The first of March begins the Spring season and it sure feels like it. The azaleas are blooming, the spring rains are here, and the weather is near perfect. We have a few big ticket items in March, including a joint meeting with County Commission, votes on downtown parking, land conservation, and more.
I agree mostly on the parking issue, but I still wonder why it's free at night. That seems backward to me and a missed opportunity for the city. At night, parking fills up with people drawn to the great bars and restaurants downtown. Discouraging drunk driving, even in a somewhat subtle way through paid parking close to bars, seems like a good goal.
At its core SITUATIONAL HOMELESSNESS is a housing issue. Let me break this down for you, Here in Gainesville we have those that choose to be homeless. They choose tents rather than buildings. They choose drugs over responsibility. And the city chooses to put these types of homeless first rather than supporting the families that are situational homeless, and choose responsibility over being homeless, but they had a hard time staying stable due to the rising prices in housing, and the high GRU rates being that the commission were the reason for this destroying the utility to the tune of 1.8 billion dollars. I doubt that you have actually spent anytime with the homeless, in either case. I can tell you I have had converstations with a few guys over accross from the 12 Ave Walmart, they prefer to be homeless. along with the one lady that is the significant other of one of the men. And then there are those at Saint Francis and other families that would like to be able to be stable.
When the City provides funding to the enabling homeless center of Gracemarket place in a two and a half month period (12/1/2023 to 02/12/2024) at 425,000+, and nothing to Saint Francis House, or Family Promise. This speaks volumes to what the city cares about and why Grace really is to the city of Gainesville. Do not give me the speal you attempted to give me before about federal funding because Grace not only receives funding from the city, but also county, state and federal. Hmm that then makes me wonder why there has not been built any more buildings to help those that sleep in the parking lot. You all should be ashamed of yourselves!
I don’t see any analysis about why people choose to be homeless (and I don’t believe people choose to be homeless). You are looking for a narrative that explains why we shouldn’t help all homeless people, just the ones deemed “worthy” of being pulled out of a horrifying situation. Every unhoused resident in Alachua County deserves to be housed and given the resources to help themselves out of the hopelessness that comes with even short-term homelessness. We have to stop perpetuating the myth that there are people who want to be homeless and start really thinking about the underlying causes of resistance to getting out of homelessness. Housing First is the most humane method of achieving an end to homelessness. We do not lack the resources to end homelessness, merely the political will.
Are you serious, lady? Take your blinders off!!!! How many have you spoken to? I know several people and will put names out there for you... Ocala Florida Randal (Randy) Norwood chose to be homeless for nearly 15 years; his brother, an identical twin, chose the same. His name is Daniel (Danny) Norwood, and they are both initially from Gadsden, Alabama. Also, there is A guy you may want to research on Facebook, Steven Wetzel, originally from Michigan, St. Louis to be exact, or his profile may say somewhere a little farther west since his dad is in St. Louis, Michigan (not a typo in the middle of the palm). His mom is a little farther west. Either way, Steven has been homeless by choice, traveling from place to place by train unpaid in train cars that haul many different things.
He and his dog panhandle regularly. And as I have stated before, my husband and I have spoken to two men and the lady that were in the encampment across from Walmart, and they said they choose to be homeless. Why? Because it doesn't require paying rent to anyone, more money for booze. They were the first three in that encampment, and it grew over the last two to three years. The two guys I refer to are both military vets, and they still chose homelessness. So please tell me again how people do not choose homelessness. They will decide that life if they have warrants and do not want responsibility. Let's go on an outing not just here but also to Marion County. Their homeless community isn't seen as much. Why? They require people experiencing homelessness to sign, and they need specific requirements to go to shelters.ocala requires a permit to wave a Sign. It amazes me how Gainesville enables those who choose the life. And please save your breath. I wouldn't know what it is like; my family and I were homeless, and I know all about Saint Francis's House and the proper implementation there needs to be. You cannot house those who do not want to be housed, and you do not wish to accommodate someone who doesn't want to help themselves because it leads to instability and, therefore, homelessness again, and the money put to use was just a waste. See, Saint Francis does it right. It ensures you have a source of income and can find housing, and from there, the agency helps you find housing and then ensures you are good. Those people like you, who are clueless, need to take a deeper look... and stop saying that there are no homeless that want to be homeless
Angela your personal experience does not reflect the whole of society. There is a housing crisis and most people are one medical bill away from being homeless. Housing is a basic human right and you don’t get to decide who is worthy. Seek some therapy for your anger and maybe try educating yourself a bit on the subject.
I think the problem here is your willful ignorance. I said the two homeless people you spoke to at Walmart don’t represent the whole of society. Honestly though it is challenging to grasp most of what you share online because it’s all unfounded and barely coherent. Get some help, I wish you the best.
Willful ignorance?! Hmmm interesting, I have provided more information than the three, people over near Walmart, but also and additional 3 from elsewhere… and since I just met with the city discussing this issue, there is a lot to unpack and brainstorm. It seems that we need legislation to provide for better mental health services, to include addiction services… I’m positive that is far from ignorance.
I agree mostly on the parking issue, but I still wonder why it's free at night. That seems backward to me and a missed opportunity for the city. At night, parking fills up with people drawn to the great bars and restaurants downtown. Discouraging drunk driving, even in a somewhat subtle way through paid parking close to bars, seems like a good goal.
At its core SITUATIONAL HOMELESSNESS is a housing issue. Let me break this down for you, Here in Gainesville we have those that choose to be homeless. They choose tents rather than buildings. They choose drugs over responsibility. And the city chooses to put these types of homeless first rather than supporting the families that are situational homeless, and choose responsibility over being homeless, but they had a hard time staying stable due to the rising prices in housing, and the high GRU rates being that the commission were the reason for this destroying the utility to the tune of 1.8 billion dollars. I doubt that you have actually spent anytime with the homeless, in either case. I can tell you I have had converstations with a few guys over accross from the 12 Ave Walmart, they prefer to be homeless. along with the one lady that is the significant other of one of the men. And then there are those at Saint Francis and other families that would like to be able to be stable.
When the City provides funding to the enabling homeless center of Gracemarket place in a two and a half month period (12/1/2023 to 02/12/2024) at 425,000+, and nothing to Saint Francis House, or Family Promise. This speaks volumes to what the city cares about and why Grace really is to the city of Gainesville. Do not give me the speal you attempted to give me before about federal funding because Grace not only receives funding from the city, but also county, state and federal. Hmm that then makes me wonder why there has not been built any more buildings to help those that sleep in the parking lot. You all should be ashamed of yourselves!
I don’t see any analysis about why people choose to be homeless (and I don’t believe people choose to be homeless). You are looking for a narrative that explains why we shouldn’t help all homeless people, just the ones deemed “worthy” of being pulled out of a horrifying situation. Every unhoused resident in Alachua County deserves to be housed and given the resources to help themselves out of the hopelessness that comes with even short-term homelessness. We have to stop perpetuating the myth that there are people who want to be homeless and start really thinking about the underlying causes of resistance to getting out of homelessness. Housing First is the most humane method of achieving an end to homelessness. We do not lack the resources to end homelessness, merely the political will.
Are you serious, lady? Take your blinders off!!!! How many have you spoken to? I know several people and will put names out there for you... Ocala Florida Randal (Randy) Norwood chose to be homeless for nearly 15 years; his brother, an identical twin, chose the same. His name is Daniel (Danny) Norwood, and they are both initially from Gadsden, Alabama. Also, there is A guy you may want to research on Facebook, Steven Wetzel, originally from Michigan, St. Louis to be exact, or his profile may say somewhere a little farther west since his dad is in St. Louis, Michigan (not a typo in the middle of the palm). His mom is a little farther west. Either way, Steven has been homeless by choice, traveling from place to place by train unpaid in train cars that haul many different things.
He and his dog panhandle regularly. And as I have stated before, my husband and I have spoken to two men and the lady that were in the encampment across from Walmart, and they said they choose to be homeless. Why? Because it doesn't require paying rent to anyone, more money for booze. They were the first three in that encampment, and it grew over the last two to three years. The two guys I refer to are both military vets, and they still chose homelessness. So please tell me again how people do not choose homelessness. They will decide that life if they have warrants and do not want responsibility. Let's go on an outing not just here but also to Marion County. Their homeless community isn't seen as much. Why? They require people experiencing homelessness to sign, and they need specific requirements to go to shelters.ocala requires a permit to wave a Sign. It amazes me how Gainesville enables those who choose the life. And please save your breath. I wouldn't know what it is like; my family and I were homeless, and I know all about Saint Francis's House and the proper implementation there needs to be. You cannot house those who do not want to be housed, and you do not wish to accommodate someone who doesn't want to help themselves because it leads to instability and, therefore, homelessness again, and the money put to use was just a waste. See, Saint Francis does it right. It ensures you have a source of income and can find housing, and from there, the agency helps you find housing and then ensures you are good. Those people like you, who are clueless, need to take a deeper look... and stop saying that there are no homeless that want to be homeless
Angela your personal experience does not reflect the whole of society. There is a housing crisis and most people are one medical bill away from being homeless. Housing is a basic human right and you don’t get to decide who is worthy. Seek some therapy for your anger and maybe try educating yourself a bit on the subject.
Lmao, you negate to address the issue of those that admittedly choose to be homeless! I didn’t choose to be. I think you didn’t grasp anything I said!
I think the problem here is your willful ignorance. I said the two homeless people you spoke to at Walmart don’t represent the whole of society. Honestly though it is challenging to grasp most of what you share online because it’s all unfounded and barely coherent. Get some help, I wish you the best.
Willful ignorance?! Hmmm interesting, I have provided more information than the three, people over near Walmart, but also and additional 3 from elsewhere… and since I just met with the city discussing this issue, there is a lot to unpack and brainstorm. It seems that we need legislation to provide for better mental health services, to include addiction services… I’m positive that is far from ignorance.