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January 1, One Third of the Entire Country’s Homeless Population Lives in This State
The staggering issue of homelessness looms large over California, with the state hosting nearly a third of the nation’s rising homeless population, which stands at 582,462 people according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In the bustling city of San Francisco, Anthony, a former restaurant worker who has lived in a tent for three years, is just one of over 170,000 unhoused Californians.
The city’s inflated living cost, with average rent for a one-bedroom apartment being roughly $3,000 a month, starkly contrasts with its minimum wage of $18.07 an hour, leaving many like Nelly Sorto, a full-time cleaner and a mother of two, struggling to break into the rental market.
Anthony, a former chef, has experienced the vicious cycle of homelessness firsthand, stating, “Once you get behind, you just can’t get up,” to ABC News.
The economic downturn during the pandemic left many like him, striving to find a permanent home and bouncing from street to street as city officials clear their encampments.
This visible homelessness crisis is often attributed to several factors, including the high cost of living related to the tech boom and mental health issues experienced by many individuals.
Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said to ABC News, “California has systemic issues in terms of its housing affordability… So, what we need to do in California is really have a massive investment to offset that difference between incomes and rent.”
The rising number of encampments has sparked frustration across the state, with residents like Jeanne Vasquez expressing concern over safety and the declining quality of life in their areas.
In July, Vasquez conveyed her discontent to ABC Los Angeles, citing instances of broken glass, needles on the ground, and inappropriate behaviors exhibited by individuals dealing with mental illnesses.
To combat this escalating issue, President Joe Biden announced an investment of an extra $3 billion focusing on support services including rental assistance, legal help, and job search support, with a particular emphasis on veterans.
However, GOP presidential hopefuls like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump have utilized the grim reality of the homelessness crisis in blue states to critique Democratic leadership.
Trump has been vocal about his stance on “urban camping,” promising to ban it and offering rehabilitation options for violators, as mentioned in one of his campaign ads.
However, Friedenbach argues that such policies essentially criminalize the homeless and advocates for a more comprehensive approach involving the federal government investing in housing vouchers, long-term housing subsidies, and reforms in mental health and substance use treatment systems.
She believes that this crisis is a “manufactured issue” created by a “lack of investment” and calls for active listening from the federal government to truly understand and address the needs of the unhoused people.
Despite the relentless efforts of San Francisco outreach teams, many unhoused individuals either decline offers of shelter or already have shelter but cannot be compelled to come inside, as per a spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.
While some, like Anthony, have been offered a place to stay, the glaring reality remains that thousands are still on the streets yearning for a place to call home, with at least 350 unhoused individuals still on the waitlist for housing in San Francisco.
The pervasive crisis necessitates immediate, profound measures and substantial investments to bridge the substantial gap between incomes and rent, and to address the systemic issues contributing to the surge in homelessness.
As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.
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Sofia Gonzalez Parks
October 3, 2023 at 7:32 am
History is forgotten or its roots unknown.
The homeless problem started during President Ronald Reagan administration.
Why? Because of him, trying to balance the State’s budget, cut the Government’s assistance to Roman Catholic Churches, who used to take care of lone elderly and the very poor.
Without, that money, those institutions, could not raise enough funds to cover the costs of housing the destitute. Thus, the budget was never completely balanced and the homeless crisis, resulted into a public USA embarrassment and Country disgrace, till, this day.
NavVet67
October 3, 2023 at 9:08 am
Quite frankly, we should send all the illegals there as well. The left wing libs asked for this, so they can have it. Oregon and Washington state should be included as well…..make them all squeal and pay for their absolute stupidity
3Xe1ioaiNITxtqNW5CaZEzpxpY4ggtEQJVxO4x0v98I=
October 3, 2023 at 10:07 am
send them all there and if no room send illegals back to where they came from
Donald Cook
October 3, 2023 at 10:15 am
I would not call it living. It is more like just trying to survive. California has the worse Government system. But if they vote for any Democrat, they GET what they get.
Bonnie Goldberg
October 3, 2023 at 11:35 am
I believe that many have CHOSEN that life. In the case of addicts, NO FINANCIAL HELP SHOULD BE GIVEN. I was once a parent of a (now deceased by overdose) street person who was enabled by out government by getting a small stipend monthly due to “mental disorder”. He was fine, but preferred living on the street to getting a job. He panhandled after his monthly check ran out and used his money for drugs or alcohol. We tried for 30 years to help him, but he ALWAYS went back to living life on the street. We gave him vouchers for good and he would sell them for Pennie’s to get money for drugs. It never changed nor got better. He finally took a bad combination and just went to eternal sleep. At last we had peace of mind, not wondering when we would get that call. It’s over.
Ellen C
October 3, 2023 at 12:54 pm
perfect place for them. Sanctuary cities,isn’t that what they claimed? N.Y. California, Delaware, and any left wing cesspool that “wanted them”. They the left ONLY wants a new bunch of plantation workers. These are at best Uneducated leeches. Seen any Doctors, lawyers, Scientist, techies, or highly employables in this bargage of sex traffikers, drug smugglers, terrorist ,gang members, and disease ridden resource hogs?
If things are so bad in their motherland, hy are the educated staying?
THIS IS ALL ABOUT VOTES FOR THE LEFT.
Claudio Cifoni
October 3, 2023 at 2:02 pm
WOW !! a true DEMON – CRATIC State. Let us always enjoy the licentiousness of a few of our DEMOCRATIC leaders and just maybe a few of the opposing party. I am reminded of a literary saying : “WHAT PRICE GLORY” . The continued battle overwhelmed by vernacular loathe of quite a few politicians arguing on who gets the LOLLIPOP . BEWARE of the enemy within . While the TWO contenders are at each others skulls the third enemy within continues to SOROSLY gloat . FREEDOM ???? — ” WHEN EXCESSIVE FREEDOM DESTROYS ORDER – IT WILL BE THE PASSION FOR ORDER TO DESTROY FREEDOM ” – History speaks for itself and more so from the resulting anguish of the downtrodden. God bless the USA . .
Lyudmila
October 3, 2023 at 3:29 pm
And whose job is this? – Thanks to Newsom ! he tried very hard to make this happen to California. Now he is preparing to do the same to all of America if he becomes (God forbid) the president of America. Do you need this?
Imre
October 3, 2023 at 6:55 pm
I moved out of California 11 years ago and won’t even go back to visit. Democraps ruined the state. It will NEVER recover!!! It’s now a 3rd world crap hole!!!
CharlieSeattle
October 4, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Whine, whine, Whine!
A former coworker and golf partner of mine once lived in his car for 4 years working for Boeing improving his CAD skills.
Became an expert in his craft. He is retired now with a lakeside view of upper Lake Michigan.