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walkitouthttps://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/san-francisco-is-cracking-down-on-tent-camps-will-seattle-do-the-same/
As usual, really detailed coverage. A few things really stand out: SF is spending a _ton_ of money compared to what Seattle is spending, but the number of people involved is roughly comparable (on the outreach teams side and overall population of homeless and overall population of the cities). SF seems to recognize that this isn’t going to be a quick thing.
If you’ve talked to people who are living outside, or read Real Change, or other detailed articles about what it is like to be homeless, it becomes extremely clear very quickly that people move around, and people tend to wind up on the West Coast. There is an annual path around the country to optimize for sleeping out, but for people who are staying in one city, the West Coast is basically It. This is a huge problem, because it means that what might otherwise have been temporary separation from familiar friends, family, places can become permanent. Also, the gap between homelessness and the bottom end of market shelter is enormous on the West Coast — and a lot of people who are homeless on the West Coast come from places where the gap between homelessness and the bottom end of market shelter is substantially narrower. In practice, that means that if you can help someone get and keep a job, moderate/mitigate their substance use patterns, there is still an unbridgeable chasm between being there and paying for a studio apartment. But if they were in a different city that was not so expensive, that might not be the case. SF seems to be working that angle with their bussing program. But that is going to require more case workers than I think Seattle is funding.
It’s nice to see someone talking about compassion fatigue, and about the dangers presented by large encampments (to the people in them!). It isn’t really doing anyone favors to just leave things as they are. I think, contrary to one quoted person, we all know that moving people just moves people. I’m glad that SF is slogging through the process of figuring out how to be present with services for people who are ready to start accepting help. SF’s mayor seems like an incredible person in so many ways.
As usual, really detailed coverage. A few things really stand out: SF is spending a _ton_ of money compared to what Seattle is spending, but the number of people involved is roughly comparable (on the outreach teams side and overall population of homeless and overall population of the cities). SF seems to recognize that this isn’t going to be a quick thing.
If you’ve talked to people who are living outside, or read Real Change, or other detailed articles about what it is like to be homeless, it becomes extremely clear very quickly that people move around, and people tend to wind up on the West Coast. There is an annual path around the country to optimize for sleeping out, but for people who are staying in one city, the West Coast is basically It. This is a huge problem, because it means that what might otherwise have been temporary separation from familiar friends, family, places can become permanent. Also, the gap between homelessness and the bottom end of market shelter is enormous on the West Coast — and a lot of people who are homeless on the West Coast come from places where the gap between homelessness and the bottom end of market shelter is substantially narrower. In practice, that means that if you can help someone get and keep a job, moderate/mitigate their substance use patterns, there is still an unbridgeable chasm between being there and paying for a studio apartment. But if they were in a different city that was not so expensive, that might not be the case. SF seems to be working that angle with their bussing program. But that is going to require more case workers than I think Seattle is funding.
It’s nice to see someone talking about compassion fatigue, and about the dangers presented by large encampments (to the people in them!). It isn’t really doing anyone favors to just leave things as they are. I think, contrary to one quoted person, we all know that moving people just moves people. I’m glad that SF is slogging through the process of figuring out how to be present with services for people who are ready to start accepting help. SF’s mayor seems like an incredible person in so many ways.