I’m just saying that we should solve the problem by homing people first. Then the word would go away if everyone had a home in this world
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My state now allows forced treatment called the California Care Act.
Oregon also has laws punishing homeless people from setting up camp between 7pm to 7am. Also fines, citations then a month in jail.
@FreeLunch All the complaints have led to these draconian laws that punish the homeless
“In April, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major case that could reshape how cities manage homelessness. The legal issue is whether they can fine or arrest people for sleeping outside if there’s no shelter available. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has deemed this cruel and unusual punishment, and this case is a pivotal challenge to that ruling.“
Oregon will arrest and jail the homeless.
In California, my county and city, homeless persons unarmed have been shot by citizens and police. To me this is murder.
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Yeah, I don’t see an issue with that word either. It just seems like an accurate description to me. Someone who is without a home being called homeless seems like an accurate description to me. And I have been homeless for brief periods as well.
But some words do matter. @Kxev example of fa***** above is an example of something that should be out of bounds, as it’s used to disparage gay men by others.
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Yes, I’m very concerned that approaching the whole problem via a legal path rather than a social justice path is going to lead to serious human rights violations
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The word “homeless” now has stigma and stereotypes.
And without listing them we all know what these are.
What words would you recommend I use otherwise?
Unhoused.
Only because the public has abused the word “homeless” to mean:
Homeless people are dirty.
Homeless people are scam artists.
Homeless people are violent criminals.
Homeless people deserve to be homeless.
Homeless people are lazy.
Homeless people are addicts.
The use of unhoused is an effort to humanize those residents. “It’s a powerful way to remind us that the issue is really a housing problem,” said Elizabeth Bowen, a professor of social work at the University of Buffalo.
Most of us have been unhoused and unwell, I been and have also been harassed by police for living in my car. And have felt the stigma of the things listed above that I am not.
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The word homeless and the word unhoused are so similar I don’t know if using one or the other would make much difference.
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I’m saying we get them psychiatric care, needed meds, and help with addictions.
AND A PLACE TO LIVE.
I am absolutely not advocating for cleansing the streets of homeless by imprisoning them or killing them. They’re people too and they deserve the security of a safe home like everyone else. That is what I want for every homeless person.
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I agree with you @shutterbug and know you well enough that you are more aware of this group and will always be part of the group. Once you been homeless unhoused, you know how easy it is to lose everything.
But these two new laws that are very controversial are happening in the US and very influential in how we deal with homeless, unhoused, unsheltered.
Sure @77nick77 the terminology debate is a distraction but policing language is to change stigmazitation. Sure, I know policing language is very controversial in itself but its what society does to move forward for change.
Changing words is a good strategy on issues that need important changes. It automatically riles people resistant to change, call them conservative, and really highlights who will mostly be holding things back. It is really clear on the transgender rights issue, basically turned Jordan Peterson into a multimillionaire, as the leader of those that resist pronoun change. The first small thing in a sequence of changes should be words.
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Change is usually a war.
There is a war on the unhoused.
There is a war on the Trans community. Even within the LGBTQ community there are those who want to cut ties between the LGB / TQ because they don’t want to stand with the group cause they feel they got their rights for right now. Wait til the Supreme Court repeals gay marriage and see if they like that.
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Sometimes yes and sometimes no. In this case, it’s a hard no. And I’m still an Aspie.
Also: JP is a twat waffle.
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I think the people who want to change the word homeless to unhoused have good intentions, but the real obstruction to housing the homeless isn’t any particular word, but a lack of developers who want to build subsidized housing but are prohibited from doing so due to bureaucratic red tape and high labor costs. Moreover, housing the homeless is like the outer layer of an onion: peel it back and we find substance abuse. Peel it back further and we find mental illness. Peel it back even further and we find dysfunctional families where children were never truly loved.
As for laws forcing homeless people into treatment, some people say that homeless people have the right to be homeless, it’s the compassionate thing to do. I disagree. Is it really compassionate to allow homeless people to lie on the sidewalk in their own urine and feces? I say not.
Housing the homeless is a complicated problem that will require a multipronged approach. Unfortunately for this generation of homeless, I think resources would best be spent on preventing the next generation from spiraling into homelessness. It’s a sad situation.
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yeah. when i think about this problem i think that there are probably 3 problems within it. you have homeless people with severe mental illness, they need treatment or getting them off the street will be near impossible. then you have homeless people with drug addictions. they would need some kind of rehab program but that doesnt work as a forced program people have to want it. then you have people who work low paying jobs in places with expensive rental and housing costs who cant afford a place to live and usually end up living in their cars. i think the best solution for that is more affordable or subsidized housing. they would be the easiest ones to help and get into a place.
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We need a serious non legal response to addiction because it is probably the worst problem on the street. Skid row etc.
Lets see how these two very different laws in heavily homeless populated states care and handle people who are unwell and have nothing.
One is send them to jail. Oregon
The other involuntary treatment. California
Both are active.
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When i look like a homeless, (selfneglected), due to my mental health treatment, it seems i fit in. When i dress up, (shaved and selfcare), i get ask for money and cigarettes all the time.
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When I was in my 20s and dressed normal people were very helpful with helping me with transit money in San Francisco.
Also, it was a different era, people really wanted to help young pan handlers. Cause most were young who came to the city from bad circumstances.
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