Homelessness is a complex issue. Because a shelter exists does not mean a person would choose to--or could--make use of it's offerings. Many of those we see are veterans suffering from PTSD, abused women who refuse to separate from their children or pets, or teens fleeing abuse. If they offend you, perhaps you could just look away. If not, mercy of few kind words, a warm meal, a food certificate, a sweater when cold,(not money--too easy to spend on drugs) is a modest investment in humanity.

Blah blah blah. If they want to work and live like normal people they can. It is just easier to freeload of the backs of hard working americans.

Most of those I have seen are either vets who cannot comply w/the rules in the shelters (designed specifically for them) due to drug or alcohol use or mental illness, or women who are also suffering from mental illness. There is no good answer. I agree w/Zan. The police pick up people, try to get them to a warm place and perhaps get them meds, but then the people think they're doing great, quit taking the meds, and they're right back on the street. I would not mind a few of my tax dollars going to shelters for the mentally ill, to keep them and the rest of society safe and fed, but the money is being used for other things. Or it isn't there at all. You can only demand so much money in taxes before people balk. Homelessness is a problem as old as the human race, when people were kicked out of tribes or clans and left to fend for themselves.

These homeless people could be the landscape workers that have been cut. There are onl three workers when there were 87 just a few years ago. That is why the plants and shrubs are unkept and the trees are dying. I know because i attend the meetings and am involved with my civic group.

This Should be taken care of by now. Lets have a positive note heading into the holiday season.