Sometimes there are simple solutions to complex problems. Let's start with this: if you provide a lot of free things to people who don't or can't work they will come. While I recognize that a lot of these folks need help, local government and the homeless industrial complex it has spawned have provided so many free things and failed to enforce laws that it acts as a magnet for people in this situation. Forty years ago when the Rajneeshees wanted to import the homeless to vote for them they had to go to LA and other cities far from Oregon to find the numbers they needed. Today those numbers are in Portland because we provide more free things and fail to enforce laws that impede this kind of life. It's that simple. What's lacking is the will.
The highlight that stuck with me in this piece is the individual stories that is very much what we are confronting with the homeless. I applaud the efforts of the Union Gospel Mission, The Salvation Army, and others that provide shelter and an opportunity for the homeless to begin anew and try to find a way to support themselves independently. Aside from shelters provided by our taxes or places like the Portland Rescue Mission which I think are charitable organizations, and food also provided by charitable organizations, we are missing the need for a strong community based short term civil commitment system for those on the street who are severely mentally ill and adversely affecting the safety, civility, and beauty of our public square. Until we get that third piece, a practical and immediate civil commitment system in place, many of the other efforts will just "feed the beast". Many people have expressed it, but it bears repeating. NO MORE ENABLING THE HOMELESS.
Best research shows that only 30% to 40% of homeless persons which severe mental illness regularly take their medications.
The psychotic episodes you see are likely persons who have already been diagnosed with a mental illness. Their episodes are because they are not taking their medications.
What does research say about the best way to improve drug adherence for mentally ill individuals?
Another excellent piece, Curtis. It really invites reflection — an honest, almost tender look at how people’s lives unfold, and the unexpected paths that lead them to where they are. There’s truth in every twist you reveal — beautifully done.
Sometimes there are simple solutions to complex problems. Let's start with this: if you provide a lot of free things to people who don't or can't work they will come. While I recognize that a lot of these folks need help, local government and the homeless industrial complex it has spawned have provided so many free things and failed to enforce laws that it acts as a magnet for people in this situation. Forty years ago when the Rajneeshees wanted to import the homeless to vote for them they had to go to LA and other cities far from Oregon to find the numbers they needed. Today those numbers are in Portland because we provide more free things and fail to enforce laws that impede this kind of life. It's that simple. What's lacking is the will.
The highlight that stuck with me in this piece is the individual stories that is very much what we are confronting with the homeless. I applaud the efforts of the Union Gospel Mission, The Salvation Army, and others that provide shelter and an opportunity for the homeless to begin anew and try to find a way to support themselves independently. Aside from shelters provided by our taxes or places like the Portland Rescue Mission which I think are charitable organizations, and food also provided by charitable organizations, we are missing the need for a strong community based short term civil commitment system for those on the street who are severely mentally ill and adversely affecting the safety, civility, and beauty of our public square. Until we get that third piece, a practical and immediate civil commitment system in place, many of the other efforts will just "feed the beast". Many people have expressed it, but it bears repeating. NO MORE ENABLING THE HOMELESS.
Some thoughts to consider:
Best research shows that only 30% to 40% of homeless persons which severe mental illness regularly take their medications.
The psychotic episodes you see are likely persons who have already been diagnosed with a mental illness. Their episodes are because they are not taking their medications.
What does research say about the best way to improve drug adherence for mentally ill individuals?
Provide them with housing.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5274537/
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2016.11a5
There are 977 psychiatric beds in NW Oregon. There is a 3% vacancy rate.
The cost for maintaining and staffing one bed for one year is between $300,000 and $500,000.
Your suggested "community based short term civil commitment system" would need to double the number of beds.
Construction of each new bed in a facility would be around $750,000.
Adding a 100 extra psychiatric beds would cost $75 million.
Adding a 1000 extra psychiatric beds would cost $750.
Another problem.
You would need to amend Oregon laws to make civil commitment easier.
Currently only 5-7% of even short term civil commitments which last five days are successful.
Congratulations. You're doing what Kevin Dahlgren has been doing for the last decade. Every day.
Another excellent piece, Curtis. It really invites reflection — an honest, almost tender look at how people’s lives unfold, and the unexpected paths that lead them to where they are. There’s truth in every twist you reveal — beautifully done.