whatever a fire hose pushing the DTES into the ocean costs, im in

Everyone who's watched The Wire remember Hamsterdam? We should make a Vansterdam. Find some area outside of town, ship all the druggies there. Arrest any drug dealer outside of that area and drop them off there.

Redevelop the DTES. City keeps a few towers to collect rent and the rent money goes to take care of these people, medical, food and drugs. Nevermind that will never happen

I wont disagree with you, people are our biggest resource. Unfortunately helping those who aren't trying to help themselves, or willing to make a reasonable effort is costly and will never really work. Just like the rich parent who keeps bailing out their irresponsible kid.

BUT, Lets flow with your idea and look at this logically.

Lets say you had 10 million dollars, how would you "invest" that money if it was your own? Would you:

A. Invest it in a tangible asset, say a building, or atleast a series of condos.

OR

B. Give it away to a bunch of homeless people in the hopes that some of them become successful and can somehow repay you.

---------

The city went with Option A, and I can't blame them. Vancouver's homeless problem isn't one that can be solved by throwing money at it. The more money you hand out to people, the more people will line up to get a piece of the pie. I mean come on who doesn't want free cash or subsidies.

Homelessness is something that simply cannot be eradicated by public housing, or handouts. PERIOD.

But...but... Gregor promised homeless in Vancouver would be ELIMINATED by 2015!

i'm sure there were people out there that were smelling what he was cookin' :troll:


he already folded and played the blame game
Vancouver mayor says city?s ?warmer weather? to blame as he fails goal to end homelessness by 2015 | National Post

Drive through the DTES on a sunny day. Homelessness is never going to end when a large population of the people there seemingly WANT to be there. They want to be downtown, they want to be with their friends hanging out all day

There are people laying in fold out lawn chairs playing on their phones with a beer next to them parked up beside the insite location like its fucking cabo.

Personally, I think "homeless" should be enumerated the same as "unemployed": you're only part of the stat if you actually WANT to change your circumstance.

Someone who's sitting on his ass not looking for work is not considered "unemployed", only those who are looking fall into that category.

Similarly, if you're living in a tent, and you're offered an SRO or even a shelter bed, and you turn it down... you're not "homeless". You have a home, and that home is a tent.

Come to think of it... surprised Mayor Moonbeam hasn't used this as part of his excuse. "Everyone who WANTED to be inside has a place... those who want to stay outside aren't homeless. Job well done, guys!"

Had a talk with a friend who works with the homeless and it's true.
It's nuts, but there is a large amount of people who rather not work and live on the streets than have a roof over their heads and a boss to deal with.
Even when it is snowing and cold, these people would rather be "free" than be tied down and have to work for the "man".

There is no nice way to put it, the blunt truth is fuck the DTES. It is slowly getting redeveloped as the city grows and it will eventually push the DTES further towards East Van. Once it reaches Clark, then it'll merge with the grungyness of the hookers and dealers around that area.

Let's take this $200 million and use it towards smarter things. $65 million for the upgrades necessary for the viaducts, leaving us with $135 million for other things. Realistically if we need more affordable housing, well there's apparently $135 million just laying around now. :fulloffuck:

WRONG!!!

that would be $135 million for bike lanes :troll:

INB4 Pacific Boulevard gets renamed to Concord Pacific Boulevard

Fixed.