Homelessness in San Diego January 2, 2010
Posted by atharkhan in : Personal , trackbackI was in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter for a few hours today and was shocked at the number of people who seemed to be homeless.While some were playing a music instrument or holding a sign asking for help, most were simply sitting on the sidewalk with a blank stare. I am not sure how many such people I walked past before I even began to notice them. Once I did begin to notice, it was hard to ignore them. I felt particularly sad for the ones staring blankly into the distance.
According to San Diego’s mayor, there are no easy solutions to homelessness. Is that really true? Regardless of whether someone has mental disease or a substance abuse issue, is this really a problem that cannot be addressed?
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same is the problem in SF.
Athar, I was there in November for a few days and noticed the same thing too. It bothered me as well.
Promise to call the next time u r down here! I know it is so difficult to see so many people homeless. I wish everyone shared your concern and felt the same compassion for the homeless. The face of a homeless person sure has changed in the last few years. If people could see that it could happen to anyway of us. Unfortunately there is so much hate in this world and most just play the blame game. It is much easier for people to just walk by and judge when they see a homeless person. Give a big hug to Denise!
U were down the street from us and u didn't call…
We were there for about 2.5 hours. But you're right. I should have called. What can I do to make it up to you?
if you're homeless – San Diego is a lot better than CHICAGO !
@Jacqui: Most of the people I saw who were just sitting around in a daze seemed to already be "beaten down by life." I am not sure what could be done to rehabilitate them and reintroduce them to society.It was just so sad to see people like this sitting just a few feet away from stores that were selling useless junk for hundreds of dollars. It was a strange juxtaposition. I see homeless people in Chicago all the time but I have never seen so many in one place. It might be idealistic but I believe there has to be some solution to this issue.
I am always shocked about the number of homeless. Iit concerns me that the economy spurs it is growth daily. And, I wonder when it will stop growing and IF it will shrink.Will all these people be so "beaten down" by life that they no longer have the capacity to recover?
@Jan: You know — you have a point. I wonder if the homeless from other cities come to San Diego because the weather is more bearable.
This morning it was 54 degrees in San Diego. The rest of the country is freezing or snowy. It is very easy to be homeless in San Diego. There are many food programs that distribute three squares a day with no expectation from the recipients for work in return. Therefore many of them just don’t see a reason to enter a training or work program designed to get the homeless off the street – why do that when you can sit around and relax all day in the sunshine? Laziness is a preference for some. I know a guy from school who is living homeless downtown – he says he doesn’t want a job – just wants all his time for himself to do what he wants.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans asserts that 47% of the American homeless population are Viet Nam vets. Tragic statement on how we treat our veterans.
@Amie: That’s interesting. I had not heard of people voluntarily choosing to be homeless.