What’s your idea for addressing the homeless displaced from “The Hill?”
See related: City opens camp for homeless
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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 6:41 am and is filed under City, Health / Living.
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November 12th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Set them a permenant place up at the Juneau Empire to camp out, maybe the press room, the offices would do well to.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Yea – give them the Juneau Empire, the smell could use some improvement!
November 12th, 2009 at 9:51 am
One way ferry ticket to back to Bellingham.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
It’s a moot point now. Why bother asking the question after the city has already addressed the issue by keeping the Thane campground open?
November 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Well it’s hard to grasp how big of a problem this really is when the story highlights a man who WANTS to be homeless. Thats the thing with Alaska is people enjoy the outdoorsy lifestyle. I agree though, give all of these people one-way tickets back to their home state’s where they have family to help them.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I say stop running the ferries out of Bellingham in the first place. Have the southern terminus someplace just across the border in Canada. Let the Canadians help us keep the riff-raff out. Of course, that will mean higher weed prices.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Yes Ich Raunche, we all know you smoke dope, no need to incorperate it into every friggen comment you type good grief
November 12th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
how about a nice house off Montana creek road, free everything that goes with a new home, and a years worth of groceries.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Create jobs and provide income for them so that they can rent apartments and not be homeless.
Or, house them in the Governor’s mansion. I don’t see many lights on in there lately. Are we sure the new Gov plans on living there at some point?
p.s., “friggen” is not a word.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Is “CHIEF” still around? Tell him hi and give him a quarter for me. Or better yet, buy him a “40.” Or better yet, a “traveler.” My understanding is he’s a vet. Anyone for sure on the vet thing?
November 12th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
One of the reoccurring themes I see in a lot of posts is that these people are in some way society’s responsibility. Maybe, they have ended up homeless to some lifestyle choices they have made on their own. Maybe getting out of their current situations ought to be their responsibility. I’m not against lending a hand. However, let’s tone down the “blame society” game.
By the way “……” I have some old roaches if you still want them.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
create jobs… yea right.. how can someone starting out afford housing in Juneau. You cant find anything decent under 1000 a month, then you have power, phone, heat, cable, trash, food, gas or bus money. I have seen guys shacked up and living in storage units, cause the heat is free and monthly rent is 78.00 a month.
THERE you go… make storage units for them all. Nice 80-90 units, steal doors… out of the way area.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
…there must be 40 churches in this town….can’t they help out somehow…..
November 12th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
…p.s. a lot of people use the word “friggen”…but I think they mean “fricken”…..
November 12th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Has anyone ever watched the Canadian TV series “Trailer Park Boys?” In it one of the main characters, Ricky, lives in a car without a door for years. He is perfectly content.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I agree and at the same time disagree with popcicle girl, housing and the cost of living is high here in Juneau, but who says one of these homeless that just needs a roof over his/her head needs a phone, cable and even gas. I came to Juneau almost 2 years ago as a homeless, divorced, unemployed disabled vet…in that span of time I was able to secure a job, marry a beautiful woman , see a daughter born into the world, and buy a house—-I wish that many of these nay sayers just got into them the spirit to grab their bootstraps and charge forward and they will see that if they work at anything they will accomplish it. Of course unlike many of the homeless I run into on a nightly basis I am not spending every dime on some type of vice, whether it be alcohol, cigarettes or dope. Hate to say they have themselves to blame, but like some of those on the “hill” and in Thane said, they prefer to live that way…and thanks to our liberal society we will continue to allow them to sponge off of us while men and women like me will strive to better themselves and their families so we do not have to put up a pallet structure. Have owned the house now for 6 months with no end in sight, but still have to do without cable, and my own vehicle.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:26 am
dont do anything for them, they want to be homeless and drink all the time, its thier choice. dont give them anything that comes from the tax payers pockets.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:21 am
As we all know well, homelessness is due to many reasons, such as, job loss, broken relationship, mental illness, substance addictions, criminal activity, and then there’s those that just prefer to be homeless because of not wanting to take responsibility for themselves. I’ve worked with and helped all the above and not everytime has it turned out a happy ending; but at times, thank God, yes it has.
As heartbreaking and as hard to understand; there is no blanket answer and being a total enabler is definitely not the answer. If you have never volunteered to work with and help, please do it now. There is opportunity on a daily basis, not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Have you opened up your home, have you taken them to apply for housing or to the doctor, have you given, clothing, blankets or food, have you taken someone to a store to get work clothes and then to a job interview or for training, have you taken them to Church with you? What have you done, not what will CBJ do, YOU?
November 13th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Non-quitter…congratulations to you for staying focused and working hard toward your goals….maybe you could be a motivational speaker for the homeless and it might reach at least ONE of them….
I can’t help but think that part of your motivation too, is that you found a GOOD WOMAN!!!
November 13th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I need some wolf bait!
November 13th, 2009 at 9:08 am
No Quitter: Good for you You set a good example that others should follow. Unfortunately some people seem to think it is their right to do only what they want, when they want. Then the Empire features them in a story and they get their photo in the paper. I think YOU should be feature.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:21 am
It seems to me there isn’t much that can be done about it. Not to be a nay sayer, but I think all efforts would be in vein. We’re still going to have homeless people in Juneau. They will just migrate from Thane, to Douglas, various spots downtown, then possibly move towards the valley. I agree with Lifelong Alaskan, it’s a moot point.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Allowing the homeless to stay in that spot will only enable them…they stay there because just down the hill is town where most of the bars are and that is where they hang out during the day.
They shouldn’t be allowed to stay on that hill–PERIOD!
November 13th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Yes, Non Quitter, I meant to congradulate you, too. Your life is a wonderful example of how perservering in a vision for a better future turns into a rewarding success. Thanks for sharing your story and being an encouragement to those that need it.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I too was homeless for 4 months and never gave up, found a nice house, got kids, an awesome man and pets. I dug out from the depths of poverty, and now help others. However, some people dont want help and some are cons who prey on people who help. They would rather panhandle and get tax free monies, and then drive home to thier fancy homes and families. I have seen it many times in Anchorage with the people on corners with signs. They can panhandle a couple of hundred bucks tax free and make more then an honest job. SO, we have to be cautious who we help and meake sure they are truely worthy of helping and want the help.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am
The “Bums” on the hill are exactly that–BUMS not homeless people.
someone coined the phrase “the homeless” but in reality they live that way because they WANT TO!!
I call em as I see em.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:59 am
This is not new news. This could have been solved years ago. Have the state build a transition house, like the halfway house, then send them out into the real world. For the ones that do not want to participate provide them with a one way ticket out of here.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I see a lot of “what will the city do” “where are the churches” posted all over this issue. I have to ask where are the athiests? agnostics? pagens? flower children? Why when there is a social problem is there this out pouring of finger pointing at government and churches? Is no one else obligated to help their fellow human? Must be comforting to sit warm and well fed at home and say “not my problem, I don’t work for the city and I am not Christian”.
Wonderful post Helene, right on point.
We are all fully aware there are those on the corner looking for handouts to support a habit. But that is a cop-out for not dropping off a bag of clothing, a sleeping bag you will never use again, or a bag of non perishable food. They can’t spend those things at the liquor store and the Glory Hole will give them to someone who needs them. But to deny the warmth of a sleeping bag to a young woman down on her luck because of a white male on the corner too lazy to get a job… Sounds like middle school behaviour to me.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
how about use that green burned out building sitting going to waste downtown. Make it a shelter, seems like there is plenty of apts that can be made into transitional homes for people until they get on thier feet.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
They are not ‘bums’…they are simply homeless individuals. Identify the problem(s) first: Homelessness, lack of compassion for our neighbors and lack of affordable housing for low-income people. Think about the way some of our buildings are been used…to store too much e-waste. People should come first when it comes to basic sheltering: Put housing people first!
November 13th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
The way I see it they have a choice to get treatment if they have a mental disorder, they are old enough to make money for themselves or collect disability if they are to far gone.. If people work through the hard times they can make it.. If my YOUNG family can earn 100,000+, work while we have young kids, carrie our own insurance, and I still can make it with a major anxiaty disorder, I see no excuse for them! There is a difference between temporary hardship and long term bs.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:14 am
AND…they were strong enough to carry pallets up that hill to create a shanty for themselves.
You can’t force them to move to a shelter for rehabilitation if they don’t want to. They aren’t breaking any laws by living in “Shantyville”.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
tenacious, weren’t they trespassing? I think the city has an obligation to offer assistance (rehab, relocation or other) to those individuals who will accept it. For those that do not want the aid, they should be informed of the laws and regulations concerning their actions. Once that it done, and they have affirmed their understanding of those regulations, they could be fined or jailed as the law requires.
Basically, offer help and if that is not accepted, take proper action. If that involves jail, so be it. As far as shipping them down south, I think that is kind of a cop-out, why should we push our problems onto another city.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Why are people so set on having something “provided” to the homeless? Nobody is “providing” for my family. We do that ourselves by working. If these folks need a place and there are derelict buildings available, let them talk with CBJ or whomever owns those buildings and have those people who need a home put their energy into fixing up those places so they have shelter. YOU are responsible for YOU. I am NOT responsible for YOU. My taxes help pay for programs to help support those in need. I provide food to the food bank, I draw names from the Christmas trees and buy toys for kids who have little to nothing, I drop change into the kettle. How much more am I supposed to give to people before I, myself become homeless? There are programs out there to help those in need, if they want the help they can get it. If not, that’s their choice!
November 14th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
With the mudslides, high winds and rain camping outside in Juneau can be difficult in the winter. Most of the forest areaas tend to become saturated and tent floors and sleeping bags soaked. Hypothermia may occur as the body spends extra energy drying to dry out the wet material. It is helpful to have a secure place to exist. Juneau is a very difficult place to find work–especially if injured. I suppose those Republicans wishing to save money could simply be angels of death and distribute death caps to the poor for suicide–yet they are amoral group after all and would oppose that. The poor must friend for themselves in the vacuum of functional Republican solutions to those homeless issue.
I am a little unhappy with the pervasive trait of bad accounting about the margins of society low and high. The poor are simple sort of erased away and the statistics are presented in such a way that the problem is tolerable, acceptable or whatever. When one is not able to find work in the vast right wing conspiracy, globalist evil empire, or trans-national economic structure that is a planetary social dialectical evolution of anti-individualism concentrating wealth to the globally rich, one must simply observe the phenomenal progression of structures and vehicles that comprise such a significant portion of American life. A functioning society would assure that the poor should not exist at all,because society would reduce the gap between richest and poorest through democratic action. Such a maximum difference of 100 times more income for the most rich and the most poor should be a guideline.
Limited world resources and area may be compared to a cruise ship. Our cruise ship or ark, if you prefer, has about 6 billion on it with another 3 billion people arriving aboard in the next forty years. Sure the rich should have large cabins above, yet what if they want to take away from the poor their minimal space, or even force some to have no cabins and be illegitimate stowaways with nowhere to go except to walk the plank?
Capitalists may be moral pirates without regard for democracy and that is fine. Democracy should take care of itself and let capitalists just plunder natural resources as they like,and create environmental dumps, flood the nation with illegal aliens to have cheap labor, and support global warming so the lowlands of Juneau may be flooded from rising sea levels by Greenland and the Ross ice sheet melting. The fire of capitalism should not be allowed to burn down the ship of state however.
Capitalism transmogrified into corporatism is an amoral power in pursuit of profit. It is cold blooded and unconcerned about ‘externalities’ such as poor democratic free enterprisers may wish to pursue. Juneau of course cannot simply buy plane tickets for all homeless people stranded in Juneau to Anchorage, give free rent at the homeless concentration camp or bus passes for free to homeless people so they can ride around town and look for a job (there aren’t many).
The BBC ran an article online today reporting that three homeless men had killed and eaten part of a man then sold part of the leftovers to a homeless shish kebab shop. Imperial former empires with heavy Alaskan oil interests are too happy to timely report the extreme behaviors that have been caused by cold weather and probably starvation in the former socialist utopian evil empire. It is important not to have a corrupt society that supports totalitarianism, corporatism,communism and gangsterism. The most pervasive sources of poverty today with the high unemployment rate (over ten percent) was the corruption of the wealth banking and mortgage businesses, and the perfidy and incompetence and post-victory planning for reconstruction of Iraq by the Republican Bush administration. More than 40 billion annually is being spent on a dubious and ponderous future for a corrupt Afghanistan. One must suspect that oil interests are at the bottom of everything.
Public support for assistance to the poor is always helpful to make up for the lack of competent government-social structural planning to assure that poverty simply does not happen. That is one of the major human social challenges in the world today. It is a challenge an intelligent society could solve yet still keeping within complete well regard for individual rights.
When wealth is concentrated the promotion of a class of the stupid and cruel evolves. In an ideal society all would have enough to pursue their own intellectually best abilities and directions. Most brilliant scientists would pursue science without huge wealth, but simply with adequate compensation. The mathematician Russian Pearlman the solved the Poincaire conjecture was quite insulted by American offers of wealth to teach or research math (I may have the name wrong). Great athaletes would still pursue amateur sports or sports with a salary cap of 5 million annually. With a better global allocation of resources more production could be accomplished. With limited sizes of business–perhaps 2000 employees, no business would be too big to fail, no individual or corporation should be too big to be honest or responsible environmentally.
If the United States were to pursue self-reliance on the majority of social resources for survival and limited trade to perhaps 15% of g,n,p. and through treaty so did other nations, and if comparative advantage criteria were established to coordinate allocation of resources to nations that haven’t got them, and cannot produce them–if free trade and free enterprise were subjected to democratic control criteria that would maximize ecological economic efficiency criteria perhaps with points and priorities to nations with ecological and population control goals met–the world might stand a better chance of assuring the continuity of individual freedom, universal sufficiency in material needs, and meeting the pressing demographic and environmental challenges of tomorrow.
Juneau’s problems of homelessness are an implicit function of the nationally inadequate approach to prevention of poverty and chronic ill health. If the capital were moved to Fairbanks then housing costs would drop locally with a higher vacancy rate, all the state services needed could be consolidated in the S.O.B., and private enterprise could replace the exclusive careerist basis of government work at the core of the city of Juneau.
I am sure that many employers and new Juneau residents would move in to fill the beautiful location with new opportunities and futures after the capital moved–so long as no road is built to connect Juneau to Canada and make it just another wide spot on the side of a fjord.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Sorry, Gary, this is not the forum for you to publish your book. Too long to read without being at Barnes and Noble.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:15 am
The bums on the hill know about all resources available to them–believe me. How else do they get their food etc?
They don’t want to work for what they get that’s why they are bums. There IS housing available for them–but with something they have to comply with.
A squirrel will move close to it’s food source and bums live up the hill from the downtown bars…doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
One would think they’d want to live in a warmer climate for the winter though such as Southern CA. where they won’t freeze to death in a drunken stupor.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
ancmetro,
Maybe you should invite a few of them to stay at your place.
Just an idea.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Maybe Gary can consider taking in a couple too. Think of them as “exchange students.”
November 15th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
wow, just gleamed through the Gibson Manifesto and have to ask who shook the nut tree? Juneau needs a road to bus the nut cases up to Anchorage or at least ferry them over to Haines.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I myself not to many years ago, was working, owned a home etc, and got ill, making a long story short, lost everything, didn”t ask for it to happen, but it did, Took 7 years to get my life back. I slept in my vehicle, was lucky I had it, alot better then a cardboard box I assume. Thing is, they can try and have a transitional housing here, if these people are vets, or can qualify for social security, are mentally ill, get them directed where they need to go. Also I know in Bellingham wa, there is a mission there, do work and earn enough for a ferry ticket to alaska. Can do it the other way also, so they can go back down south, times are tough, for alot of people, its not always the persons fault, they end up that way, some just stronger to get through it, or catch some breaks.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Actually tenacious nailed it right on. Bums all over the West Coast know that Juneau is a great community for handouts. There a great agency for mental health cases called JAMHI. Plus, there are wonderful chuches who are always ready to lend a hand. If you think that word about Juneau’s generous nature isn’t legendary, think again. Those guys are masters at milking the system. Just ask any social worker.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Most of the homeless do have some sort of mental or physical disability that prevents them from being able to take care of themselves. Many here are chronic alcoholics. It is more exensive for the city to jail them(where they will be fed 3meals a day and provided healthcare at tax payers expense). They should be organized into communes to work on projects for the city and instead of being paid $$, recieve food clothing and shelter(like some prisons do.)Might as well get some production back for all of the tax money spent.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Bums, Homeless, etc. I read and appreciate the commentary. Many valid points presented and dilemmas. Before the hill was so well known, there were (and are) _other_ rent-free camps around town – not that they be named Utopia. The Hill is just one ‘in your face’ case brought up by current events (Sire! The Surfs demand retribution for the last power outage! Off with their heads!). Poverty, illness, misfortune happens – are we not all brothers? One-way tickets to hell are not my suggested solution. I think everyone could make an effort to be better humans (you included).
The other day I was downtown, listening to my personal music player, and a ‘disabled vet’ rolled up asking me what MY problem was – since I look so sad (haha). I gave him the same 1000 yard stare I’d give anyone who unsolicited shares their life story. He could tell I was only humoring him, and I politely left once he became hostile and challenged me to fight – no solicitation for money. Maybe this guy just wanted to socialize, and I probably snubbed him in my own snarky way. If I was more immature, and not in a big rush to go nowhere, maybe I would have taken his threats seriously and spent some time taunting him too.
I get home last night, noticing my neighbor left every yard lamp on (hmm), cold beer left on the doorstep still there(ok)… but footprints in the snow back and forth across my yard. Turn on all my lights and see three gypsy-types sitting on the edge of my yard with a couple dogs. I turned my yard lights off around 3am deciding I would not harass them further. (call the cops? spotlamp them? confront them armed? BMOB to their party?)
Checking in the morning, it looked like their dogs ran up to my compost pile, rolled and dug in it, and the owners came to retrieve their unleashed companions. Their ‘camp’ was cleaned by morning. No stolen snow shovels, or piles of garbage left behind. Just disappearing tracks in the snow.
No, these guests were not invited. But in the end all they cost me was chance and choice to afford more thought to life, and a couple dimples in an otherwise perfectly even and well landscaped field of snow. I hope they were enjoying the great view that I now take for granted. Enjoying nature, instead of the trappings of keeping working to keep working, to keep the lights on and fuel in the furnace/truck/etc. Everyone please, show your fellow human more love and attempt to show your best virtues, like compassion. Might to push others off a cliff does not make you right.
In
My
Back
Yard
(now that wasn’t so bad was it?)
November 16th, 2009 at 8:40 am
What are we going to do about them? Well if you take to time to ask “them” They just want to be left alone. Yes, that’s right they don’t want our help. It’s unfortunate they picked a location too close to town for us! They will now be forced to move further out of town and into other mining ruins. Many of the people are also suffering from some mental illness and don’t have much of choice about working and gaining a job (it’s not practical). We should all donate to the Glory Hole and help if we can!
November 16th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Something I think about sometimes is how much of our resources are wasted everyday. One thing in particular are big shipping containers. The kind that get hooked up to semis to transport large amounts of merchandise. The kind that are in a big yard on Channel drive next to World Wide Movers. It seems to me, companies are ordering new ones all the time and old ones are sitting around taking up space. What about turning those into something to live in? There are many that just sit there, empty, defunct and taking up space anyway. Why not “kill two birds with one stone”. Reduce waste and provide shelter for the “homeless”. That may not be a likely possibility here, but it’s just a thought.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I see a lot of people stating “chronic Alcoholism” as a reason. Maybe its the local liquor stores / bars that are contributing to the homeless problem. Want them gone. Create a prohibition from liquor stores and bars from serving chronic alcoholics alcohol. Make a prohibition list. Bet its not hard to figure out who should go on that list. While at it do the same for anybody convicted of drunk driving more than once.
True you wont solve the problem completely but you might force them to pick another town to leech out of that easier for them to fuel their addiction.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Maybe once they make a shipping container “home” we can just ship them out of here.
The city spends bucco bucks enhancing the downtown area in an effort to cater to tourists, such as planting flowers, taking down the shelter at the bus stop on the corner so bums don’t hang out there, etc. etc………………
…..SO! why don’t they move the Glory Hole and all the downtown bars to the valley? That will cut down on the panhandling bums and tresspassers on the hill.
just a thought….
November 17th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Just a thought Says:
November 16th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Something I think about sometimes is how much of our resources are wasted everyday. One thing in particular are big shipping containers. The kind that get hooked up to semis to transport large amounts of merchandise. The kind that are in a big yard on Channel drive next to World Wide Movers. It seems to me, companies are ordering new ones all the time and old ones are sitting around taking up space. What about turning those into something to live in? There are many that just sit there, empty, defunct and taking up space anyway. Why not “kill two birds with one stone”. Reduce waste and provide shelter for the “homeless”. That may not be a likely possibility here, but it’s just a thought.
here ya go.. pack em up and ship em out of town.. no more keggers in backyards and leaf piles used as urinals.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Actually the remodeled container idea has been used in other towns and isn’t a bad thought. They are hard to keep warm in our climate but could be dry. Juneau is an expensive place to live, especially housing. It takes 2.1 average incomes to afford an apartment here. NY also pays one way tickets “home” for the homeless. It is cheaper in the long run than keeping them in the social service loop. People listed here most of the dilemmas which was interesting. I applaud both Non Quitter and I ReadWhat on getting out of their homeless situation. That is ideal and I do hope the Empire does a story on folks who had utilized programs and compassion to become productive members of society. It is true, there are many mentally ill, chronic inebriates, some who have given up hope and prefer to live on handouts, but I continue to believe, as many of you do, that when we reach out and help one, we influence the condition of all. Will we end homelessness, no. Can we help, yes.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:52 am
what is it with “just a thought” just “DO IT!” you guyz are too simple
November 17th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Uhm…NO, that was not my comment but Big_D’s comment.
Big_D…you need to change the Name before you post a comment please
November 17th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
riiiight…tenacious
November 17th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
tell em to move to the valley, theres plenty of “off” city space out there, and come on, the only reason they’re downtown is so they “PANHANDLE” off of drunks, so they can be drunk also…
November 17th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
It is obvious that ignorance is bliss for some bloggers regarding the subject of people and homelessness.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
If they are not locals send them back to where they came from-one way ticket (and don’t come back!). The remaining locals should get any medical and whatever help they need. Tax the rich and increase the alcohol tax to pay for it all…. Isn’t that the way everything is done any more. And if they don’t want any help then forget about it. I wonder how many are actually Alaskans?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I notice a lot of people saying send people back to their home state. Does this mean we accept our homeless that have moved to other states?
November 17th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I know a lot of the “homeless” people out there. Most are on SSI and APA and get Quest cards for food (which they sell for half the worth to buy booze). Once they sell the Quest card they just apply for another one saying they “lost” it. They do NOT want to work. They know how to scam their way through life. I have asked them why they don’t get a job so they can get an apartment, food, clothing. They don’t want to.
And don’t turn your back to them. They will rip you off in the blink of an eye. The landslide was a boon to them. I think about 40 of them lived in the landslide area. Yeah, sure. If they put as much effort into getting a job as they have scamming free stuff from the Red Cross they would all be rich.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hey, Ich Rauche…I think we should discuss this (and many other great conversation topics) further over a good green… um…er…cup of coffee. Yeah, coffee.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I like that IMBY.
Maybe having fewer rednecks would solve the homeless problem.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:52 am
http://www.desc.org It is a great program, just read about it.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:59 am
yeah thats right. every one only sees the alcoholics, no one ever sees the people trying to make it work, trying to work nights and try to sleep the days whereever they can, trying to get by and do better for themselves, knowing you really can’t get a place for under a thousand plus all the other good sluff like heat and food and lights. Sometimes life gives you nothing but trouble, and the ones that are still trying are the reason to help the whole. We are supposed to be SouthEast Alaska, boasting how hospitable and caring we are, First we need to take care of our own, THEN if there is time the tourists
November 18th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Has anyone out there ever burned one with a butcher and gotten him talking about his work? One quickly finds out things about meat that the average layman never even expected existed. How about sharing a few bongers with a USFS Smoke Jumper. A guy like that can tell you details about fighting forest fires that the “man on the street” would have never imagined. On the same token, people who live on the fringe know about aspects of living on the fringe that those of us who have never experienced it have no idea about. Those squatters are experts at “living on the fringe” and know how to take advange of every handout available. Don’t believe me! Take a couple of grams down there and get them talking.
Billybob nailed it right on.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The key theme among most of the posts, not stated, but implied is “Let them die of exposure”. I would hope there is an answer better than, “Ive got mine. I don’t care.”. Historically in the 20’s and 30’s for example, America committed to institutions those chronically addicted, mentally ill, and “homeless” as a protection against their own destructive habits. Did the courts in the 60’s and 70’s make the wisest choice when we emptied the “mental hospitals”, nut houses, crazy farms, and so forth. Currently, America is ready to incarserate for lengthy terms, many various criminal acts.. Should minimum security jails be the option for those who cannot or will not care for themselves? I honestly don’t know. But good news, now that we have a period of heavy snow coming, nature will take care of some homeless for us.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I’m going to have a fundraiser for them by doing push-ups. After practicing, I found to raise any decent amount of money, I’m going to need a pledge of $100 per push-up. I also don’t want anyone watching. I’ll do the counting myself.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Hmmm, Give them a one way ticket out of town to Washington State. Reinstate the “Blue Ticket ” act? Put them on a modern version of the “Siwash List”? Maybe there should be a permit/card that is requires all to process, to buy alcohol or to be in any alcohol selling establishment.
A tramp works, a hobo will work, a bum refuses to work. How many fit into each of these three categories?
Maybe the State of Alaska shoud give them employment to filter the people appying for assistance? They probably could eliminate the scammers due to their knowledge for the State welfare system
November 19th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Good point LemonCreek1971. My take is that, if those individuals are mentally ill-prepared to take care of themselves, for whatever reason, they should be forced into facilities to protect them. However, if they are of sound mind, and still choose to not accept a new direction, they should be left to their own devices. If I, being of sound mind, decided that today I want to go walk in the woods in my unmentionables (while a bit odd) that would be my prerogative. Help those who NEED help, and let those that don’t take care of themselves within the letter of the law.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:46 am
why don’t any of you guys OFFER them a job?? help them with an aprtment? donate a can or two! Juneau is hopeless…
November 19th, 2009 at 8:50 am
How about instead of “take your kid to work day, how about “take your homeless dude to work??”
November 19th, 2009 at 8:56 am
http://www.desc.org it helps the homeless with mental illness and chronic abuse
November 19th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
G-Ma and Non-Quitter:
I was in the same boat as Non-quitter in July of this year when I lost my job back home which required me to take the first job that came available which unfortunately had to be here in Juneau. My wife had just gotten out of the hospital from surgery, the next week lost my job and landed a job here. I was homeless and living out of my car with my wife and 2 cats and in a hotel until just recently when my current landlord gave me the opportunity to start getting back on my feet and paying my bills to increase my credit scores.
Yes most of the homeless are there because they lost their jobs so because they have the mentality of I am too old to get a new career they stay homeless, where as others choose to remain homeless and leach off of us taxpayers. I believe that a non-profit agency should be built which not only offers housing for the homeless but will also train them to get jobs. If I am able to meet with local leaders to get this started with all of the riff raff of the Juneau community not wanting anything here to alleviate the crime and offer a place for our kids to go and provide job placement services for these people then we as taxpayers are going to continue to support these people when they should be supporting themselves.
Juneau we need more to do here and have more restaurant chains that have better tasting food then what is here already.
November 19th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Who cares?
November 19th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
rhaime 2 blogs up has a good web site to go to. The real key is to provide help without creating total dependence. First, provide very rudimentary help in a form that cannot be resold for booze cash” .`Provide help that is so basic that you help “your” homeless without being a magnet to attract even more outside homeless people. The second part of fighting homelessness is to make the small serving of cheap hard liquor impossible to find where homeless gather. The single “airline” serving or half pint is the key choice of panhandlers. Complimenting limiting inexpensive supplies is the public education of local people and tourists to “Just Say No to Panhandlers” but donate to rescue or restart centers providing a place to shower, get mail, look for work. When the Humane Society has more to offer dogs than we offer people, priorities need to be looked at.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:52 am
JJ Cale just keeps putting out the best stuff to this day…Anyone heard any ofhislast three albums or so?
Lyrics to Homeless :
She said she had no money
But he was in doubt
He told her, “I used to be in too”
But now he was out
“Spare some small change lady
And I’ll be on my way”
She looked into his eyes
And deep in his soul
I know she was wondering
If he was in control
She muttered to herself, “Those beggars,
Where do they all come from?”
He said, “I’m not a homeless man
I’m a gypsy by trade
And I’m travelling this land
I’m not a homeless man”
He moved through the streets
With his headband low
Never thinking he would never see
That woman again, you know
Just sleeping in the doorways
And alleys like he always had
The years rolled by
And later on
He spotted an old woman
All tattered and worn
Hard times had got her
Her clothes were ragged and old
She said, “I’m not a homeless woman
I’m a gypsy by trade
And I’m travelling this land
I’m not a homeless woman”
Sometime in the daytime
Sometimes at night
You will see a couple walking
They’ll come into sight
Pushing their carts
And holding hands
If you ask to help
They’ll just run away
Like little children, out to play
And if you ask, “Who are you”
They’ll always say
“I’m not a homeless man
I’m a gypsy by trade
And I’m travelling this land
She’s not a homeless woman
I’m not a homeless man”
November 20th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Some homeless triage might be in order. In a perfect world we could categorize the homeless and treat them according to their categorization.
Separate those who are down on their luck and want to help themselves from those who don’t. Sounds simple but probably isn’t. If you can identify those that want/need help, devote resources to get them back on the path to leading productive lives.
The rest are either mentally ill or just folks who enjoy the hobo life.
The folks who just enjoy living this way can fend for themselves. The rest are mentally ill and are the real problem. How do you tell the difference? Good question for which I and many others don’t have an answer. The line between being eccentric and being mentally ill are quite blurry.
How do you help people that are miserable but not capable of helping themselves? Can they be “repaired”? If not, then what?
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 am
Put ‘em to work building a rude forest camp for themselves with materials supplied by CBJ. A local can film the entire process for a nominal fee, including (brief) interviews with the most colorful characters. The City can then sell the product internationally in order to recoup their expenses on the camp.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Let them figure it out. They are adults. Why is it my, or your responsability to figure out what to do with these people who can’t put down a bottle long enough to find a job? I agree housing prices in this town are out of this world…but hey, pop out a few kids and you can find a nice cheap place anywhere in town. I am tired of paying for people who don’t do one thing to help themselves. What about the young people who work really hard, but still can’t get anywhere in this town? How about helping them instead of the woman who pops out 3 kids by 3 different men, who all, somehow end up in jail.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
The city should print beautiful brochures about Bellingham, Washington advertising how great of a place it is for homeless people. After the homeless see the brochure they will all be rushing to get there. It worked for the people of Southpark-so it could just work for Juneau too. LOL
November 24th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
It’s simple they were given the same opportunities that everyone gets it all boils down to they made a choice in life they can’t blame society everyone has obstacles they had to overcome people who are living on the streets made a choice to be lazy. Don’t blame society on your laziness I’m tired of hearing it’s because of this or that you made your choice so don’t expect those of us who work hard to be where we are every day to feel sorry for laziness.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
WHO CARES , now can we please talk about something else ? (*%#@#$%^^%$
November 25th, 2009 at 8:31 am
You know there used to be a time in this country that people could live the lifestyle they wanted…moved to the greast west or north and set up homestead with no one to bother them…we live in Alaska for petes sake…isnt there enough land for everyone?? Oh that is right…the federal government owns it all. So if these folks want to live in a tent city……why dont you just let them? Are you building a house on that land or what?
I think it is ridiculous that Alaskans want others to conform to thier standards of living…I think it is a shame Alaskans would expect that but God knows half of you migrated to Alaska in the last 20 years…california mentality!!
If they are just living thier life then let them…..stop expecting them to conform.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
How does the city assembly control “homeless” persons? Most of them choose to be “homeless” they set up camp where they think they’d be “safe” and their belongings will be “safe.” A good place to start is for the city assembly members walk down to their camp and start by communicating with the “homeless.” Asking what their needs are? Asking how they feel about living in their tent? Asking about how they dispose of trash? Asking what the city of juneau can do to keep the city from being “displacing” them?
November 26th, 2009 at 3:04 am
Truthfully the homeless people did this to themselves. I was homeless when i lost everything. But i picked myself back up, got a good job and nice place to live and an (A-B) car. Also i think Mayor Botello has let them down. I have insider information that told me that he is behind this whole AEL&P move and he’s trying to use winter weather to kill off the homeless. I also heard Botello hates Native Americans. Thats what upset me.
November 26th, 2009 at 11:12 am
How about the empire do a follow up story on actual numbers here? How many are actual displaced? How many are veterans? How many are natives? How many are Alaskans? How many are not from Juneau and wish to leave? Are we looking a three people or a dozen or hundreds here?
November 26th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
As a Juneau resident reluctantly living in Fairbanks I am disconcerted by the dwindling difference between the Empire and News Miner’s blogs.
November 26th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I heard some of them are actually stealing power from AEL&P and have huge dope growing operations going on in the old mines. Of course, that’s just a rumor. The guy who told me is about as trustworthy as a politician.
November 27th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
There will always be a homeless problem, and homeless people end up that way for many different reasons. As a city I don’t think they will ever rid the problem, to deal with that is like trying to dam up a river with one rock. Some things i would truly like to see is to deal with the public inebriation and the panhandling. I have been homeless and have worked myself out of it, but I also donate money to charities and I’d rather do that than to give some bum drinking money. I do agree that if you are homeless, you have a serious choice to make to change you life to get out or give up, I say just count your blessings its not you and donate to charities if your heart is willing.
November 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Why is it so hard to provide some free campsites to who ever wants to use them? Is our society so strict that everyone has to live in a $1000 apartment or a hotel room? America was founded by people who traveled across this land by foot or on horses, sleeping outdoors, building campfires, etc. If someone wants to live cheaply by staying in a tent in the woods, that is their individual choice. Let them do it. You don’t need to feel guilty that they live there, we have social programs for the poor. You don’t have to force them to take a job or live in an apartment. That is their decision. You don’t have to blame them for being a bum – they know what lifestyle they are in. Just give people a space to live and leave them alone.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I work in social services and yes, many of the people who are living outside could try to help themselves, but chose not to. But there are those who are mentally incapable of helping themselves and do have many barriers which makes it impossible for them to make a big enough change to make their livlihood better. Why don’t the greedy churches open up their doors during the winter? Believe me, the ministers and their families are living off the hard working, worshiping people of Juneau and no one is talking about their greed. They don’t even pay taxes, dive nice cars and live in beautiful homes.Pastor Mike lives on Blueberry Hill for gods sake!
November 29th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Give them all job applications, then have them clean up all the cans,bottles and other garbage they all leave when there done drinking for the moment. There is literally tons of garbage just out of eye site downtown, behind every building on S.Franklin is the remains of a party. Everybody needs to quit feeling sorry for these guys, most of them have had there hands out for more then a few years. If there not willing to help themselves, why should everyone else.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:48 am
God how did Juneau get so heartless? Not all those people live that way because they want to.
As far as some of the statements go that are on here goes those that have could care less if the others die because they are homeless, or if they even get something to eat.
The state does not help when they hire people that just got off the boat, or even send for friends and fraimly to fill state or city jobs. Yes this goes on I have watched it for years.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
James,
Why don’t you take the first step and set a good example for the rest of us by inviting some of those “folks” over over to your pad for Christmas dinner?
December 1st, 2009 at 9:01 am
Check out Malcolm Gladwell’s newest collection of essays (What the Dog Saw).
There is one essay entitled Million-Dollar Murray that is instructive on this topic; it is about solving versus managing homelessness.
It makes a strong case–economically–for solving homelessness (by housing people) rather than cycling them from shelter, to campground, to street, to emergency room.
For example, one chronically homeless fellow the author tracks cost the city of Reno over one million dollars in ER visits, jail, detox, counseling etc. The actual cost may even be much higher. There are other examples. A homeless fellow in San Diego visited the ER 87 times, the average cost being $100,00 per visit.
Some of the research mentioned in the essay identified a segment of the homeless (say 10%) as chronically homeless. This was actually just a surprisingly small fraction of the overall number, as many people are homeless for a few days (one or two days being the most common length of time in some urban areas, e.g).
One solution mentioned was a program Philip Mangano started that aims at this segment of the homeless population–essentially offering an efficiency apartment or room, a one to ten staff ratio (24 hrs), drug/alcohol treatment, mental health services; the total cost runs about $10,000 per year per person in a city like Denver.
Federal, state and local grants along with housing vouchers and disability programs can shoulder much of the costs.
This is something for a community that is putting seven figure sums into recreation and the aesthetic improvements to think about funding locally. I think a pilot program it would even be better than a bronze whale for improving the quality of life in downtown.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
My thanks to Mike Boyer. The stats he cites back up my case about the “hidden” social expenses of running the ferries out of Bellingham instead of ports across the border in Canada. If on every sailing out of Bellingham there is only one “bum,” the eventual cost to Alaska’s social services will skyrocket into millions of dollars. Which is the most econmical solution?
December 1st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
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December 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 am
I heard James is such a sport that he’s planning on inviting some of the “folks” over to his house for Christmas dinner.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 am
Here’s something to get everybody in the holiday spirit!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHEmwSN1qJA
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 am
How does the city assembly control homeless persons? Most of them choose to be homeless they set up camp where they think they would be safe and their belongings would be safe. A good place to start is for the city assembly members walk down to their camp and start by communicating with the homeless. Asking what their needs are? Asking how they feel about living in their tent? Asking about how they dispose of trash? Asking what the city of juneau can do to keep the city from being displacing them?
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
How about anyone that moved to Alaska in the last couple of decades doesn’t get to have an opinion and they can stop forcing their opinions on real Alaskans. If they don’t like it they can leave and let those empty houses go to the homeless.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 am
Let them eat cake!
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Alchohol Control….
IMO, The best way to achieve this. It would be set up just like a drivers license, require by law a drinking license endorsment. What this would entail training on alchohol to educate on it’s impairing ability.
In part this Idea would Prevent any (not just minors) person who is unlicensed to consume alchohol and offer consiquences just as if you purchased it for a minor. Buying alchohol for and unlicensed consumer who is a minor or had it revoked would in turn be the same offence…
The other take on this idea is that people who have frequent domestics w/ alchohol involved, court orders, criminal behaviors related to drinking, or just plain can’t control themselves because of alchohol would have this license/right revoked.
It would make it illegal to be intoxicated w/o a license… and offer stiff penalties to those who buy to revoked persons.
In theory, this would significantly reduce the Homeless Inebriates we have here in town, and they would in theory be more suseptible to treatment options like Detox, and rehabilitation.
The problem is, that alchohol is currently to easy to get for irresponsible drinkers.
I personally don’t mind completing a little Alcholol training course to get a revokable drinking privilege if i am responsible with my consumption. and having a deteriant to prevent sale to irresponsible drinkers in place could infact make a sugnificant difference in our community.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
How do you address the homeless?
January 10th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Lets help these people by getting more emergency housing. They need a shelter . Or dont let them come to town on the marine ferry if they have no funds
to support thiemselves while. Have the high school kids do a sleep out and collect moneys they can donate to the shelter. To those who feel they
can help do so it will make juneau a better place.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
I saw a note on facebook about shame on all of us in the USA for pulling together for everywhere else and not for our own in the USA. Our homeless still need help. Sure some are bums by choice but alot of them that are homeless lost their jobs and did everything to keep their heads above water, but found that they were sinking faster and deeper. Have any on you ever thought that you maybe or could be in the same boat someday. What would you do if all else failed? Scary……