losf

"My point is that from many SF residents' perspectives, spending their tax dollars to make the city the "homeless capital of the united states" is not a smart strategy."

I guess this is where we disagree. As a SF resident, I want my tax dollars to serve every residents including the homeless. I don't want my tax dollars to be used to push the "problem" out.

It is not a game. The goal is not put homeless under the carpet. Because they are out of sight does not mean that the problem is solved.

SF is "the homeless capital of the United States"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_the_United_Stat...). So, SF must be doing something right, for homeless to come in the City. I wish other cities would do the same, for the homeless's wellbeing not necessarily to attract more homeless. But if every city would do the same, homeless would not need to travel, so no more no less homeless. Right now some cities do nothing (or even make life more difficult) for homeless, hoping they leave...

I don't think it is the right strategy.

I agree than the term "fixing homelessness" is probably not appropriate. As you said some homeless might want to stay homeless, and that is fine. But for the homeless who want to get out of homelessness, there should be a clear path to get back. That could start with basics (shelter, bathroom, medical and social help).

Spending $200M/year on ~15,000 homeless, that's ~$1,000/month for each homeless. I don't think we need more money. We need to spend it better.

Why not build public bathrooms ? That could be used by homeless and others (like people renting a bedroom w/o shower, poor, students, etc.). Actually that could be a way to reach homeless people, to provide them medical and social help.

To integrate homeless to society you need to provide them the basics that they don't have (bathroom, shelter, laundry, food, medical and social help, and even bank account, internet, phone). Not all will grab the opportunity, but at least they will have a chance to.

I disagree. We should not make life more difficult than it is already for homeless people. We should provide them a path to integrate to society (access to shelters, bathrooms, education, medical and social help). Some homeless might grab the opportunity to leave homelessness, but let's not fool ourselves, some will remain homeless. The remaining homeless would be at least healthier and less outcast.

That will attract more homeless in SF, sure! (actually, some cities pay to send their homeless to SF already http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/09/11/2602391/san-franc...). But that is not a sufficient reason to not make what is right.

If every city in the Bay would do the same, there would less incentive for homeless to congregate in SF.