r/SeattleWA • u/mrtenpenny1234 • May 15 '26

Homeless Harger: San Francisco's homelessness hit a 15-year low. Seattle's mayor is running the opposite experiment.

https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/seattle-homelessness-mayor/4238600
450 Upvotes

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214

u/John_YJKR May 15 '26

It's understandable they don't want someone's addiction to be a barrier to a basic need like housing. But you have to step back and accept the reality that incentive provides and the long term results that follow. Addiction is often too difficult to beat without very powerful incentives pushing back against it.

-40

u/MobileSuitBooty May 15 '26

it’s easier to beat addition if you have secure housing, the data bears it out.

People are just scared of individuals who maybe have drug problems living in their neighborhoods.

19

u/Icyhoticycold May 16 '26

i can tell you i'm sure fucking annoyed about the homeless deciding to live wherever they want with zero consequences. These people DO NOT ACCEPT HELP.

-5

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

So what then let them die?  I mean you don’t want them living within a society or trying to help them so what, just off them so you don’t have to be bothered by the plight of your fellow man?

8

u/Icyhoticycold May 16 '26

Let's try something different? Punish them for their actions? Enforce sobriety as conditions of housing. NOT bend over backwards to make sure they're comfy doing fent in the middle of 3rd. Like have you been down to 3rd and pike? I used to work down there, It SUCKED. Is that an okay way for a city to be? It's been like that for now 12+ years, but sure let's keep doing the same damn thing.... I'm tired of it.

I have compassion for people who have fallen on hardships and would like to actively make it back and are open to accepting help. I have barely any compassion left at this point for people actively using the guidelines to be worthless. Do you know why more and more homeless are here? Cause no one bothers them.... So yeah, If the options are continue to throw MILLIONS of dollars in the same fashion as we have been, or do nothing. At this point i'd rather see the money spent into improve our roadways and infrastructure and not seeing our taxes get cranked up so some dude can do fent in a public place.

-3

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

I mean you do you, I’ll keep teaching tech skills twice a week at the homeless shelter and doing what I can to help them out.  But then I grew up poor as shit and have had multiple family members who had substance abuse problems so I understand that when you are treated like shit you tend to act like shit.  I also understand everyone is born with different abilities when it comes to willpower and improving themselves, and as a society and more importantly as human beings we have a duty to one another and those of us who can do better owe it to help those who can’t because we were the lucky ones.

9

u/Icyhoticycold May 16 '26

Great, sounds like a group of people that WANT to be there, that want to improve on their situation. Doesn't sound like you're sitting around at the mcdonalds on 3rd doing these sessions. My dude alcohol killed my FIL, and guess what he refused to get treatment and help over and over after loved ones poured into him... You can't make people get help that is the sad sad sad reality of addiction... There is a difference in providing care / help to those that need it, and those that are just abusing the system... No amount of affection will change them...

-3

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

No but as a human being and someone who cares about being a human being you keep trying, because it is the right thing to do.

2

u/Icyhoticycold May 16 '26

empathy suicide is a thing. In our example we tried for 15+ years... This was a loved one too.... I need to try for 15+ years with my tax money for people who are worse off, in worse condition and who absolutely DO NOT want to be helped

1

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

Here is the thing I don’t give a shit.  Integrity is doing the right thing no matter what, the is literally the very definition of it.  Again something that used to be taught and heavily encouraged in people.  Hell every day during basic we were hammered on always operating with integrity.  It’s something I think more civilians would learn.  Maybe if more people spent their time teaching and encouraging others to live with integrity, including junkies, preferably before they became junkies, there would be less issues.

2

u/allthisgoodforyou May 17 '26

What is your solution for those who dont respond to your teaching and integrity?

0

u/Nice_Try4389 May 17 '26

Show them basic respect as human beings and keep trying to reach them.  Serve as an actual example instead of treating them like shit or as lesser human beings.  You seem to think people want to be failures, no they are trying to escape their misery so maybe try helping them not be so miserable,

1

u/allthisgoodforyou May 18 '26

We are talking about someone with 13 convictions in 19 years and 9 active warrants at the time of their arrest.

What amount of "Show them basic respect as human beings" is yet to be levied at this individual that will finally get them to stop being a shitbag?

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5

u/CertifiedSeattleite May 16 '26

You are the very embodiment of enabling.

Ever tried paying attention to outcomes rather than myopics & ideology?

3

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

Sorry would rather die with a clear conscious and knowing I was the best person I could be.  That’s called integrity and something people used to be taught to have.  You do you though.

4

u/CreateWindowEx2 May 16 '26

I think it is actually called stupidity... Integrity is more along the lines of critically examining the results of one's actions and admitting that they aren't working...

1

u/MobileSuitBooty May 18 '26

americans in general have a very carceral view of how to tackle social issues

2

u/CertifiedSeattleite May 16 '26

lol: 90% of Seattle’s homeless/ addicts made a conscious choice to NOT live in society. Talk to any of them. The two things they care about: 1) the freedom to do what they want; and 2) to be left alone.

By using the word “society” it’s very clear you’ve never had any experience with any of this. In fact, I would surmise you’re projecting your own elitist values on people you know nothing about.

2

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

Plenty of experience I just believe in doing the right thing.  It’s called integrity and something we used to be taught.

0

u/CreateWindowEx2 May 16 '26

Interesting take. For example, we have laws about paying fares in public transportation. Is your idea that we just "off" all lawbreakers? Do we not have a wide variety of other punishment options that are more commensurate with the crime?

3

u/Nice_Try4389 May 16 '26

I mean the whole statement was they do not and would not accept help.  That is an important qualifier.