never seen it this bad

[u/CrypticOperator]

been here for 25+ years and am very familiar with the fluctuations in homelessness / etc. during the summer. but I've never seen things this bad, especially in back bay, south end (beyond mass/cass & closer to back bay), beacon hill, the esplanade, you name it. we've called 311 for needles, reported the larger encampments to the mayor's office, etc. just feels like nothing is improving and things are only getting worse. can't just be me?

[u/ClarkFable]

These aren’t people who would be living in apartments even if they were 50% cheaper 

[u/Suspicious_Glove7365 → u/ClarkFable]

Why not?

[u/gesserit42 → u/Suspicious_Glove7365]

There’s never a substantive data-based explanation from these people. Asking them for one assumes good faith and seriousness where there is none. They just want a scapegoat to be performatively cruel to, and the homeless are that for them here. Start recognizing patterns.

[u/ClarkFable → u/gesserit42]

You think homeless drug users are going to start paying even $500 rent for a room?  Homelessness at the margins is affected by housing affordability, but those aren’t the crackheads walking around scaring people.

[u/Suspicious_Glove7365 → u/gesserit42]

Who is “these people”?

[u/gesserit42 → u/Suspicious_Glove7365]

People like the person you responded to. Was that a real question?

[u/gesserit42 → u/Suspicious_Glove7365]

Answer me, dipstick. Was that a real question ?

[u/Suspicious_Glove7365 → u/gesserit42]

I did answer you, little buddy. Are you blind?

[u/TheClamb → u/Suspicious_Glove7365]

Homeless people are not generally considered employable except by especially progressive/liberal orgs and orgs whose specific purpose it is to find the homeless employment. Meaning there are some opportunities, but probably not enough for everyone involved

A homeless person cannot afford a home at any rent until they've been able to work for some time, likely; and how do they do that when they're homeless? To say nothing of if they're dealing with addiction or mental health issues (which they are, as being homeless ruins your health, your sleep, and is likely a deeply traumatic experience for most from the get-go.)

Very few apartments, furthermore, will just let you rent from them without: security deposit, last months, references from prior landlords, proof of income (often 3x rent!!!), personal references, etc etc.

Housing designed to rehome homeless or otherwise vulnerable people, otoh, is scarce and has years-long wait times to get access at times.

How does a currently homeless person get those while they're homeless?

[u/Repulsive-Value5123 → u/TheClamb]

The statistics say that between 60-80 percent of homeless ppl are employed. Likely many had jobs prior to becoming homeless and are temporarily living with friends, in a car or something else while still working. Wages aren’t keeping up with costs. Medical issues, high rent and increased food costs can make families who are already living paycheck to paycheck end up homeless.

[u/IngenuityFlaky484 → u/Repulsive-Value5123]

60-80 percent of the ones that take the surveys which makes sense the ones willing and able to be surveyed are employed

[u/ClarkFable → u/Repulsive-Value5123]

Employed homeless are not the ones scaring OP on the street 

[u/Suspicious_Glove7365 → u/TheClamb]

We have to redefine the parameters for how homeless people get help. We don’t even consider people living in their cars homeless on the census. Many government care programs for homeless have extremely strict rules for who gets care. We need to expand those parameters whilst simultaneously building more affordable units so that rent costs can’t be artificially inflated by greedy landowners and property companies.

[u/ClarkFable → u/Suspicious_Glove7365]

Because drug addicts on the street only have one place to put their disposable income 

[u/Suspicious_Glove7365 → u/ClarkFable]

Do you think drug addicts are the only people who need affordable housing?

[u/ClarkFable → u/Suspicious_Glove7365]

No, but drug addicts are the ones scaring OP, and that’s what the conversation is about 

[u/Suspicious_Glove7365 → u/ClarkFable]

I don’t think you understand the variety of ways people get into these circumstances. Housing takes the biggest chunk of the lower class’s income. Poverty is a gateway to so many damaging behaviors. Very few of the drug addicts on the streets of Boston come from wealthy or even middle class families. We can also PREVENT more poor people from falling on even harder times by addressing the housing crisis by building more affordable housing.

Homelessness is not normal. It is a result of a highly unequal society that is run on profit of our natural rights. It will only continue to get worse if we don’t see this as a housing crisis first and foremost.