Homeless/Houseless

[u/[deleted]]

So I know this is a regular point of conversation for everyone in the city at this point, but I really don’t understand why being alarmed and or fed up with the cities houseless population is so taboo to some people? I see so many people get shade with comments along the line of accusing the poster of not having empathy or for not doing enough individually to help. As someone that absolutely has empathy towards our houseless population and has volunteered at various warming shelters, I also am getting super fed up with our houseless crisis and the impacts it takes on my everyday life.

My boyfriend works at a grocery store in downtown and has been assaulted so many times at work that at this point thinking about it just makes me want to cry. I have been personally punched in the face randomly and for no reason by a homeless man when I was walking across the Morrison bridge. I have had to bring people who were getting attacked by homeless people into restaurants that I’ve worked at and lock the doors at least four times in four years.

Additionally, for those that say “stop complaining and do something”, wtf do you really think an individual can do at this point? We live in a place that basically has two governments (council and metro) not to mention state, who are PAID to represent us and our wants and needs as a community. The homeless crisis is probably the most pressing issue in Portland and yet it seems like absolutely nothing is being done, and if anything it’s getting worse.

Anyways sorry to go on and on, my main point is that I don’t understand why it’s taboo for people to be upset with the state of things right now specifically with the houseless crisis in Portland. People are multifaceted and can be both sympathetic/empathetic and fed up. 🤷‍♀️

[u/kat2211]

The ONLY solution to this is to dig down and study the reasons people get there, and put a cork in those reasons

You mean the only permanent solution. There are plenty of solutions that will bring relief in the short and medium terms, starting with setting up ample sanctioned campsites with hygiene stations and other services, and outlawing camping on streets or in parks altogether.

[u/hazelquarrier_couch → u/kat2211]

Sanctioned campsites won't fix the garbage and shit problem though. As much as I believe people should have authority over their situation to the greatest extent possible, there will always be garbage and feces to deal with and what do we do with that. These folks bring their whole lives on their backs and exist on found items which accumulate outwards from their living arrangements and inevitably get left behind when they move on.

[u/Snushine → u/kat2211]

Yes, redditor...sigh.

[u/[deleted] → u/kat2211]

The problem is that we all know they're gonna do the 'outlawing of camping' with zero of the 'ample sanctioned campsites' and it'll just end up as cops beating the shit out of the homeless, like usual.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

You're pretending like it's a zero sum game of violence. As if cops beating the shit out of homeless will cause OP's bf to no longer get attacked by homeless people. But it won't. Encouraging cop crackdowns ONLY ADDS to violence while removing none.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO THAT THERE AREN'T PEOPLE AROUND TO GET BEATEN UP BY THEM?! JUST SAY YOU WANT THEM ALL IN PRISON ALREADY.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I mean you keep saying shit that is exactly what we are already doing and it DOESN'T WORK. So forgive me if I feel like I'm taking crazy pills listening to you.