Just look around at our riverbeds—in fact everywhere—there are pockets of homeless encampments. The problem seems to be growing exponentially. Since the last census on homelessness, it is up 30 percent in SLO County. Simply put, what we are doing is not working.
The 5Cities Homeless Coalition started with one employee and now has six, and the homeless population is only getting much worse. They are helping those who have fallen on hard times, lost their jobs, or homes.
It seems to be impossible to stop or even slow down the flood of drug use in America. The extended use of alcohol or drugs equals mental disabilities, brought on by choices they have made.
Denmark has a solution that has worked for them for many years. It is called Freetown or Christiania. They have taken an abandoned military base in the metropolitan area of Copenhagen and opened it up to the homeless.
There is no way to protect people from themselves, if they choose to ruin their lives. So being a humane society, we can give them a roof over their heads, and let them figure out the rest. Yes, drugs are sold openly in Freetown, and problems do occur. But, face it, drugs are sold on street corners here.
Australia was founded by criminals, and they figured it out and became self-sufficient.
The expense of continuing a program that doesn’t work makes no sense. Find out from the government in Denmark how they implemented Christiania and what they did to encourage the homeless to live there. Use the plan as a model.
Please try something different.
Helen Jacobsen
Arroyo Grande
This article appears in Autumn Arts Annual 2019.
There are a lot of people living in cars and vehicles lately too. Whatever local leaders are doing about the problem right now is not getting results.
The solutions are not hard; we’ve done them before. But they require a certain amount of objectivity and discipline.
First, removing the rules because it’s uncomfortable for people is unworkable. There will always be those who lie to get welfare (we all know cases of that), and there will always be people unable to take care of themselves. But to maintain a civil society one will help both the incompetent and the rest of us by enforcing the laws. Giving hypodermic needles to people who take illegal drugs, and welfare to the able bodied, simply generate more illegal and incompetent conduct.
Enforce the laws. Make life tough for those who commit crimes and escape personal responsibility for their actions. Stop pandering to the people who don’t perform.
There are solutions.
We do have a mobile shower unit. We saw it at the Arroyo Grande Harvest Parade on Saturday, Sept 28, 2019
Cities and the County can permit more mini homes and reconsider zoning and codes.
Shelters need not cot millions of taxpayer dollars. Rules and Regulations for temporary cold weather shelters can be less of a burden so more homeless are sheltered during storms, etc.
We can all do more in small ways to help direct the homeless to what services are available and not turn our noses up when we see them on our streets.
Be kind.