Comment by hobo_in_library | Hacker News Reader

Comment by hobo_in_library | Hacker News Reader

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hobo_in_library

That, and part of the problem seems to be that when people say "get them off the streets" the hidden statement is "but keep them in SF"

SF is a ridiculously expensive city that people from across the US consider (who have homes even) consider themselves priced out of.

It seems mind boggling that people think everyone deserves a home in SF itself, instead of relocation to, say, a new suburb constructed a couple hours away (where housing is cheaper!).

Constructing that suburb would create jobs. The infrastructure needed to maintain it would create jobs. And even if it remains a net cash drain, it'll still likely be cheaper than 17B a year while giving people actual homes with opportunities to work their way up and out

> It seems mind boggling that people think everyone deserves a home in SF itself, instead of relocation to, say, a new suburb constructed a couple hours away (where housing is cheaper!).

The problem is that many homeless people would genuinely rather live on the streets or in shelters in the city proper where they have easy access to the things they want, versus having a house provided elsewhere.

They want housing near their preferred begging spots and their dealers, basically.

That lends itself to other solutions though, if there's the political will to implement them.

To take an unpopular example: Iran

Iran provides food and shelter to all it's citizens, making sure everyone has their minimum needs met. They've combined this with strict laws against begging. If they see anyone begging on the street someone will come up to them and ask "Why are you begging? Do you have some basic need that's still unmet?"

Outcomes will range from: - Helping them with that need (if it's legitimate) - Directing them to getting some kind of job if they merely want more income (even if it's selling trivial knick knacks on the street) - Presumably there's penalties for repeat offenders

None of this is true. Iran has extreme poverty, people have bare access to food these days and there's a massive amount of child beggars in the street. People are selling body parts to get access to food.

Source: Iranian.

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