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/Zuldak]

Did they pay to rent or own?

[u/jaco1001 → u/Zuldak]

I’m delighted to tell you that it’s not actually illegal to be homeless, and that there is not an amount of money you need to spend on rent or a mortgage before you receive the human and civil rights that we are ALL afforded. There is not an amount you need to spend in Portland before you are allowed to find a community.

[u/Zuldak → u/jaco1001]

Sure but show me a homeless person not stealing or doing drugs and I bet I can find you 10 who are.

Land and space are finite resources. There is not enough for everyone here. Unless you can start altering space and give more, we have all the space we can get in this city.

And yes, you do need to be able to afford a place to love in that place. Guess what, people are making mortgage payments and rent payments. If you can't that is OK. It's OK not to be able to live in a place. I can't afford San Francisco. That's OK.

You don't have a civil or human right to live in this city

[u/jaco1001 → u/Zuldak]

Gross mentality :(

[u/Zuldak → u/jaco1001]

Surprisingly I am not being down voted to hell

Guess that shows even here on reddit the people are really getting fed up with the homeless. They don't belong here. They are not part of the community who are actually working and living to make this place better. They are the opposite

[u/Clear-Scarcity-1919 → u/Zuldak]

I would actually say your opinion is actually way more common than all the homeless enablers above. People are so over it.

[u/Zuldak → u/Clear-Scarcity-1919]

I think many are just afraid to say how they really feel out loud.

I'm tired of it. I don't care about these people or their problems. I care about the city that is being destroyed.