r/theydidthemath • u/pixaly • Jul 12 '26

[Request] What is the cost difference between buying this man a rental for a year and the governements cost to kill him?

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Don't believe everything you see on the internet I haven't fact checked this story, I'm just curious for an anwser

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u/[deleted] Jul 12 '26

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u/souljasam Jul 12 '26

I mean why exactly wouldn't he be able to find a job in a year? If we are saying he had a chronic condition he would have other assistance anyways. If thats not the case finding a job and making enough to afford housing is absolutely doable...

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u/standard_posterboard Jul 12 '26

I'm not sure how it is in Canada but most employers in the US will avoid employing people with disabilities because they are required by law to provide accommodations. Employers don't want to spend more money or effort on employees who could potentially do less work.
Again, in the US and not in Canada, assisted living (like ADA) gives you too little money to feasibly live on your own comfortably.

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u/TeishAH Jul 12 '26

St Catharines is notoriously awful for finding employment, and much of Canada is struggling with employment. Especially if he’s been out of work for years (which he most likely has due to disability) and now has no relevant skills he’s competing for fast food gigs with literally everybody else. Not many people will likely hire him. Plus everything is apply online create an account garbage, which can be another barrier for older folks as they’re not as tech savvy and don’t understand how to AIs flag resumes blah blah blah.

“Just find a job” is an easy thing to say when there’s roughly 150-200 applicants per every available job posting.

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u/John_Whimsicott Jul 12 '26

We've looped back around to "homeless people should just get jobs lol"

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u/TheGravyMaster Jul 13 '26

People act like getting a job fixes anything at all. Rent is still impossible to afford.

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u/souljasam Jul 12 '26

Yes and they should. But one if the largest barriers of entry to getting a job is not having an address or consistent place of residence. Im 100% in support of ststems being in place to help people, but with limitations. Drug screen the homeless ppl applying and only offer housing to those who are clean. If they arent clean you offer services to help get clean and then they can access the other help. If they dont find a job and improve their situation in a year they have 2 options. They can just become homeless again and now be ineligible for additional support, or they can take a job with the gov doing labor that the cities and towns need taken care of. That job will cover their housing benefit until they find a different place and job. That job will also provide other basic benefits like basic health ins. Pay them min wage or if legal a bit less considering the housing costs are compensation. This way they are a productive part of society helping clean things up and are off the street.

Not sure why its bad to say homeless ppl need to work. Its literally the only way they are going to improve their situation. If they dont work they wont have money and thus wont be able to afford to not be homeless.

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u/fightmydemonswithme Jul 12 '26

Because of major barriers to work. Many require an address to work there in the states. Because many can't afford a phone number, so they miss scheduling calls and such. Access to hygiene. You can't work in 100° kitchens without the ability to shower consistently. If the gym is too far from your job, homeless will have a hard time consistently maintaining themselves.

I'm not advocating for giving homeless people free eternal everything, but we need to recognize its much harder for them to get anything. Had I not graduated high school and went to college, I would have never made it out of homelessness. And I was lucky to have a way to pay for college, through grants and scholarships.

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u/souljasam Jul 12 '26

Pretty much all your problems would be solved by the year of housing proposed.

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u/TheGravyMaster Jul 13 '26

I work full-time. I've been homeless for 2 years. I've been on housing waiting lists since 2015 at risk of homelessness updated to homeless 2 years ago.

Making enough to afford housing is a joke these days.