What's the best way to get rid of homeless people?

I absolutely understand your perspective and frustration around this. I, too was appalled at this system of dumping people to eliminate homelessness, looking at empty housing projects, while street were filled. So I began working with homeless folks and found out something very interesting - while many homeless were families that were evicted or lost their homes, the majority of the folks I encountered were inflicted with mental illness.

Many did not want a permanent home or trust shelters. They use them during cold weather out of necessity. Now that homeless shelter staff come to them at their homeless dwelling bringing them food & supplies, they come to expect and depend on it. So as long as they are being taken care of, they don't see the necessity of making a home. Many of them are unable to maintain a regular job. This does not apply to families in transition - they want homes ASAP from what I've seen.

Many of these folks had been given housing, vouchers to rooming houses, etc., but abandoned these dwellings to live in the street. It is where they were most secure and comfortable within their own brains. They also make more panhandling staying in the streets.

So it's not as simple as black and white. I agree with you that we need to set our boundaries as a society around this. In other countries, such as Spain, one needed a permit to panhandle and the government had some sort of a system to keep track of some of the folks on the street.

As sympathetic as I am to the homeless plight, I agree with you that something better and more constructive can be done. When all of the farms were foreclosed upon years ago, I was wondering why the government did not buy some land at a reasonable price from these farmers, form some communes or working farms to house and employ people, instead of throwing more tax money at these unproductive farmers, while the land sits there useless.

I'm guessing that too many jobs are dependent on welfare and homelessness now, that there won't ever be a logical solution to address this problem. This area is where we should lean toward socialism a tiny bit, having people sustain themselves through communes, not bailing out the auto industry and supporting labor union salaries while others are homeless and unemployed.

If we ever came close to truly solving some of these relatively easy issues with logic, too many jobs will be lost and our government would be about one-tenth of its current size.

Good point you bring up here. Maybe you should run for office!

This is not an instant solution but it is a lasting working one. Connect to organizations that help homeless people and help them create a better place for the people to be. Support them and invite them to come to your area and reach out to the people. At the same time you can work with others in the neighborhood to make that area less attractive. For example get everyone to cooperate in not giving anything except info about safe places where they can find shelter and resources. Make sure private areas are fenced, doors secure especially doors to empty apartments and houses. See if neighbors will go in together and hire a part time private security patrol. Homeless people are first and foremost PEOPLE. Not all homeless people harass people, most do not. The average homeless person in the US is a 6 yr old child and children do not choose their situation. Two things seem to be happening. You had a really bad scare and that makes you understandably more hyper and more negative. The second is that as the economy worsens people including homeless people become more desperate. One more immediate possibility is to see if your fiancee can get a guide dog that has been cross trained as a protection dog. Other than that you may need to consider relocating.

I, personally, have been temporarily homeless a few times in my life - so I know well that it is a form of misfortune that can happen to ANYBODY. In point of fact, the 2000 census caught up with me at the Salvation Army women's shelter, so despite the fact that I was there for only about a month, and I have had my current job for over 8 years and a nice apartment in a good neighborhood for over 9 years, until the next census in 2010, I am listed as an unemployed, homeless derelict, sleeping at the Salvation Army! (I consider it one of the most ironic jokes that life has ever played on me!)

However, the operative word here is "TEMPORARY".

This situation has never lasted longer than it took me to find a job, save up the usual move-in costs and find myself an apartment.

There are those, however, that make a chosen lifestyle of homelessness and I think your plan MAY be a workable way to deal with at least some of them. Yet, even among them, there are the hardcores who would rather be run out of town or jailed than join the ranks of the productive renters and home-owners.

I have a female relative who is such a chronic homeless case that she would rather live with nothing than work for something. When it's "shape up or ship out" time, she'll just "ship out" every time!

There are a 1000 reasons for people to be homeless, in addition to human error, some reasons are mental, addictions, a loss of hope, or a handicap. In other words, some don't have the capacity to work.

for those who can comprehend, great, give them those options, for those who cannot, or simply choose to do not, then there also needs to be a solution for them as well.

also, telling someone they can't be somewhere, like private property, in one thing, but authorities telling someone where they MUST be, and further, what they MUST do, is crossing a line that would be dangerous to cross.

to do so, the local authority must first pass a law to declare "homelessness" illegal and/or a way for the "homeless" to fall under state custody. Only then, can they SEND.

But I like your idea of a "rehabilitation" program. I'd be surprised to find those don't already exist in NYC.

I think that is a good idea personally, because it IS fair. They get a year to get their lives back together again, and if they dont, it could be ther own fault. I know some people who are close to becoming homeless, and it is their fault. They make stupid decisions and they dont stop. And the work center is a good idea also, because then they have a roof over their heads, and are doing their part to further our society.

Ok, here we go. I am a clinical social worker and I have worked extensively with the homeless on the downtown east side of Vancouver, British Columbia (the worst community in Canada for homelessness and probably one of the top in North America).

People who are homeless are predominately mentally ill and/or have substance misuse issues. These two factors combined produce a ton of impediments to successfully getting people off of the streets. The fact that they have medical conditions that impede their functioning means that they are vulnerable and need societal assistance and most importantly compassion.

I am appalled at your draconian measures above. How heartless and cruel--particularly when you do not understand the issues that these people face. You stand from your relative comfortable position in society and judge people that are in dire staights with not an ounce of compassion nor understanding of their plight.

It is society and government's fault that these attrocities occur. There is a huge lack of services for these people due to them being labelled "less desirables". The "poor" decisions that you describe that lead to a person being homeless are not of their own doing--newsflash here--when people are mentally ill or misusing substances they are not able to make appropriate decisions thereby they are endangering themselves due to diminished capacity. In other words--they are disabled!

I really can't believe you wrote this thinking that this is a good solution to the homeless problem. Do you really believe that anyone would willingly choose to be homeless? You want these folks to work and support themselves but yet they can't even get themselves on social assistance and into accomodations? That should be a first indicator that something is not right!!

EDIT: Yes, in fact I did read your entire post--hence the reason for my outrage. An entire year? Well, how kind and generous of you. LOL That should be enough time eh?

My analysis of your position of comfort comes from a) your thoughts on homeless people--hence you obviously have a place to live otherwise you wouldn't be spouting off this nonsense--you obviously are employed hence the ramble on the "government dime" which you contribute to through your taxes. Additionally, you have access to a computer--whether or not it is your own is unknown but just the fact that you have the where withal to access one puts you in a position of relative comfort in comparison to the homeless people that you condemn. My clinical skills are quite in tact thanks very much!

In case you are not aware, substance misuse is a DISEASE and should be treated as such--a medical issue. In my professional experience, substance misuse is actually a symptom of mental health issues and the individual is trying to self-medicate. Perhaps a little bit more understanding through education and research would have you reach a different conclusion on such things.

Enabling behaviours? Wow. Only people who are in the helping professions or are former addicts themselves or have had addicts in their lives use this terminology. I won't even wager a bet at which one you are. With regard to your comment on my professional practice regarding enabling: I do not "do" things for people, nor do I "help" people. That is disrespectful and would be enabling behaviour. People have to want to do things for themselves and my role is to provide people with the tools to get where they want to go. If they themselves do not engage in the process then there is no vested interest in the outcome. You truly have no idea what a clinican does do you?? Not surprisingly then, you are spouting off once again about something in which you know nothing about!

Well Mr. Stalin, I like the first part of what you said, about giving thema n ID, and a shelter, but you become a dictator when you strip them of their rights.

I think that the shelter should be a permanent home for them until they are ready to move on. I also think it should be a place where they can go and do things, like practice for a job, take showers, shave, etc. Have most of the amenities of a normal house...etc. And it would train them to do something with their lives...etc. But never force them into anything.

-Words of a Christian

Your suggestion for dealing with the homeless problem would be unconstitutional.

First of all, neither the federal government nor the states can pass a bill of attainder, which is "a bill that has a negative effect on a single person or group"(See sources: 1,2,3).

Second, by forcing homeless people to carry ID, you would be taking away their implied right to privacy (See sources: 4).

My final point is not a constitutional one, but instead comes from the Bible. Here is what Jesus had to say about how to treat others: (See sources: 5)

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Okay, and what if there is a legitimate reason for people to be homeless?

For example, what it the recession really begins to bite and we all end up screwed?

Would you be willing to endure those conditions of hard work for little pay with almost no prospects for the future?

Educate them. I have always thought that the military draft was a good thing for our society. Two years of public service in a military environment would send young people off into our society with some pride in self and with an idea of what their life can be. Military training instills pride in self that too many people lack.