[jonhohle]

Cities with expanded funding for homeless populations are the ones with the issues. When I moved from Phoenix to Seattle in 2009 I was surprised by the level of homelessness there. The major difference: lots of support for urban homeless. I moved back and Phoenix has adopted many of the same concepts, and guess what? The homeless population is exploding here now as well.

I’m all for affordable housing and work programs and other things that allow those who have fallen on hard times ways to help themselves out. I’m also for psychiatric care for those who have mental health issues that won’t be able to help themselves. None of that involves safe spaces for recreational drug use. That only keeps people on their state or drags them down and provides incentive for others to follow (as evidenced by Seattle, Portland, SF, LA, etc.).

There are lots or organizations that will give people a place to stay, especially woman and children. The good ones will also have educational help and employment services as well. None of that needs to include trip sitters, needle exchanges, narcan, or paraphernalia vending machines.