Utah's proposed homeless camp claims to be 'most compassionate policy anywhere' | Hacker News Reader

Utah's proposed homeless camp claims to be 'most compassionate policy anywhere'

deseret.com

8 pointsnephihaha6 comments

“By banning outdoor camps and pouring resources into one campus, critics framed the state’s efforts as using coercion to move marginalized individuals to some place where they are less visible, and unable to leave of their own free will”

Sure, they want to round up people off the street and concentrate them in prison-like camps, but no idea where the Nazi comparison came from

Utah Governor Spencer Cox called funding for the homeless camp his “top priority” for the 2026 legislative session during a housing conference at the University of Utah where he pushed back against a New York Times article that cited a source who likened Utah’s campus plan to a Nazi concentration camp.

actually, getting them in one location may be very economical for getting homeless medical, dental care, and addictions treatment, but sure, some guardrails and scrutiny are required. Of course, it shouldn't be a dumping ground, on one hand, and not a magnet for easy living, on the other. It's a tightrope for sure.

Currently, incarceration for criminal offenses probably saves many lives, ironically. Not just those of potential victims, but those of the offenders as well. I've seen some examples of that first hand. But this may be a better option, if it has sufficient funding, staffing, planning and oversight.

Some years ago, officials in Salt Lake City put homeless people into actual housing and it worked out cheaper than the alternative.

The guardrail aspect here is what concerns me. A lot of homeless people relish some kind of freedom and putting them in a bootcamp is the opposite of that.

Well, I am very familiar with the workings of local govt homeless enforcement. Within 10 miles of my home are homeless encampments along a river. These poor people often end up with dozens of citations and fines. The only way to escape that, in the absence of money, is jail time, or go somewhere else and repeat the experience of more citations elsewhere. It is a "doom loop" - at some point, they'll need permanent shelter and services. So we need a solution. What is your proposal?

It is better to put them into some kind of home than a camp. Down the road from me is a village of small chalets (as you could call them) where homeless people have been housed. They have gardens around them, and some responsibilities, but they don't have a fence around them and guards. These chalets are small but they look good, and I wouldn't resent living in one myself. These chalets have been funded by donations and some local government funds. As far as I can tell, it seems to work well, although I have no stats to hand.

Homeless people often need support for addiction recovery, mental health issues and transitioning away from this lifestyle etc. Many have been badly hurt by domestic troubles, state care systems or even poverty traps created by ill-conceived laws. Some can be exmilitary and have been let down by their former employers.

I agree homeless encampments can be nasty environments and cause issues, but this proposal sounds like it is halfway to a jail. I know a few homeless people prefer being in jail, but for some the idea of being imprisoned like this may cause a persecution complex.

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