SCOTUS Decisions

[ny96]

Jun 29, 2024 12:19:35 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Jun 29, 2024 9:30:02 GMT -5 ny96 said:

This is so insulting. You do realize that you are interacting with real people on these boards, right? I don’t do a paperwork job and care very deeply about the people that I work for. What do you do? I also live in a city that is overwhelmed by the number of people living on the street. We see thousands of those individuals come through our doors every year and I want them off the streets in safe and stable housing, and yes that means what feels safe and stable to them which is at the heart of the original Grants Pass case.

For what it's worth, i didn't intend my post as an insult. As with anything there are going to be different opinions even within the advocacy community about what is best. Based on what i have learned about this case, I thought it was pretty clearly harmful to people experiencing homelessness, especially since we are taking about a broad ruling that impacts people all throughout the US, not just specific individuals in cities with massive numbers of unhoused people. But even if I don't understand, it's ok if not everyone agrees.

I am a paper pusher anyway, lol. I work in HR, but one thing I appreciate about my organization is that we do a good job of education for all staff (and as the training manager I'm even more exposed to it). But I am certainly not an expert. Folks I work with who are experts and whose experience I trust are pretty upset about this, though.

Working with this population is tough, emotionally laborious work that should not be minimized.

Oh, that wasn’t directed at you. I have been doing this work for a long time and do admin and some direct service work. I believe that this ruling is not great, but I also believe that streets and parks are not for living on/in and are for everyone and should not be an acceptable alternative to shelter. I have housed people in the shelters here designed to get our most vulnerable and chronic off the streets. I know the idea of shelters are scary to a lot of unhoused people, but what I’ve seen inside are friendly faces, people with housed with their animals, low barriers, helpful case managers, and private spaces for everyone.

[basilosaurus]

What's insulting is saying "I work with homeless" and then saying you don't feel safe walking on the streets. There are legitimate reasons that you mention. The way you way worded it does not come across as what I think you intended.

[ny96]

Jun 30, 2024 3:14:25 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

What's insulting is saying "I work with homeless" and then saying you don't feel safe walking on the streets. There are legitimate reasons that you mention. The way you way worded it does not come across as what I think you intended.

No, no, no. What I said was I don’t feel safe walking parts of my neighborhood which is entirely true and valid. I’m not engaging anymore.

[sonrisa]

Jun 28, 2024 14:28:26 GMT -5 ny96 said:

I know that for a lot of people they are on the streets because they have nowhere else to go, but for a lot of other people including the person in the tent nearby they have been offered housing again and again and have refused .

This is entirely regional. I don’t know where you are (sorry that I’ve forgotten) but there are many places where even unsafe, unstable housing can only accommodate a fraction of need (let alone safe, stable housing).

I’m not wading into the rest of this.

[ny96]

Jun 30, 2024 10:32:53 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Jun 28, 2024 14:28:26 GMT -5 ny96 said:

I know that for a lot of people they are on the streets because they have nowhere else to go, but for a lot of other people including the person in the tent nearby they have been offered housing again and again and have refused .

This is entirely regional. I don’t know where you are (sorry that I’ve forgotten) but there are many places where even unsafe, unstable housing can only accommodate a fraction of need (let alone safe, stable housing).

I’m not wading into the rest of this.

One of the major reasons I’m so conflicted.

[simpsongal]

Last day of decisions y'all....

[pinkdutchtulips]

Jun 28, 2024 14:47:17 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Jun 28, 2024 14:28:26 GMT -5 ny96 said:

I work in homeless services. I know that for a lot of people they are on the streets because they have nowhere else to go, but for a lot of other people including the person in the tent nearby they have been offered housing again and again and have refused (I’ve heard this directly from service workers). I’m totally conflicted, but public streets and parks are not a safe place to live and make those resources unsafe for others, and in California we are treating them like a viable alternative to shelter.

Interesting. It is my understanding that most advocacy organizations concerned with homelessness were against this ruling, including the one that I work for.

Although certainly every person is going to have their own individual experience, it is unlikely that most people offered private housing options would still prefer to live on the streets. Most people who refusing "housing" are really refusing beds in shelters, typically because they've had a bad experience in a shelter in the past and feel they have more control over their situation or better community outside of one. 

It actually kind of bums me out that someone working in homeless services would be in favor of this ruling. 

Speaking from experience with the homeless (Miss R's dad the last 8y of his life), he was offered spots in shelters, hotels ... and he either refused or was blacklisted for prior criminal acts that threatened the safety of others utilizing shelters. He literally had no.where.to.go. 

[Pom]

Jul 1, 2024 11:35:41 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

Jun 28, 2024 14:47:17 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Interesting. It is my understanding that most advocacy organizations concerned with homelessness were against this ruling, including the one that I work for.

Although certainly every person is going to have their own individual experience, it is unlikely that most people offered private housing options would still prefer to live on the streets. Most people who refusing "housing" are really refusing beds in shelters, typically because they've had a bad experience in a shelter in the past and feel they have more control over their situation or better community outside of one. 

It actually kind of bums me out that someone working in homeless services would be in favor of this ruling. 

Speaking from experience with the homeless (Miss R's dad the last 8y of his life), he was offered spots in shelters, hotels ... and he either refused or was blacklisted for prior criminal acts that threatened the safety of others utilizing shelters. He literally had no.where.to.go. 

So cruel and heartless. I am very sorry. We sure do fail so many people, while claiming to be the best country in the world.