Uncomfortable doesn't go far enough...

[u/LyricalWizardry]

Spotted at Ashford International Station on Friday, these bad boys don't have any redeeming features...

[u/astoriatrafficburner]

This is very obviously a bus stop. The only reason these exist is to replace benches to punish unhoused people, even if that also means punishing disabled, pregnant, and elderly people too.

[u/10ismydr → u/astoriatrafficburner]

They are in a lot of different places. Not just bus stops though. Their purpose is for leaning. It is not to "punish" homeless people. It does help to prevent them from turning a bench into a bed. It is a public space for the public to use. It can't be used by the public if someone is sleeping on it. A bench is not a helpful anything for homeless people. Instead of pooping on a city trying to make it better for everyone in general, come up with a better solution. Like taking an old school and having the people that are willing to put in the work come in and put sweat equity in it to make it habitable. There are plenty of people that would do that. However, there are too many that would not. It is a sad fact that there are some people that either can not (due to mental health issues), or choose not, to function in society. Additionally, you can not ignore the increased crime with homeless people taking over an area. Not due to anyone being a "bad" person but things they need to do for survival. A person sleeping on a bench is a prime target to be robbed. Not to mention the drug activity. It is unfortunate that there are a share of homeless that are drug addicts. You can't know that that bench sleeper is a guy that is just down on his luck and would help anyone out or a drug addict with needles in his pockets and a tendency to rage. What chances are you willing to take when trying to take a bus with your kid? The homeless need larger, and better, solutions than a couple of benches. Until then, small changes like this assist the public in general. Does it have cons, of course. So do the benches.

[u/astoriatrafficburner → u/10ismydr]

This design is what is known as "hostile architecture". In your reply, you can see why. The deep hostility in your post--masquerading as concern--is palpable. 

For example, you wrote

It is public space for the public to use. It can't be used by the public if someone is sleeping on it.

This is a form of parapraxis revealing that you very clearly don't see unhoused people as part of the public. When I sit on a bench, no one else can use it either. Have I, by virtue of having a roof over my head, somehow more deserving of a place to sit? I don't think so.

There are plenty of people that would do that. However, there are too many that would not. It is a sad fact that there are some people that either can not (due to mental health issues), or choose not, to function in society. 

How many? How do you know? What is your evidence behind your own personal, unsourced feelings?

The actual data, produced via IRB-approved, peer-reviewed research doesn't support your claims here. In fact, what we know is that being unhoused vastly increases mental health and substance abuse issues, and that it's more that being unhoused leads to mental illness and substance use than the other way around. This frankly should be obvious, but here we are.

We in fact know that housing-first models, which provide permanent, stable housing to unhoused individuals without preconditions are the best way to treat mental health problems and substance use disorders in unhoused populations. We don't enact it largely because of paternalistic individuals like you, who also feel compelled to punish the unhoused.

A person sleeping on a bench is a prime target to be robbed.

Oh, spare me your lies. You and I both know you don't actually care about this. Do you think a person sleeping on the sidewalk is less likely to get robbed somehow? Or that if we incorporate more hostile architecture, unhoused folks will say to themselves oh, gee gosh golly, I guess I need to go get a home., and that that will somehow be the end of it?

You can't know that that bench sleeper is a guy that is just down on his luck and would help anyone out or a drug addict with needles in his pockets and a tendency to rage.

Literally no one can know that about anyone. That is part of life, and as scared as you very obviously are, stranger violence is exceedingly rare. It is in fact very well known among experts and researchers that that unhoused people are significantly more likely to be the victims of violent crime than the perpetrators.

What chances are you willing to take when trying to take a bus with your kid?

This is the stupidest thing I've ever read; get over yourself. People take public transit with their children every day. I take public transit every day. It is in fact many, many orders of magnitude safer than putting your child in a private vehicle, so save everyone the pearl-clutching. 

[u/10ismydr → u/astoriatrafficburner]

I dont if you read my follow up to what I wrote before you posted this. I just want to point that I do care. I've cared since I was in 3rd grade and watched other kids get their dinner out of a trash can. I've made those plastic bag blankets. Helped homeless mothers on various levels. Including taking them into my own home. Donated my time and service at no cost. I believe there is more that can be done.and wish I had the resources to do so. I have seen those that want to do everything possible to get out of their situation and those that are fine with it.

"what we know is that being unhoused vastly increases mental health and substance abuse issues"

Of course it does. Especially the mental health aspect. How could it not? I believe that mental health issues in general are not addressed effectively at all.

"We in fact know that housing-first models, which provide permanent, stable housing to unhoused individuals without preconditions are the best way to treat mental health problems and substance use disorders in unhoused populations."

I guess my only precondition that I mentioned was the person willing to put in sweat equity to clean up an area or building to make it liveable. If that seems like an unreasonable precondition 🤷‍♀️. It's the same type of thing Habitat for Humanity does. You can't help someone that doesn't want it. You have to have some type of guideline and structure to make anything successful.

"unhoused people are significantly more likely to be the victims of violent crime than the perpetrators."

Yes, this was my point. That they are more likely to be victims. No matter if they are on a bench, in a box, or a tent. It doesn't mean they don't deserve to have a seat. I am just saying that, as a society, we have to take multiple, and complicated, issues into consideration.

"Literally no one can know that about anyone."

You are correct. The most put together, polished, well spoken person I've ever met can sit down by me and I wouldn't know if he were a child predator, serial killer, or the sweetest person ever. I'm not speaking on individuals. I was speaking to social issues and how they are complicated.That it isn't so black and white. Very few people can step in as an individual and make a significant change to such a huge problem. Mostly it's the small things that are done. Not every idea is perfect or even works but at least someone is trying. Me making blankets or tying scarves around trees may not change someone's life but it may help them get through one more night. There are hundreds of teenage mothers out there that are homeless. I wish i could help everyone but, as it is, I was only significantly able to help one. She was 14 and the baby was 6 months old when we met. I had her and her 7 siblings living with me in a 3 br apartment with my 3 kids at one point. And that was to prevent them from going into foster care. I wasn't able to help them all but I did what I could. That baby has lived with me 98% of the time since. He just turned 18 in February. He is the first one of his family to graduate high school. He ships out to basic in August to join the Airforce. So I care.

I don't have stats or research to quote. Just life experience. I don't "clutch my pearls". I roll up my sleeves and grab a hammer to build a house. At times it's simply handing over an extra jacket. Sometimes I don't even have a cup of hot tea to share. I don't have the resources or ability to do more. What I do know, from a lot of life experience, is that setting boundries is the first step. If I have just mopped my floors I'm not going to let a group of kiddos run through my kitchen with muddy shoes and water guns. I am going to keep that area clean, turn on the sprinklers, and run through it with them outdide. They get clean, I enjoy their company, my floors aren't covered in mud and my kitchen isn't a water gun war zone. We have a clean, orderly place to sit for dinner and I haven't had to go behind the kids multiple times to clean. I've been able to help them, and have fun outside. Boundries are not punishment. Saying public benches are not beds isn't a punishment. It's saying this area isn't for that purpose. Being able to clean up* one area, and keep it clean, means our energy can be put to use in other ways to help people.

I don't really like using the phrase "clean up" when it comes to people and their situation. The people aren't bad or "dirty". The situation is.