California homelessness survey

[Jolly]

I'd say more likely is lack of mental ability.

[Mik]

If it could have been solved by money it would no longer be a problem.

[Jon]

@Axtremus

That seems like (to use Aristotle’s taxonomy of causes) the efficient cause, though the final cause could be addiction or something else.

[Horace]

82% [of homeless surveyed] believed a one-time payment of between $5,000 and $10,000 would have [kept them from being homeless].

I like how that story presents this as if it's a serious piece of data.

A quick google indicates CA spends 3.2 billion per year, to support 500k homeless. That's $6400 each. I bet their results aren't as good as an 80% reduction in homelessness.

[Horace]

@Jon said in California homelessness survey:

@Axtremus

That seems like (to use Aristotle’s taxonomy of causes) the efficient cause, though the final cause could be addiction or something else.

Yeah, it's similar to the old saw about cardiac arrest being the cause of all deaths. If your heart is beating, you're alive, and if you have money, you can have a roof over your head.

[Jolly]

If you are around very many homeless people, you find out very quickly that the vast majority are drug abusers, mentally ill or both. Yes, there are single moms with kids or even families, but that's the exceptions.

[Horace]

The homeless encampments are commonly referred to as "open air drug markets".

[Jon]

Shellenberger popularized that term. And its a very good description.

[xenon]

I don’t know how the people in the tenderloin or skid row were able to fill out a survey.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Jon said in California homelessness survey:

@Axtremus

That seems like (to use Aristotle’s taxonomy of causes)...

Are you absolutely sure you've got a girlfriend?

[Axtremus]

@Jolly said in California homelessness survey:

If you are around very many homeless people, you find out very quickly that the vast majority are drug abusers, mentally ill or both.

With regards to mental illness and drug abuse, and also addressing @Jon’s comment, the article mentions that one of the survey’s findings seems to be that many became mentally ill or started abusing drugs after they became homeless. The progression is more like loss/reduction of income homelessness drug abuse and/or mental illness.

[Axtremus]

@Mik said in California homelessness survey:

If it could have been solved by money it would no longer be a problem.

That’s true only if you have the money to solve your problem or whoever has (control of) the money is willing to spend the money to solve your problem.

[Ivorythumper]

@Horace I’d guess 60 -70% of that goes to bureaucratic administration of the funds.

[Jon]

@Doctor-Phibes said in California homelessness survey:

@Jon said in California homelessness survey:

@Axtremus

That seems like (to use Aristotle’s taxonomy of causes)...

Are you absolutely sure you've got a girlfriend?

Yes but she's a math teacher.

[Jon]

@xenon said in California homelessness survey:

I don’t know how the people in the tenderloin or skid row were able to fill out a survey.

Good point, built in sample bias. If you're high as a kite staring into space, you probably aren't answering questions to some survey taker.

[Jolly]

@Axtremus said in California homelessness survey:

@Jolly said in California homelessness survey:

If you are around very many homeless people, you find out very quickly that the vast majority are drug abusers, mentally ill or both.

With regards to mental illness and drug abuse, and also addressing @Jon’s comment, the article mentions that one of the survey’s findings seems to be that many became mentally ill or started abusing drugs after they became homeless. The progression is more like loss/reduction of income homelessness drug abuse and/or mental illness.

Granted, my personal sample size is only a few hundred and it's regional, but I stand by my original statement.