Homeless = Criminal?

Neo Ash

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It does, if you live in Columbia, SC. I know many people are often annoyed by homeless people asking for spare change. But to start arresting them is a crime in itself; kicking people who are down on their luck.

http://now.msn.com/columbia-south-carolina-makes-homelessness-a-crime-in-the-city-center said:
Homelessness in South Carolina is now a crime as well as a bummer

It was already bad enough being homeless in Columbia, S.C. — or anywhere else, for that matter. Now it's (sort of) a crime as well. Last week, Columbia's City Council unanimously approved the "Emergency Homeless Response" plan, which will compel police officers to "keep homeless people out" of the city center; business owners and residents will be able to call a hotline to report the presence of a homeless person. If the homeless person refuses to leave, he or she can be arrested. The city says that it will partner with a local organization that runs a shelter outside town limits, but critics of the measure say the shelter is only capable of housing one-sixth of the local homeless population, and point out that homeless won't be allowed to leave the shelter without an appointment — a setup that critics points more than a little like jail. [Source]
 

Kid Panda

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Here's the flip side of that. You arrest a homeless person? You're giving them somewhere to sleep.
 

2D_mastur

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Here's the flip side of that. You arrest a homeless person? You're giving them somewhere to sleep.

Yeah, and they have to pay for it... many cities fine them, which is rather silly. If they refuse to pay, they lose what little freedom they have and are labeled criminals.
 

Neo Ash

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Here's the flip side of that. You arrest a homeless person? You're giving them somewhere to sleep.

The line between homeless shelter and prison has been blurred.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/08/20/2496741/columbia-criminalize-homeless/ said:
In order to accommodate all the homeless people who will now be banned from downtown, the city will partner with a local charity to keep an emergency shelter on the outskirts of town open 24 hours a day. However, it’s unlikely the shelter, which can handle 240 guests, will be enough to handle the local homeless population, which numbers more than six times the available beds.

Homeless people can stay at the shelter, but they’re not permitted to walk off the premises. In fact, Columbia will even post a police officer on the road leading to the shelter to ensure that homeless people don’t walk towards downtown. If they want to leave, they need to set up an appointment and be shuttled by a van.

In other words, the 1,518 homeless people in the Columbia-area now have a choice: get arrested downtown or be confined to a far-away shelter that you can’t readily leave. Jail or pseudo-jail.
 
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StevenK

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Homeless people are usually just mad, it's pretty sad. Sure, they're usually pretty rancid but they're no more of an eyesore than fat women and no one ever talks about rolling them into shelters.
 

StevenK

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Just a thought, but would they lock up someone who did own a house, but just chose to not wash and to spend his time on the street?
 

Poonman

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I remember when I walked out of a restaurant to put my coat away in my brothers car....hobo comes up to me and the first thing he says is I don't wanna get your car involved or nuthin, but I need some change to get back to my hometown, my car broke down etc etc. Had to give him 5 bucks to not scratch up my brothers car.

I also have hobos waiting next to my car in grocery store parking lots waiting to shake me down for change.
Its a nice car....but it's pretty old and not that expensive on account of its age. Still they threaten to scratch it or antagonize me for not giving enough.


Fuck those hobolos; they should be begging for a job instead.
 

StevenK

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I remember when I walked out of a restaurant to put my coat away in my brothers car....hobo comes up to me and the first thing he says is I don't wanna get your car involved or nuthin, but I need some change to get back to my hometown, my car broke down etc etc. Had to give him 5 bucks to not scratch up my brothers car.

I also have hobos waiting next to my car in grocery store parking lots waiting to shake me down for change.
Its a nice car....but it's pretty old and not that expensive on account of its age. Still they threaten to scratch it or antagonize me for not giving enough.


Fuck those hobolos; they should be begging for a job instead.

Fucking American tipping system again...
 

mr_b

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I'm all for the punishment its an eyesore and they won't get back on their feet. Most are addicts or mental patients. Arresting the mentals potentially might get them put where they need to be.

I've almost come to blows with bums on Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago. Every fucking day they are out there with a cup in their hand and some are talking on cell phones. And they get lippy with me for telling 'em to get a fucking job. It's out of control . I was at lunch at a downtown McD's with 3 other co-workers. A bum comes up and asks if he could have any leftovers, first of all I don't ever have left overs, but I looked him dead in the eye and said job applications are at the register. He told me to go to hell. I then fired back some insults of my own.

They are fucking menace and should be shot on sight.
 

hyper

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anybody who gets section 8 housing, rent control or EBT should have mandatory roommate match making with the homeless one week a month.

watch how fast people get fucking jobs
 

loegan43

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Here's the flip side of that. You arrest a homeless person? You're giving them somewhere to sleep.

My thoughts exactly. A lot of the homeless are out there by choice, not down on their luck. Drug addicts, refuse to work, mental health issues and refuse treatment...

The list goes on and on. Getting them off the street is the first step in getting them help whether it's a shelter or county jail. It also reduces crime and violence committed by them or against them.
 

WoodyXP

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They better not start doing this in Georgia. Rufus Hannah will have a fit.
 

Kristian Meller

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How about doing something about the reasons for these people being homeless rather than spending resources trying to make it seem like they're not there?
 

mr_b

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How about doing something about the reasons for these people being homeless rather than spending resources trying to make it seem like they're not there?

Cause that's hippie talk.
 

ki_atsushi

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I think I've only ever heard Americans who believe that to be true.

Ah, I see we have an armchair pundit.

Maybe you should come to America and see for yourself. Most of these fucks are just lazy, or don't want to be a part of society.
 

Kristian Meller

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I guess homeless 'murrcans are different from homeless people elsewhere in the world.
 

mr_b

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There's a direct correlation between increased crime rates and homeless people as a majority of them have mental disabilities. When national and state funded mental institutions declined the inmate and homeless number rose.

There have been studies showing that a high percentage of criminals have mentally ill. Now the question that raises is if there were mental institutions readily available would those prisoners been diagnosed and in hospitals prior to committing their crimes?

I think it would!
 

2D_mastur

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Anybody ever try to find a job after being homeless for awhile? It's hard, people treat you like scum and won't even give you a chance. Job applications ask for all sorts of things these days, work history, background, address, phone number --- if one of those presents a problem, you're fucked. A lot of homeless people have criminal records, and even if they want to change and get a decent job, it's hard to get one if they've even made one mistake in their lives. It's hard to get out from the gutter, because most people think you belong there.

I've personally know a few hard working people who just were victims of bad luck, it's still hard to find a job out there, even for University graduates. Most college graduates,who can't find jobs these days, would be homeless if they weren't lucky enough to have the option of moving back in with mum and dad.
 
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Capt. Lurker

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Never received a handout in life, I most certainly don't give handouts to anyone. Period!
I've been laid off 3 times in my life, and I quickly applied for new employment. You either adapt and overcome the hurdles in life, or you beg for handouts from others. Nothing in life is FREE! There are many choices in life, and everyone makes their own choices.
 

supergoose

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And once they notice that putting them in prison is a much too expensive solution:

welcome-to-detroit-sign.jpg
 

Poonman

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I know I'm relatively worse off than a lot of people, but you don't see me standing in front of the Royal York flagging down ferraris and begging the drivers for gas money.


And you know what else? Those african bathroom attendants can go fuck themselves as well.
Turning on a faucet isn't worth 2 bucks, dude.
 
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