[regis]

One thing that I think is missing from these discussions about the homeless in SF is: many of these people do not want to be rent-paying members of society and even if there was housing for them, some might still prefer their current lifestyle. Many people still view that lifestyle choice as unacceptable because it challenges the typical goals of someone working hard for a 'better' life. I don't think the question should be 'how do we get these people to participate in society?' but 'why don't they want to participate and how can we accommodate these alternative life choices?' Otherwise any progress made would benefit those who want to see the streets cleaned up and not necessarily those living out there.

[beat]

I don't think anyone actually PREFERS to be homeless, except for a few exotics. Most of the homeless in America are that way due to either a: unfortunate economic circumstances, or b: mental illness that precludes normal social functioning.

[btilly]

About 20 years ago I ran across a study of homeless people in NYC. It turned out that a lot had lead comfortable middle class lives, and like most of us with the resources to handle one economic setback. Then two things went wrong. The first drained their reserves, the second put them on the street.

A particularly common combination was a health problem followed by foreclosure.

It has been 20 years, but I have seen no reason to doubt that the same pattern would be largely true today.

[regis]

I think many people choose being homeless over giving into the pressures of our society like having to sustain a job in order to pay rent and go out for dinner etc... and all that stuff that 'normal' people desire. I've met homeless people that split their time between SF and some hills near Santa Cruz and only come into the city to sell some hash or hang out ith friends for a couple of days... but yes there are also many people on the streets who don't want to be there too.

[misc_closet]

Are you aware that we live in a period of peak unemployment?

There are literally millions of people who want jobs. The jobs were all made obsolete by Silicon Valley. The safety net was shredded by Silicon Valley-style neoliberal ethics based on Ayn Rand.

[regis]

Yeah I am aware of that, but that doesn't mean that there aren't also people who don't want to work. I would love to not work and just enjoy life while I can, but I can't because I have bought into this idea that having extra money for shelter, food and other junk makes life more enjoyable... some people haven't bought into this that are struggling to enjoy their lives outside of the crazy whirlwind of packaged desires.

[pessimizer]

You're projecting your desires for a bit of freedom from the rat-race onto the homeless.

[regis]

Perhaps a bit, but these comments are also based on real conversations with homeless people in SF.

[hawkal]

What's really scary is that a can lead to b: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse/News%20and%20Events%2FNews%2FS...

[ww520]

Could it be that they don't prefer the rat race we are in and choose to live carefree?

[bmmayer1]

In SF this is definitely not an assumption you should make. Talk to some people around Haight St. http://blog.priceonomics.com/post/43085729257/the-street-kid...

[analyst74]

This is a very reasonable and logical arguments over this sensitive issue.

It's not about if someone wants to be homeless, if there is a simple choice between shelter and homeless, people will always prefer shelter. But if the choice is between working hard with a shelter, and live carefree and homeless, the answer will not be so clear.