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FunLife64 t1_is0qzb6 wrote

Reply to comment by big_whistler in why is our government so ignorant in Rhode Island? just because the weather is warm during the summer does not mean that the homeless go away. why do they wait until the cold weather to go and fix the problem? they never gets fixed?! we obviously need more shelters unless bike path. by [deleted]

I’m not sure “capitalism” is the fault. There’s no shortage of jobs (and decent paying service jobs).

This is more likely a mental health and/or rehab issue.

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total_life_forever t1_is11x2c wrote

Many of those people cannot get the care they need because healthcare is inaccessible because it is commodified because of capitalism.

Additionally, the number of homeless folks is going to increase this season with the cost of heat/utilities going up because of political/lobbying efforts of moneyed interest (again, capitalism). People will become homeless because they cannot afford the increased rate because they work for employers who are incentivized, and enabled, to depress the employees' wages (again, capitalism).

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FunLife64 t1_is1cswh wrote

I mean what is the solution here for the US? Flip a switch to turn over control of utilities, housing, health care, etc to solve homelessness? That’s not a practical answer.

There’s better support services that can be provided for the homeless and needy by the government. And there’s examples of this. If they are better supported it will give them an opportunity to maintain jobs that do exist.

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[deleted] OP t1_is1bux4 wrote

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total_life_forever t1_is1rhz1 wrote

Taking something people desperately need to survive and making it unaffordable because of profit motive is capitalism. It is a decision made in the furtherance of capital to the detriment of social need.

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[deleted] OP t1_is1rtmb wrote

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total_life_forever t1_is1sx9d wrote

Rate changes are subject to regulatory approval. Nothing to do with previous compassion, everything to do with regulatory capture (a key feature of capitalism).

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BlushesandGushes t1_is152ju wrote

Absolutely agree, capitalism doesn't attempt to solve for drug and mental health issues.

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FunLife64 t1_is1c6zs wrote

There are plenty of capitalist countries that have much stronger support in these areas. There’s no direct correlation.

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riotous_jocundity t1_is15b2p wrote

There is a serious shortage of affordable housing that has only worsened over the last two years. 30% of the single-family home stock in this country has been bought up by corporations. There are going to be far more unhoused people in the coming years unless we start regulating this.

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FunLife64 t1_is1c1ln wrote

Yes, housing is an issue. These people living in tents are not simply working 60 hour weeks and just can’t find a place to live — there’s other significant factors at play in most cases.

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Jtownusa t1_is21mf0 wrote

This is glaringly obvious but you will get downvoted for it. I'd wager close to 100% of the homeless population in RI (and in most States) are mentally ill, drug addicted or both. That's WHY they're homeless in the first place not because rents are too high. People love to pretend that's not the case (I'm truly baffled by why that is) and that if you just gave these folks free housing the problem would be solved. However, this has been attempted before with hotels in California. The results were predictably disastrous: overdoses, destroyed property, unsanitary conditions, etc. This is primarily a mental health/drug addiction issue.

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_is20v70 wrote

Job openings now aren't exactly easily available to every homeless person. You still need access to shelter, clean clothing, bathing facilities, an address to put on applications, a reliable contact method.

And, even then, the jobs available still need to be able to pay for living expenses to be able to climb out of that situation. It's not just a matter of there being an underlying reason or laziness explaining why people are in that situation

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FunLife64 t1_is28gql wrote

I 100% never said they were “lazy”. Just to be clear.

I just am stating the homelessness in RI is caused by issues not related to jobs. If you have them all shelter, clothing, etc. they wouldn’t magically be on their feet with good jobs. There’s underlying issues like mental illness and drug addiction that are preventing many from getting on their feet.

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