[wilg]

This is, obviously, intellectually lazy. The article discusses mental health and drugs and why they cannot be the main issue. Anecdotes don't really change that, hence why people use data instead of their emotions to solve problems.

[Pigalowda]

Yea, I’d rather be “intellectually lazy” and grounded in reality.

These people aren’t using “data” to solve problems. What a joke.

Here’s what’s going to happen - voting citizens will eventually get tired of the drugs, property crime, and homeless and they’ll elect a mayor who is “tough on crime”. There will be a crack down and the public spaces will improve however eventually regress back. Then the cycle repeats. And a new academic group says if there were more cheap housing all the problems will be solved.

[wilg]

Why are you outright denying that the data exists? And you're calling it being "grounded in reality"? Seriously? That's lunacy. The data I provided demonstrates you are wrong about your theory of homelessness. I can't do anything else for you.

[Pigalowda]

The data sucks and so did that blog. As if West Virginia and Mississippi are good comparisons! They don’t have as many homeless because their urban centers are minuscule, can’t support large homeless populations with limited social services, and with populations/laws less tolerant of vagrancy.

And yea, I’m grounded in reality - you are not. I don’t care about your silly data which captures multiple cohorts of homeless populations and tries to foist them into and analyze them as 1 population. Before you try doing “anything else” for me why don’t you try going outside and seeing for yourself. Or better yet, go work in the county Emergency room in a big city! Why don’t you try that? Maybe talk to a social worker there or case manager? That might be scary for you. Better put on your big boy pants if you have any.

[wilg]

I'm no longer interested in engaging with you on this (or any) topic.

[Ferret7446]

There's a reason for the saying: "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics".

[cwalv]

Intellectually lazy, maybe, but funny and easy to relate to.

Of course, a cheapo home won't help that guy. But without the 'data', we also don't know how much of the overall homeless population is like that. And regardless, that guy will still be there with more housing, so it'd be hard to call the problem solved.

[wilg]

A cheapo home probably would help that guy a lot. This is called a housing-first approach. It's easier to get off drugs when you're not, you know, homeless. But yes, other approaches are needed for serious drug problems. But we know that drug problems aren't the biggest factor in homelessness.