If local police actually enforce* enforce laws against homelessness the more resourceful of the homeless will find ways to live in vacant buildings, abandoned vehicles, kiosks of any kind, rooftops, garages and elsewhere. Back in the 80's I worked in a one-story office building that unbeknownst to anyone also housed a homeless Viet Nam v…
If local police actually enforce* enforce laws against homelessness the more resourceful of the homeless will find ways to live in vacant buildings, abandoned vehicles, kiosks of any kind, rooftops, garages and elsewhere. Back in the 80's I worked in a one-story office building that unbeknownst to anyone also housed a homeless Viet Nam vet who was living in the space above the ceiling. He was able to sleep most of the day above a quiet unused part of the building, and at night he's wait until the janitorial staff left and then come down and survive on lunch items left behind in the brakeroom refrigerator and take care of hygiene in one of the large restrooms. He survived there for nearly nine months, including through a Michigan winter, before being discovered late at night by one of the managers who returned to pick up some work. I have a grudging admiration for that man because he was resourceful and did little harm, unless you're the type who'd truly miss half a bad ham sandwich and some limp pickles. (Most get the vapors if a power outage lasts beyond four hours, while the homeless survivors will inherit the Fury Road we seem to be headed to.)
On the otherhand, there is a longstanding encampment of homeless people two towns away in a swale between a freeway and an on ramp. It's widely known it's there. The police don't roust anyone because no one complains about them even though they become somewhat more visible due to campfires after foliage disappears in the fall. And, yes, the "problem" court must, absolutely must be addressed.
If local police actually enforce* enforce laws against homelessness the more resourceful of the homeless will find ways to live in vacant buildings, abandoned vehicles, kiosks of any kind, rooftops, garages and elsewhere. Back in the 80's I worked in a one-story office building that unbeknownst to anyone also housed a homeless Viet Nam vet who was living in the space above the ceiling. He was able to sleep most of the day above a quiet unused part of the building, and at night he's wait until the janitorial staff left and then come down and survive on lunch items left behind in the brakeroom refrigerator and take care of hygiene in one of the large restrooms. He survived there for nearly nine months, including through a Michigan winter, before being discovered late at night by one of the managers who returned to pick up some work. I have a grudging admiration for that man because he was resourceful and did little harm, unless you're the type who'd truly miss half a bad ham sandwich and some limp pickles. (Most get the vapors if a power outage lasts beyond four hours, while the homeless survivors will inherit the Fury Road we seem to be headed to.)
On the otherhand, there is a longstanding encampment of homeless people two towns away in a swale between a freeway and an on ramp. It's widely known it's there. The police don't roust anyone because no one complains about them even though they become somewhat more visible due to campfires after foliage disappears in the fall. And, yes, the "problem" court must, absolutely must be addressed.