[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

"Progressive" is one term to describe it. The more accurate term is "anarchy"

"Anarchy" works. So do a few other words.

Unfortunately, with the Thought Police and all...

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

"Anarchy" works. So do a few other words.

Unfortunately, with the Thought Police and all...

There are always going to be people down and out for various reasons and in an open society it is hard to do much for them unless they accept the help.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

There are always going to be people down and out for various reasons and in an open society it is hard to do much for them unless they accept the help.

I agree.

But at what point does the good of the "open society" become more important than the "down and out" segment dragging it down?

[Smalley]

Originally Posted by Oldragbagger

On it’s face this sounds like a good and caring solution. But it’s not that simple when dealing with the homeless. I’m not taking about the person who suddenly finds themselves living in their car because of an economic downturn, or the person who has fled a bad home situation and finds themselves with nowhere to go. That’s a whole different subject and helping that person find temporary housing would be absolutely the right thing to help them turn their situation around. But the long term homeless are a whole different matter.

How do I know this? I have an alcoholic brother who has lived on the streets, by choice, for 15 years. I’ve had plenty of dealing over the years with him and his homeless friends. Everyone in the family has tried to help him, time and time again, but one by one we all had to give up at a point when it started to have toxic effects on our own lives and families .

My brother has been in and out of shelters so many times but never stays because they come with some expectations of acceptable behavior or even, god forbid, rules which he refuses to adhere to. Such as, most churches won’t tolerate you sitting on your bunk drinking yourself into oblivion, or being aggressive, or using constant foul language, or……fill in the blanks.

These folks usually have either substance abuse issues, mental problems, or both. Just finding them a place to sleep isn’t the answer, and honestly, as much as we’d like to believe differently, the vast majority of them have no desire to change their lifestyle. As hard as it is for those of us who live a normal life within society to understand, there is a freedom and a lack of expectations that comes with their life that they don’t want to relinquish in order to get “help.”

He has been in and out of rehab probably a dozen times over the years. Rarely makes it past a few days. And he has been banned from some shelters. He knows where to get a free meal if he needs it, and prefers to sleep in a tent wherever he can. He has been camping in someone’s back yard (with permission) for a couple of years now. If that should end he “knows” all the spots he can go where he is unlikely to be bothered by the law. What would be unfortunate would be for our local homeless population to start to realize that our neighborhoods are one of those places.

Are they all dangerous? I don’t know. I don’t personally believe my brother would intentionally hurt anyone. Although I do think that he might perceive a threat in a drunken state and respond in an unpredictable manner. Do I think he would steal from you if given an opportunity? You betcha. They even steal from each other. Their justification, survival.

I am so sorry for the anguish that your brother has caused in your family. He is probably typical of the chronically homeless described here. If they want detoxification, it is available. Those with serious mental health problems are more difficult problems. We can't allow a tented homeless camp in The Villages. It brings degradation, filth and violence. Our homeowners deserve a safe environment. We came here for quality of life and many saved their earnings for years to be able to afford it.

[golfnut]

Why hasn't the developer issued a no trespass order for their property to neighboring police departments?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

I agree.

But at what point does the good of the "open society" become more important than the "down and out" segment dragging it down?

Some homeless near a bridge in the Southern part of the Villages hardly is dragging down society. They have been around since I moved here in 2005. Panhandlers that is and sometimes they are anything but homeless. Just some more confidence men and women who probably make good money. Others are not so lucky nor so dishonest and might be on the street for reasons of PTSD or some other illness.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Some homeless near a bridge in the Southern part of the Villages hardly is dragging down society. They have been around since I moved here in 2005. Panhandlers that is and sometimes they are anything but homeless. Just some more confidence men and women who probably make good money. Others are not so lucky nor so dishonest and might be on the street for reasons of PTSD or some other illness.

Maybe not here, maybe not yet, but there've been plenty of examples given, here and other places, of just how bad it can get if not nipped in the bud. I've posted about the Minneapolis problem. Someone else posted about the Los Angeles problem. Both of those, plus uncounted others, undoubtedly began small and were not seen as a major problem. Until they were.

Solving a problem while it is small is always the best way to go.

[Kenswing]

We moved here from Washington. What we saw in Seattle regarding homeless people was that you will never solve the homeless problem if you make your city a great place to be homeless.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

The only homeless people I have ever seen, living in The Villages, are the people who stand on the corner of 441 outside of Walmart. They have signs asking for help.

I have seen people there also asking for money. However, almost every place that I walk into - Walmart, McDonalds, Home Depot, most restaurants - has help wanted signs where they are paying about $30,000 a year with benefits.

Years ago, a homeless counselor told me never to give money to pan handlers. He said that 9 times out of 10, they will use it for drugs or alcohol. He said that the best thing was to refer them to a social services where they would get help.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

We moved here from Washington. What we saw in Seattle regarding homeless people was that you will never solve the homeless problem if you make your city a great place to be homeless.

Very true

[Oldragbagger]

Originally Posted by Smalley

I am so sorry for the anguish that your brother has caused in your family. He is probably typical of the chronically homeless described here. If they want detoxification, it is available. Those with serious mental health problems are more difficult problems. We can't allow a tented homeless camp in The Villages. It brings degradation, filth and violence. Our homeowners deserve a safe environment. We came here for quality of life and many saved their earnings for years to be able to afford it.

Thank you.

Absolutely agree! Once this community gets a reputation as a safe space the problem will grow quickly. Better to put a stop to it now before it gets to that point.

[manaboutown]

A problem unique to The Villages, and perhaps Florida in general, is that so many homes sit empty for months on end, especially during the hot, hotter and hottest months of the year. Sure, people check on them now and then but empty dwellings attract homeless and other undesirables. Also many of the people who reside here are over 70 years of age and likely more vulnerable in a multitude of ways than they were in their young days. If the criminal homeless get a foothold here Katy bar the door.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

A problem unique to The Villages, and perhaps Florida in general, is that so many homes sit empty for months on end, especially during the hot, hotter and hottest months of the year. Sure, people check on them now and then but empty dwellings attract homeless and other undesirables. Also many of the people who reside here are over 70 years of age and likely more vulnerable in a multitude of ways than they were in their young days. If the criminal homeless get a foothold here Katy bar the door.

I really doubt that will happen. Most of the neighbors watch each other. Maybe out of boredom. And many are armed. And the police would find a way of removing squatters
as would the Villages' developers.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

There are people camped behind strip malls , Walmarts and just about any place you can camp in woods , was he bothering anyone , was it just seeing him that scared someone , and stating we all paid a premium to live next to a homeless camp is a little over the top

The reality, most subjects are not well explained in the typical website post. The writer forgets we do not know who they are. The reader is forced to fill in all the missing information for a valid opinion.

Personal, OPINION. I think, but for the grace of god goes I. What would I do, if in front of my home? Sad reality-no good deed goes unpunished was a headline for a news story during the great depression. If, I recall there was a dentist in Chicago who saw the starving people. He out of his own pocket put out food. That of course cased the word to spread and more people to gather. He was arrested for doing this act of goodwill-no good deed goes unpunished.

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

A problem unique to The Villages, and perhaps Florida in general, is that so many homes sit empty for months on end, especially during the hot, hotter and hottest months of the year. Sure, people check on them now and then but empty dwellings attract homeless and other undesirables. Also many of the people who reside here are over 70 years of age and likely more vulnerable in a multitude of ways than they were in their young days. If the criminal homeless get a foothold here Katy bar the door.

only a few years it was the annual gathering of the "gypsies" invading the vulnerable residents.

And after that we had the "daily" break-in rush.

Statistically it turns out to be....there always something ....that loosens the sky!

_______________________________________________