"Tompkins counts himself among the city's homeless, though technically he has a roof over his head -- a 1980 RV that he bought through www.craigslist.org for $1,000. But the 45-year-old divorced man who lives on about $400 a month in disability payments said his vehicle has accumulated so many parking tickets he fears he might lose it. Tompkins' westward-ho campaign was motivated by the same impulses that historically propelled outsiders here: temperate weather, tolerant culture, scenic beauty, progressive social values." (Laughing.) Really? Is this what inspires the homeless to go to San Francisco? Let me read you the whole paragraph. "His westward-ho campaign was motivated by the same impulses that historically propelled outsiders." So anybody that went west, anybody that migrated to San Francisco, was no different than the homeless who are now doing it. The reasons are "temperate weather, tolerant culture, scenic beauty, progressive social values." (Laughing.) Six months ago when he was in Jacksonville, Florida, this is why he decided to go to San Francisco?
In his case, though, in addition to all that, Dave Tompkins sought "a well-informed citizenry. 'San Franciscans keep abreast of what is going on better than anybody,' says Tompkins, a carpenter by trade. 'I also like the cultural diversity and the cuisine. I didn't come for benefits, that's for sure.'" (Laughing.) It's the cuisine! The cultural diversity. Handouts in San Francisco rank below cultural diversity in the homeless population. The diversity, the culture, the progressive social values, and the cuisine! I don't know how many of you people have been to San Francisco, but the cuisine that he's talking about costs a pretty penny to get in and consume. He's obviously not talking about that cuisine. He's gotta be talking about the cuisine at the shelters or the cuisine on the streets and so forth.
This story totally overlooks what a horrible problem homelessness is and has been in San Francisco. Tompkins, it says here, "is much like many other homeless people in town who are here primarily because of the city itself, and only secondarily because of public assistance. A new count of the homeless, released earlier this week, tallied a 2 percent rise from two years ago -- from 6,248 to 6,377 people. After the one-night count on Jan. 31, in a follow-up survey of homeless people, 31 percent noted that they became homeless outside San Francisco.
"'That is close to a third of the people we counted,' says Trent Rhorer, director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency. 'It begs the question of why they came here; I don't know that the answer is necessarily one of homelessness.' Rhorer believes a combination of factors ... 'The city has one of the best public transportation systems in the country,' he says. 'It is geographically small. We are a compassionate, tolerant city, a sanctuary city.' In addition, he says, San Francisco has a network of social support for the homeless, ranging from shelters to dining rooms to medical care."
Bingo! There's the reason. You can throw the cuisine and the tolerance and the diversity out the window. Hilarious. Who wrote this? Elizabeth Fernandez, Chronicle staff writer.Why do Homeless Flock to San Francisco?
Okay, I live in San Francisco and I know we have a larger percentage of homeless people here than other cities because of our social programs (and possibly to a lesser degree, the weather). But we at least TRY to help people rather than say, "Oh, you're homeless? It must be your own damn fault," and leave them to die.
You need to stop pretending that these people are homeless because they are lazy. They are homeless because so many Americans are one disaster away from living on the streets. Look at our healthcare system. Look at our savings rate (the average American saves -1% of his/her income). Look at the fact that the cost of living has gone up enormously in the last three decades, and yet salaries have barely budged (unless you're a CEO who makes over 400 times as much as the average worker).
But I'm sure all you "personal responsibility" advocates are too busy blaming the plight of the working class on poor people to be bothered by the truth.
idk but i know South Parks has this song because these boys sing it at lunch.
"California good to the homeless
lots of rich people
givin change to the homeless."
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Why do Homeless Flock to San Francisco?Over 2000 Homeless Shelters + Almost 2000 Domestic Violence Shelters:
All 50 States and D.C.
Complete List Updated Last Summer:
Alaska and Alabama Updated TODAY: 01-29-08:
http://groups.google.com/group鈥?/a>
Also Updated last summer:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/鈥?/a>
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san francisco is one big crap hole!
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Why do Homeless Flock to San Francisco?Because San Francisco has never met a victim they did not want to give a handout to.
Well, I don't know for sure, but I was once told that it was a requirement that you be gay to live in San Francisco....so I thought that was the only reason anybody moved there.... homeless or homo? you decide............ sorry, I couldn't help myself...it was too easy...........
uh having been a homeless victim before i can explain a little bit. Well, its warm, sunny and they give you free food just about everywhere, its that or dumpster dive somewhere else. Being homeless in many if not most situations is not a choice, and is very difficult to even live in. So a comfortable place where you can get meals and help when needed is very appealing. So if you or anyone hasnt been in that situation before, then dont whine, you dont know how hard it is, and especially how hard it is to get out of, when you do, you wouldnt mind.
You should see how many homeless there are in Hawaii!!!
My family has lived in SF for 200 years. For the same reason the homeless like SF
It's the best climate in the World. 300 days a year the temperature is the same as what the rest of the world sets their thermostats.
The Homeless also enjoy the Parks and Museums.
Because the majority of that city is a bunch of pansies who will welcome anybody who has had a hard life, they are sympathizers not problem fixers.
One name, Nansi Pelosi. You get benefits for being lazy and drunk all the time in San Francisco.
Perhaps you should ask Dave Tompkins ?
I'd say the transportation makes it appealing, not to mention the close relatively close proximity to other large city centers along the I-5 Corridor.
My parents grew up in the sixties and they used to hitchhike to SF all the time from Seattle to party and/or live for a few weeks or months. They were by no means homeless, but you can't deny it has a cool factor.
Plus, the west coast has good drugs and rich liberal people and some really great social services (outreach, etc.)
Maybe for the same reasons
tornado's %26amp; hurricanes
keep hitting the Red States...
lots places to sleep
i went to San Francisco many years ago and noticed the same problem i was approached by a guy about the same age as me and he asked for money to feed his dog i told him he shouldn't have a dog if he couldn't be responsible enough to feed it he got mad i bought a sandwich for the dog and gave him 5 bucks a few minutes later but I'll never forget how many many people were sleeping any and everywhere so i can only imagine what it's like 15 years later but i would imagine it's the climate and the tolerance that keeps and attracts the homeless but maybe it also the hope that one day SF will slip in to the sea.
san fransicko has an abundance of social services to give them handouts, so they never have to work or pay taxes in their life. Liberalism is great!!
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