we allow camping? Put in some bathrooms, running water. Tell the homeless they have to police themselves. Get a few veterans to volunteer as constables, with some small pay. A weekly sick call with doctors doing community service or volunteering. Tents available. Safe BBQ stoves, like in some parks. Large dumpsters emptied bi-weekly. > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > . You’ll find some who have genuine mental illness or are “homeless by choice” (usually running away from a domestic violence situation or other abuse), but you’ll also find a lot of people who were employed and even had mortgages a few years ago but are now homeless and jobless because of bad credit, the 2007-8 housing crisis, opioid addiction, and other socioeconomic problems that society as a whole has elected to neglect. The reason these encampments get ‘bad’ so quickly is both because they don’t have any infrastructure (trash, food scraps, and human waste are deposited wherever) and because they are preyed upon by criminals stealing what little they have and selling drugs to those desperate for escape. … Yes! > [@Bullitt](#): > > Who wants a homeless encampment directly next door to where they live? If you do please speak up. Vacant lots in half deserted business districts. And we need to bring back mental asylums for those who can’t care for themselves. not just those who are a danger. Reagan closed them all down in CA, which caused a lot of homeless issues. > [@Cervaise](#): > > As an American who relocated to Europe and was shocked to discover the degree to which government can be managed well and doesn’t have to be stupid, corrupt, and chronically shitty,… What nation would that be? > [@k9bfriender](#): > > There are also the working homeless. They have jobs, sometimes well paying jobs, but the cost of housing in those areas is so astronomical that even on a 6 figure salary, they still are living in their car. No. Even in LA, you can get a cheap studio or small 1 bdrm apt for around $1500 in some areas. But yes, there are some with solid jobs who are still living in their car. > [@doreen](#): > > I read that article and I just don’t see were it says that people earning 100K are homeless - unless you are using a different definition of “homeless” than is normally used. It mentions $100K income not being enough to buy a home \* and 6 figure earners living paycheck to paycheck , but doesn’t say anything about them living in a car or on the street or a homeless shelter Right ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/64 "2022-06-03T14:21:53Z")
50,000 radical nutjobs can build a city in the middle of the Nevada desert every year that handles the needs of that many people but the wealthiest country in the hemisphere can’t figure out how to help and support the homeless. USA! USA! /s ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/65 "2022-06-03T14:38:45Z")
I certainly take your point, but the folks who attend Burning Man are well aware that they’re going to need to be very independent when they’re out there on ‘the playa.’ And then they tacitly agree to be _interdependent_ should others have unmet needs. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/66 "2022-06-03T14:39:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 50,000 radical nutjobs can build a city in the middle of the Nevada desert every year that handles the needs of that many people but the wealthiest country in the hemisphere can’t figure out how to help and support the homeless. > > USA! USA! > > /s - It’s not a matter of “can’t”, it’s a matter of “doesn’t want to”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/67 "2022-06-03T14:40:56Z")
“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.” ― Stephen Colbert ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/68 "2022-06-03T14:44:50Z")
Also possibly relevant: - Two hands working can accomplish more than a thousand hands clasped in prayer - You going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than me parking in my garage makes me a car. - “Am I my brother’s keeper ?” - " What you do to the _least of your brethren_ you do unto me" They present like people who can remember three cute _lines_ from a movie, but are totally unaware of what the movie was actually _about._ Amen. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/69 "2022-06-03T14:57:46Z")
For the homeless problem, I think it’s useful to delineate between those who have no other options versus those who are homeless because, of the options they have, it’s their preferred option. For the first set, these are the people who have severe mental or drug problems which prevent them from making any money or being able to live on their own in any kind of traditional housing. The second set would be people who don’t like to work or don’t like their other living options and prefer to live in an encampment. This set would include people who may make $50 a day begging or doing some kind of hard labor, but prefer to keep that money in their pocket rather than pay for a motel. Or maybe they don’t want to beg or do hard labor, so they just hang around in the encampment. They prefer living homelessly rather than taking the effort to get housing. In terms of support, people want to help the first group much more than the second group. If people in the second group get free housing and free support to just live and hang out, it causes resentment in taxpayers and they won’t fund the programs. So I feel programs should be split between those who truly are truly needy versus those who can get back on their feet with a little bit of help. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/70 "2022-06-03T16:47:44Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.” > ― Stephen Colbert I genuinely wonder what Jesus would have advised about opioid and meth addicts. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/71 "2022-06-03T16:57:33Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I genuinely wonder what Jesus would have advised about opioid and meth addicts. Probably something along the lines of “you who is free from sin, cast the first stone.” ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/72 "2022-06-03T17:28:30Z")
He didn’t appear to have much of an issue with turning water into an addictive, potentially socially destructive drug of abuse. I reckon he’d have sat down in the homeless encampment and made friends. Possibly preached a little, too, but in this case, I think we can forgive him for being a do-gooder. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/73 "2022-06-03T17:34:50Z")
Probably would have done a little loaves & fishes action, cast out a few demons, did some healings, then just chilled. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/74 "2022-06-03T17:45:25Z")
Then some crazed meth head would beat him to death on the grounds that he “looked at me funny.” They didn’t have meth in ancient Israel, pretty sure if they did we wouldn’t have survived as a species. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/75 "2022-06-03T17:51:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Probably would have done a little loaves & fishes action, cast out a few demons, did some healings, then just chilled. Or maybe just do [an interview](https://youtu.be/M86xcJ8_IRU). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/76 "2022-06-03T19:01:27Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Then some crazed meth head would beat him to death on the grounds that he “looked at me funny.” Isn’t that pretty much the same charge that got him stuck on a cross? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/77 "2022-06-03T19:17:34Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > > [@silenus](#): > > > > “If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.” > > ― Stephen Colbert > > I genuinely wonder what Jesus would have advised about opioid and meth addicts. I believe He would tell us to give them the care and help that they need. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/78 "2022-06-03T19:27:33Z")
That was great! 👍 “We got heaven, we got hell, and we got heck and limbo…” ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/79 "2022-06-03T20:03:28Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I believe He would tell us to give them the care and help that they need. What if the care and help they need, first and foremost, above and beyond all else, is to stop taking drugs? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527/80 "2022-06-03T20:08:22Z")
Then he would recognize it as the mental health problem that it is, and use his healing powers to heal them of it. We don’t have his divine abilities to heal the sick and injured, so all we can do is to help as we can in earthly ways. Maybe one day we will invent a pill that cures addiction(and then probably get addicted to that.), until then blaming them for their illness is pretty un-christlike. The last thing that he would do would be to look down on them, or to use them as some sort of gotcha or try to score points off of their suffering. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-encampments/965527.md?page=5)