this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2023
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Honestly, I know the so called bleeding hearts don't like hearing this, but it's something you do to maintain the standards of your neighbourhood.
I, too, live in a suburban neighbourhood, much like OP. A couple years ago, we had a couple guys living rough, very much sounds the same as what OP is describing. Lots of people were taking food, and leaving bottles out/etc. The problem with this, is word gets out on the streets. Come to this neighbourhood, there's lots of kind people who will support you.
Fast forward a couple years, our property crime is through the roof. We are experiencing violent crimes as well. Close to one of our schools is some bushes, that are now full of needles and the cops/support teams can't keep up. Someone got burned out of a tent a couple weeks ago. We have areas where people are starting to get scared to walk at night. Remember, this is a quiet suburban area, where taxes & HOA fees are high, and again unpopular opinion, but I don't want to be putting up with this shit. It's why I live in the suburbs.
If folks could not forcibly drag everyone else into their problems, and it's just a few random people in tents not harming anyone, then no harm no foul and they'd get taken care of.. But that's not how it is in our modern times, with our modern issues and no supports available for these people. People that will do anything to get their drugs. Again that fucking sucks, it really really does, but it's not something you want to tolerate in your neighbourhood. Broken lightbulb theory and all of that.
I know this hurts to hear. We fucking suck as a society. At some point though, we have to call this for what it is.
Like fuck it is, you'd be bitching about the homeless no matter what neighborhood you lived in.
So would I.
I mean when you live downtown, it's to be expected. My life would be easier downtown, I'd probably have more fun, but I don't want to deal with the bullshit of downtown living (not singling out just homeless people here - there's lots of tradeoffs to downtown living). That's the rub.
It somewhat seems that people who have not been victims of the devastation causes by the expansion of homeless encampments want those that have been to stay quiet. My brother gets woken up multiple times a week because someone lights a fire under the bridge next to his apartment building. I had to leave a once wonderful neighborhood because of needles at the playground, and an explosion of property crime and violence. At some point, the safety of the general public needs to be taken into account, and when fire and needles enter the picture, I'm comfortable in stating that's the time.
I had an awesome apartment in University, that was awesome until the city relocated the needle exchange next door. It quickly got to the point where I had to literally and carefully think through every single action I made, everyday. I had to take my car home, I couldn't open my windows for fresh air. You had to take a flashlight to do groceries in the dark, because you had to make sure you didn't step on any needles, like it literally turned into a junkie warzone in less than a year. Longest year of my life. I think it was my time down there that has narrowed my viewpoint on this topic somewhat. I, too, used to be all touchy feely and bleeding heart on this topic, but I'm a lot more jaded these days.
According to some people here, you're a terrible person for not just letting these people come into your home and giving them all your food and money.
I feel like there's a whole lot of people in this thread that don't have a f****** clue what it's like to be involved with this unfortunate segment of society.
It's a tough spot. It's the intersection of human empathy and the reality of the absolute darkness in some people. I think a lot of people have their heart in the right place but far too much naivety.
You want to help, but if you've been exposed to homeless people they will drain every drop of empathy from you. I know in my head it's mostly just the worst of the worst, but I used to work next to a homeless shelter and they'd pee on and scratch my car, they'd chase me through the parking lot and alley threatening me, and I got mugged twice after staying late at work. I lived downtown for a while and they'd steal anything left out and they'd cut open my garbage bags and scatter them on the stoop looking for cans (even though I'd set them aside for easy collection, the second person by would destroy the bags looking).
Emotionally you just can't look past that after a point. There are lots of people who need help, but also a lot that don't want it and seem happy victimizing others.
I still donate to shelters and the food bank, but I live far from downtown now. I don't know how to help these people, I just try to help the ones who do know and do have hope.