Should the USA have a "right to shelter law" for all American Citizens?

[lightbulb27]

Currently in some cities/states, the government is required by law to provide shelter for people whom are seeking asylum in the USA. NYC has taken in over 100,000 such people and many have lived in nice hotels, receive free food and such.

American citizens... do not have such a privilege... even when they have worked, paid taxes... they can end up in the street, in their car, without much support. The system and support can be spotty.

Should the next government enact such law to ensure people do not

Note: there certainly can be rules and regulations for behavior. We don't baby people whom destroy our public property. But a homeless person under such law, would have access if they are responsible person.

Yes - Republican

No -Republican

Yes - Democrat

No - Democrat

Other - Yes

Other - No

Not USA/results

Updates

4 mo

Since I can't vote in my own poll... I'm a "Yes - Republican". The recent "We will pay anything to house endless droves of illegal immigrants" has convinced me this issue should be dealt with nationally. And I'd add a few other requirements as well. But saying "we don't have budget and such" is BS, we have budget... question is if we have the will. What we have going on in society is not acceptable, pathetic for a developed country. We need to evolve.

[Nattek]

Go watch Deep Space Nine episode 3x11 and 12 "Past Tense". It's about the realities of homelessness and the costs.

Remember that in the future according to Star Trek there is no money (at least not as we think of it) and everyone has what they need is available. But keep in mind that this is an idealism. I'm sure many want our society to be this way but we have a lot to solve until then and the people who aren't on board with guaranteed right to housing have valid points.

People think of free as in it costs nothing and that's not true, it's only free to them. When it comes to housing someone still has to pay the guy to build the framework and run the electrical and the plumbing, the sheetrock and painter, installing the sinks and toilets and light fixtures and the people who make them, need I go on? Nothing is free, someone has to foot the bill. And when you say the government will pay for it what you really mean are the people. Where's the money going to come from because we sure can't print it (well we can but we shouldn't).

I think where you'll find consensus is the who. American citizens first especially of military veterans. You don't reward people for breaking our immigration laws. There are a lot of nonprofits and religious groups doing a lot to help the poor and unhoused and.

A government ran system cannot be successful if it doesn't get people back on there feet living independently. We should not be giving handouts beyond the basic of necessity and those in shelters should be encouraged to move out. If you make poverty comfortable, human nature will keep people there rather than rise up to independence again.

[monorprise]

@Nattek
DS9 forced a lot of politics and ideology into star trek that wasn't there before, and really the first star trek to strongly imply there was no money for humans (clearly not the case for Aliens). In Star Trek the original series there are numerous references to money. So Deep Space 9's interpretation is a revision pushed by certain people on the show as I was told.

The problem of course is an economy is a system to deal with scarcity. This is something the Federation clearly never did even with replicators as they still had finite energy, many materials that could not be replicated, and personnel.

In Star Trek First contact Picard imply everyone simply works for free out of some believe it makes them better. Which of course is really hard to believe given what we know of human nature. It's also contradicted by the countless humans in the show who definitely worked for some kind of currency.

More likely theses lines were just ideological fantasy forced in, as the prior history clearly indicates Star fleet was some kind of military tasked with exploration task's as the British military frequently was, and the federation some kind of Government which funds it via taxes.

[lightbulb27]

I love that answer!
It made me think... that this is tied to their responsibility to have their best life and be productive. That puts the responsibility back on them (the homeless) while society provides support. I love that! Everyone needs help at times to heal and change directions.
And agree... there is a cost in our society to everything... and those that suffered under societies requirements (military), should have first priority.

[ObscuredBeyond]

Tricky one. But here's the thing: once the right to shelter exists for citizens that our Cede & Company-controlled Wall Street and its rigging of the housing market has made homeless, and those expenses begin adding up, it'll get a lot of folks really angry. Maybe angry enough to dethrone Wall Street's elitists. A long-overdue, albeit, extremely bloody revolution. Which can lead to a reform of the entire system from there on out, as all the rats get dragged out and the swamp drained. Something Trump promised, but failed to deliver.

It would take supporting domestic victims to be the tipping point. The sad part is how so many have become blinded by partisan politics up until this point, that the idea that they can get foreigners to vote and to keep the boogeyman out of power has led to many believing that this "right to shelter" thing being done for foreigners is somehow acceptable, even though it requires an act of robbery of the taxpayer. For reasons of cognitive dissonance, domestic victims of the rigged market aren't viewed to be equally worthy of being cleaned up and given a second chance.

That's what makes virtue signalers of taking in economic migrants from overseas so aggravating: the fact that they want all of MY money and yours to feed and house for no recompense the troubled of the entire world, but won't lend a single helping hand to their own next door neighbor when he's in need!

All of YOUR money to solve a foreign problem? Fine. A second of their TIME to address a domestic issue? Asking too much!

[LadyKitty]

I am a Moderate, I believe americans need shelter first before we try to help immigrants. There isn't a one all solution because homelessness is caused by different issues.

[LazerBean]

Republican - and no, the government shouldn't be required to house ANYONE, citizen or not.

[Passerby2]

Why not

[OlderAndWiser]

So all you need to say is "I am seeking asylum" and the US must admit you indefinitely, give you a free place to live, and feed you every day? What could POSSIBLY go wrong if that was the law?

[lightbulb27]

question is about American citizens...

[OlderAndWiser]

Sorry i didn’t read all of the question. I don’t think the government should do as much as possible to take care of us. It should do as little as necessary and we should take care of ourselves. I believe in voluntary charity but not charity forced upon us by the government.

[lightbulb27]

that makes sense. Last Q: would you support government facilitating such charity as it seems, that would be their strength.. vetting, vaccinations, tracking adn such. I agree w you on should be by charity not force. But some people would abuse that, thus "govt facilitators and trackers". my view is more of "sponsor and mentor people", more personable, more success ful.

[OlderAndWiser]

I wouldn't mind government assistance to ensure that people are not abusing the limited resources available.

[DARKCLOUD1945X]

That is the law now. You say asylum you get a notice to appear for a hearing in the year 2032 [actual year given ]. You are given a train , plane bus ticket to anywhere in the U. S. and set free no vetting no vaccines checked for or given U. S. citizens must be vaccinated to do anything the freeloaders do not have to do anything. They have T. B. active all sorts of tropical maladies but they are let in to schools to infect everybody Mumps measles and rubella. are running rampant They assault cops and are let free no bail. This is because of the DEMOCRATIC COMMUNIST PARTY OF AMERICA mandates

[Flatmanlewis]

I’ve worked for the government most of my adult life. As a result I don’t have the blind faith may have that “the government can fix it”. They can’t. They can barely even house their own soldiers at an acceptable level. I’ve seen government housing - housing projects in LA - and I’m not impressed. It’s far more than a battle cry of “we need to provide shelter”.


Secondly, I have a hard time comprehending someone saying they are a Republican and also wanting to expand government so massively. That is very contradictory to base Republican ideals.


Lastly, having had significant interactions with the homeless population the Lee is a persistent myth that they simply cannot find housing. This is not true. Many, many, many, of them lack the basic desire to even live by the rules of society. They avoid jobs and shun shelters and programs which (in LA County) are robustly funded. They don’t want or have ID, they want to have the ability to use drugs and alcohol and current vaccinations as required by most of the shelters and programs.


Pregnant women, children, and elderly should have some assistance and housing options but we simply cannot afford to fund the comfortable life of food, medical care, housing, phones, college, legal fees, transportation, and so on that the left (and apparently some right) seem to think we owe people.

[lightbulb27]

like that answer. good experience. agree... govt touches it, it gets screwed up.
interesting you excluded men from the last list. It makes me sad... there isn't much support for men.
This whole issue gets wrapped around mental health, drugs as you note. Govt has a role, but probably not as much as we think. Social svc orgs (churches) maybe more effective than govt.
Republican: some republicans are bleeding hearts whom go out of their way to help others less fortunate. can't just a skunk by it's stripe... the little stinkers!

[Flatmanlewis]

I forgot who said it: “The government that can give you everything can also take everything.” I’m not interested in that equation.

America is a unique country and the lefties love to cherry pick the best parts of other nations and say “look, they can do __, so we can too.” but some of those safety-net nations that provide so much for their population equally takes a lot. Then too, their citizens have a very different reality to contend with, when it comes to their cultural nature.

[jshm2]

Don't be such a dumbass.

You pay NOTHING for "immigrants" as most of that is from private and philanthropic funds and NGOs.

Republicans like to lie and claim the government is "bigger" than it actually is, for saps like you to lap up.

In fact it's Republicans who PROFIT from homelessness. Mainly as most will end up in taxpayer funded, Republican owned jails, where they fill republican pockets, until released. It's no wonder most commit crime just to go back into jail.

As for the homeless problem, it's a social problem, not really a government or business one. These people have not magically appeared, unless from one of Greg Abbott's busses...

But joking aside, there is little social or community housing in the fuckwit backwater that is the USA. You claim to hate "socialism" then demand everything that requires a bit of socialism.

People will always hit low and rock bottom at one point or another- it's a fact of life. But welfare and housing is not all from government, but community too. People in capitalist and alleged democracies, like the USA all like to do the "someone should do something about this! Not me though, I'm too busy" dance. Then complain when things don't improve.

You are like the patient with a terrible medical condition, but doesn't want the bitter medicine and only the nice looking surgeon instead of the experienced one.

[lightbulb27]

immigrants are being cared for by private funds? not in new york city, it's taxes... paid for by tolls,, sales tax, etc. not sure where private is caring for them.
I do think we should have better recovery services, housing and processes to get people back to life. It's tough though because the cost of getting back on ones feet + dealing with emotional problems... is a big hill to climb. Many likely end up on public funds for life... welfare.

[DextroShade]

You are full of shit, the Democrat mayors of big cities like NYC are saying they can't afford to care for all these illegals so obviously NGOs aren't anywhere near enough to cover it. All these NGOs do is help them gain illegal entry and try to claim asylum so they can get taxpayer dollars. So sick of you shit leftards and your lies!

[Avicenna]

LOL, as if those NGOs don't get massive government funding specifically for things like "refugee resettlement" and their other "work" with illegal invaders. Leftists lie about everything as they spend YOUR money, not theirs...

And localities and states directly spend lots of money on these illegals,

[exitseven]

If you give out dollar bills there will be people lined up around the block wanting some. There is a so called "right to shelter law" where I live. As a result thousands of illegal aliens have streamed into the state. There are two hotels within 3 miles of my house that have been leased by the state (at taxpayer's expense) entirely for illegals. There is a caterer that is also contracted by taxpayers that provides them with free meals. Already there have been two armed robberies in the area and when I was at home depot I saw two of them walking through the parking lot looking in the backs of pickup truck presumably for things to steal.

[lightbulb27]

those are illegals... what about citizens?
citizens whom cannot afford the high prices... either bad timing, smashed by the high costs of medical conditions, lost job... should sleep in their car if they have one, or in a tent?

[exitseven]

@lightbulb27 The hotels had long term residents previously living in them. Many were military veterans on disability. These guys had lived there for years, never missing a rent payment and they were all evicted in favor of illegal aliens. It is a disgrace but this is what people voted for. Then they voted to give illegals free drivers licenses.
Under the Biden administration wass have an unprecedented America Last policy. In Biden's America it is the citizens that are second class.

[exitseven]

RE Update: We do not have the budget. The US has spent 460 billion dollars on illegal aliens. That is almost a half a trillion/. That is roughly half the yearly deficit. All the unnecessary wars is the other half. When Trump was president we jhad neither of these things.

[DextroShade]

There are three types of homeless: those who can, those who can't, and those who won't.

The first category are people who are genuinely just down on their luck and simply can't afford housing even though they work and usually live out of their cars, these are the minority of homeless and I am okay with the state providing shelter for these people and help to get them back on their feet as long as they are still working and trying.

The second category are the crazies who were dumped out on the streets when dumb shit Ronald Reagan emptied the insane asylums, obviously these people can't work and should just be put back in the asylums were they belong.

The third category are those who just don't want to work and just steal shit and get high all day, this is the majority of homeless and they belong in jail were they should be given the opportunity to get clean and contribute to society.

[DextroShade]

I should also add that this opinion only applies to homeless citizens, these fucking illegal invaders can GTFO!

[lightbulb27]

that's a good high level organization of such. have you worked in the system to know the proportions?
My question is more based up a sense... what % of such broken people... can be recovered to functional, if we had "awsome" social services skills... top of the world mental health/emotional care?

[DextroShade]

Some of them are probably salvageable provided they get treatment and take their meds. The problem is these leftists think the humane thing to do is let them camp on the sidewalk and treat themselves with fentanyl and meth.

[RebelinSteel]

I am with @DJB72 on this. A country has a duty to look after its own homeless first and foremost. People become homeless for a huge number of reasons, people tend to be dismissive of homeless people are just group them as mentally ill druggies etc. why would the US allow around 35,000 veterans to be homeless but then put others before them in getting accommodation, the UK is as bad.

[DJB72]

I have friends who are veterans - thankfully none in that situation themselves - who have said the same thing. My old church had a group that would take food out in a catering van for the homeless twice a week in Devon. They helped a lot of homeless addicts get accommodation and sober then into employment.

A friend who did the same in the USA - Georgia I think - had his truck impounded and was arrested under some pathetic city law that made being homeless effectively a criminal offense and trying to help them a criminal act.

Seriously fucked up.

[RebelinSteel]

@DJB72 very fucked up, I also view homelessness almost as a yard stick for mental health and social health issues. It’s all interlinked and these people need support before anyone else coming in. It’s about dealing with your here and now problem, not just adding to them.

[lightbulb27]

good points. It be easy to becoming mentally ill if didn't start out that way, just dealing with the isolation and daily life struggles. It's messed up to take someone that has nowhere to go and kick them out in the middle of the night. There's two sides to that, but it says... we have problems that need solved.

[NamerOfStars]

You're going to spend a hell of a lot more in providing exposure-related emergency medical care than you would in sticking them in cheap housing.

It's not a matter of money, it's a matter of VOTES. People don't like hearing about how Crackhead Pete gets a roof over his head from the government at no charge to himself when they can barely pay their mortgage.

[lightbulb27]

yes that's a problem, so then one goes back to... do we house anyone... It is sad to see americans whom have worked and paid into a system, suffer.

[Avicenna]

I think we really need to think about it. Part of the problem is that there would be a lot of overhead for monitoring these facilities since a large number of people who are homeless are mentally ill or are criminals.

[lightbulb27]

I thought the same. nyc does this to some extent as they have a lot of housing for homeless. many cities do not. It would be expensive and to manage so it isn't an eyesore or trouble take some work. But we've solved much more complex problems.

[Notherndude84]

It’s easy for progressives to say “everyone has the right to shelter” unfortunately it’s easier said than done.
Homelessness is a multifaceted issue that affects people in different ways and in different stages of life.
1. Youth homelessness
2. Drug abuse homelessness
3. Financial homelessness
4. Domestic Violence homelessness


I believe there are other examples of how a person could find themselves homeless. I believe each example requires a different solution. I do believe it’s possible to eradicate homelessness, it’s been done in parts of Europe.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I don't believe in right to shelter for us OR them. Still costs money. That raises taxes or reappropriates money that's already earmarked as part of the budget. Set aside a line item IN the budget for that, then sure, do whatever, but I stuill support it for americans before refugees/asylees, and illegals should get nothing. You don't get rewarded for breaking the law.

No - Other - 2g immigrant (LEGAL)

[monorprise]

Most of theses united States has no "right to shelter law" of the few that do its generally limited to specific types of people, like families (not homeless) in Massachusetts , or runaway children in California. New York's "right to shelter law" like many things in the state run by lawless judges and lawyers was actually forced upon them by their own court. Not agreed to by the people who were forced to pay for it.

You might as well say is everyone entitled to a home at everyone else's expense? Some leftist, and homeless say yes. Anyone who understand how much it would cost and how poor the judgment of the politicians who would spend such money is would say no.

Every adult is responsible for their own food and shelter.

[JacobJordan]

I am currently in a supposed "second world" country and they have laws that prevent homelessness. You would actually have to try incredibly hard to BE homeless. The US is a joke of country at this point

[lightbulb27]

we have issues for sure... we lost our way.

[strateguy632]

that ALREADY exists, if the person will go to work cleaning in the morning... but if not work not deserve.

[lightbulb27]

really? my experience... that's not true nor possible in many cases. I agree though, there must be work/control since such people are dysfunctional. they be under guidance.

[rigmarole]

"the next government"... Haha, what do you think your blue helmets are going to beat hundreds of millions of armed Americans in a firefight? You realize they only have 100,411 "peace keepers". Most American counties have more armed citizens than that. We have a constitution, how about you go read it. You don't have a right to housing, healthcare, etc. In order to grant rights you need to pass constitutional amendments that are ratified by the states.

[lightbulb27]

we have a constitution which is foundation. But that was written way before we landed on the moon. Before that moon landing, there were communities, churches... people had ways of caring for others. We've lost a lot of that for "diversity" and lack of belief. We are the wealthiest nation on the planet, ever. Yet others that are more poor, make effort to address social needs... France being one.
You can decide to enact minimal "standards". It's a choice.
The constitution.. was a choice...

[rigmarole]

The constitution is a compact, that is a contract among states. When you break contracts, you are in breach of contract and have broken the law. It doesn't matter how long a contract has been in existence. It is what has been agreed upon between parties (i. e the states). There is a process to amended the contract right there in the constitution. The fact that you won't follow the process to the letter of the law, shows you don't care about the agreement or any of the people of this country and you wish to violate everyone else's rights out of selfishness.

[Anonymous]

No. Absolutely not. There already are plenty of homeless shelters. Some people prefer to be on the streets because they like being able to use drugs and that isn't allowed in a shelter. So no we shouldn't be providing people with tax payer funded housing that they are free to destroy while they use drugs and ask for nothing in return.

If tax payers are funding it, we need to DEMAND sobriety. If they can't do that they need to be incarcerated.

Housing illegals is another epically stupid policy. It should be overturned--not used to justify further stupidity.

[lightbulb27]

I agree demand sobriety... therapy and productive behavior.

[wolfcat87]

No, most homeless have chosen to be homeless. We have plenty of resources to help those who actually want to get back on their feet. It's not the job of everyone else to shoulder the burden of people who don't want to do anything. Let them live their lives the way they want, and let everyone else do the same as long as everyone respects each other.

[wolfcat87]

Also, I don't agree with providing free shelter for immigrants either. Let them come and work like everyone else.

[lightbulb27]

Fair enough. In ny area people whom are working can't cut it and find affordable housing. They become homeless.

[genericname85]

well question is: who's gonna pay for it in a society where everyone is so confessed of the American dream and the believe that everyone can make a fortune if they just work hard enough.

[lightbulb27]

Maybe we can learn from the Germans.
Don't know... if there's a will... there is a way. it doesn't have to be ludicrous expensive.

[genericname85]

oh. i happen to be german and I don't know if our national news are a topic in your media but basically we currently have the issue of our government having wasted all our money so now we're struggling to pay the roughly 1 million lazy bums who will rather live their entire life on our social security and not work another day in their life. because in our current system, working a minimum wage job only pays marginally more than social security, so for people in minimum wage jobs, it's actuall stupid to go work financially speaking.

so since the government wasted all our money on bullshit, we now have the choice of taking money out of the retirement fund or out of the unemployment fund. and the governmental rent is already so low, that the elderly basically have to do a side hussle if they didn't have a top 10% paying job. tho we happen to have homeless shelters in pretty much every city.

[genericname85]

they made the mistake of trying defunding agriculture to cover their economic fuckup, which lead to a nation wide blockage of all the high ways across the nation by the farmers.

[lightbulb27]

aha... this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsUD4QzDZkg
I wonder if related to the energy choices... what's the root issue to that budget issue. Peter Zhan has theories on that...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmEhTFjQB1g
I wonder how much of all these problems are due to the prior collapses of the system and endless bailouts.
Lets hope when the govts tell us we have to kill the other guy (enemy)... because they are bad, we are the wiser and reach out a hand instead.

[genericname85]

our government felt like germany has to be the best at the united nations (americas) "The Sustainable Development Goals". they banned nuclear power, coal and any other fossile energy source but gas, which they decided to not buy anymore in order to punish russia for starting the war in ukraine.

as a result we have a massively funded solar and wind power structure that does fuck all to provide germans with energy while we have to buy nuclear power from france to usury prices, cause you know if someone else blasts the environment with co2 but you didn't cause you're just buying their energy, that's definitely sustainable...

[genericname85]

and the cherry on top of that political shit pile is that our minister of economy now blames russia for germany deciding to punish russia by not buying their gas anymore and consequently having a financial crysis.

now germany barely makes it into the top ten when it comes to buying power in Europe (which seems quite ridiculous considering we are rank 2 in gdp per capita) and we barely made 10th place when it comes to co2 emissions... we suffer from a massive political incompetence problem right now.

[genericname85]

and the overbearing EU government enforcing legislation that makes local production more expensive than any import product is just the final nail in the coffin.

[DJB72]

Any country - not just the USA - that gives housing and food to immigrants arriving seeking asylum for any reason but ignores it's own citizens who are homeless and starving is morally bankrupt

[Agape93]

Nope. Far as I'm concerned, nobody has a right to just be given a place to love. You gotta earn it.

[lightbulb27]

good point, doing so may go too far. associating with work and requirements makes sense. but some people when down, cannot get back up. it's a difficult system. once in the gutter, surviving day to day is where people end up.

[Agape93]

Yeap. But thats just how life is, it's not fair and you're owed nothing.

[Dargil]

Here's an idea. Go out into the urban area and select a vagrant on the street, and take him or her into your home and give them full access to it including your refrigerator. Its one thing virtue signaling with "society's" resources and another when its your own resources.