Are you kidding me ....
Calling homelessness a menace ....
"There is no such thing as homeless people".
Here in Santa Barbara, we used to be able to sell our handcrafts on the street, play music, gather, and communicate.
In Santa Barbara today, it is illegal to sell your handcrafts.
It is illegal to play instruments except on farmers market days.
It is now illegal to even hacky-sack downtown, and sleep out side at night whether you are out of site or not.
All the city allows you to do is fly a sign now. So with all that they force us to be in front of public eyes flying signs. Wake up people ... "Home" is where you lay your head.
I am houseless.
City and state government of CA have de-funded mental institutions and help for the homeless. They do this to cause a problem with its "homeful" citizens.
Did you know that the Salvation Army & Path housing programs, take every penny you make if you work. If you receive food stamps, that those 2 places take those from you too. I believe charging food stamps for rent is a crime.
Collage students can be way worse then any homeless person, and you don't see this because they live outside of public view. I have lived out here by choice for 27 years now. I love it here, and will never stop being outside because someone else has an issue, or to scared because some of us remind you that you could be out here too. Unlike you, if something were to happen, we out here, drug problems or not, will know how to survive ....
I go to SBCC (Santa Barbara City College) for Acting & Directing, and have run a successful business for 7 years now, all from out here.
You need to look beyond what these mayors, and politicians, and ungrateful people want you to see.....
There are more people that live inside with the same problems you see out here, drugs, mental illness, and more.
You just don't see as much of that because they are behind closed doors.
I guess making a houseless person a martyr for your agenda of not liking someone who doesn't work or pay rent, is wrong, and you are blind. People inside do drugs, people with work can afford those drugs....
Picture Credit: Pexels