Eureka, CA...consider aboiding
 

Took our teenage daughters to the redwood National Park and northern CA coast...enjoyed the hiking and beautiful scenery. However, made the mistake of staying in Eurekas historic Old Town....number of homeless out numbered the tourists....hanging out on most corners and rummaging through the garbage every night. Will not be back.

welcome to Fodors . . . Too bad you didn't join Fodors <i>before</i> your trip. We could have suggested better areas to stay . . .

There is slim pickings in California's far north, and Eureka can be a disappointment. We don't like any of the places we have stayed there in the past. We usually drive on to the Best Western in Garberville. However, a Holiday Inn Express has opened in Eureka recently, and that is where we will stay the next time Eureka is a convenient place to stop on our way south.

HTtY

I really wonder why something cannot be done to help these people and keep them off the street. For cities to ignore the human misery when there are resources, or could be, really bothers me. I saw some in NY. A few in Stockholm. It upsets me and I really feel that I dont' want to spend big bucks for a vacation and get upset and cities that depend on tourism should find ways to make their towns attractive to visit. I've often though that closed military bases would make good housing/education/training for homeless, those on assistance or public housing, get them out of their current environment and have everything in one place - housing, school, meals, education/training...

I get that people have freedom. But there used to be loitering laws and they could be used to 'encourage' people to accept help. Everyone deserves to be warm, fed, clothed and housed regardless of their issues.

"have them all in one place"

Los Angeles has skid row. We all can see how great that's working. With the largest homeless population in the nation, L.A. has spent gamillions trying to "help", 90% of the money just goes for police & fire problems.

>>I really wonder why something cannot be done to help these people and keep them off the street. <<

You must live in a VERY small town or something.

The sad fact is that many of those homeless do not want to be off the street. Or can't live where there are any rules for coexisting. CA has more social services available to to help than most places.

They can't be 'kept off the street' . . . unless unless they are a danger to themselves or others.

I imagine you'd want to avoid San Francisco (the homeless situation has gotten decidedly worse over the last few years. This is a link to a picture I took Sunday morning).

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s14.photobucket.com/user/dmlove51/embed/slideshow/"></iframe>

Further to Janis' point, it's very difficult to provide enough services to serve all of the homeless in San Francisco, and even if you could, many if not most are not willing to go to shelters. Every day there's a woman who sits against a tree outside an office building downtown near my DH's office - with her daughter, about 4 years old - the entire day. She reads to the girl, talks to her, etc., but why is she on the street all day, and with a 4-year old to boot? Because no one can get her to a shelter, and I've personally seen them give it their best shot. (I personally do not understand why the daughter hasn't been taken into child protective services, but that's another matter).

Why can't something be done about the homeless? I question I have heard for over 35 years living in San Francisco, from recent arrivals, long term residents, visitors and tourists. A very simple question with no simple answer.

I am not niave. I work in a city and soon after coming to work here, walking from my parking lot I noticed a middle-aged to older woman with a tarp on the sidewalk. i wrote to the Mayor's office and received a letter back that they knew her well, she would not accept help; the ACLU would file a lawsuit if they tried to remove her.

Fast forward and I work in a different office and the woman has now moved to a sidewalk downtown - minus the tarp. Now she has her hair cut, wears make up, and ties plastic flowers appropriate to the season to her shopping cart. She sits on a beach chair and reads or does crosswords. One winter a co worker became very worried about her so again I used all my social services knowledge and contacted multiple agency heads. Again they were well aware of her and told me that they have social workers who check in on her. I still think someone should obtain guardianship and make decisions for her and some of these people who aren't in a condition to do what is in their best interst for their health and safety.

I enountered another younger man, very unkempt, long hair, sleeping in a doorway in winter in a garbage bag. I gave him a a warm coat that was my brother's, a gym bag with socks, food, a little money and the address of the Mission. And I contactted all my sources about him.

<I get that people have freedom.>

I think you don't, because in the next breath you suggest loitering laws, imposed guardianship, and rounding people up and forcing them onto military bases--for their own good, of course.

The things you propose doing have been found to be unconstitutional over and over again.

I think that the the things you have done--contacted social services, given food, money and clothing personally--are very kind.

Large scale solutions to homelessness simply do not exist; this is an opinion I've come to after many years of volunteering and thinking and reading and observing. I would be happy to be proven wrong on this.

Not forcing them... An option for getting out if puberty and stopping the cycle

Poverty not puberty

Check out the documentary "Lost Angels" which has been making the rounds on PBS channels recently. Then come back and discuss the solutions you come up with for these people.

Vicky: >>Not forcing them... An option for getting out . . . <<

Most of them don't want out and certainly would not be willing to give up the meth/drugs required to live in shelters


(I'm not talking about those temporarily homeless due to short term problems/set backs/emergencies)

Does the OP live in California? I see homeless people in most cities/towns in the state. Usually they do not both you. Janisj is correct. They usually do not want help.

Arcata/Eureka residents have always (Well, I know since the 1970's. My brothers and parents lived in the area for many years.) lived to the beat of a different drum. Just makes the area more quirky! Personally, I find it interesting.

Unfortunately, many of the homeless in CA are mentally ill and have fallen through the cracks or refuse to take meds because of how it makes them feel. There are few mental facilities available and they cannot be committed without being a danger to themselves or others and even then there are not enough facilities and they are released quickly. I have several friends who are longtime social workers in LA & Orange Counties and they are burned out by all the sad circumstances they see and they say they just can't do anything for many of them. Many homeless come to CA because of the weather more than anything.

Actually something CAN be done and in Charlotte there is an initiative to HOUSE all the chronically homeless by 2017. this will be an economic saving to the city's hospitals and jails of epic proportions, and is being supported by public and private endeavor.
http://www.shelterlistings.org/count...rg-county.html

<Many homeless come to CA because of the weather more than anything.>
Florida, too. And the fact that so many are mentally ill and/or addicted to alcohol and/or drugs (often as a direct consequence of being mentally ill) makes it well nigh impossible to help them in the absence of involuntary commitment as an option.

Here in Florida, I am disturbed by efforts to pass laws against panhandling and loitering, because these laws simply sweep the problem out of sight.

Gretchen, the issue isn't whether we should or can afford to build/provide more transitional housing. The issue is that you can't force people to make use of it. As others have said, the homeless population at least in San Francisco is very reticent to be "sheltered".

Plus, in San Francisco, the very liberal Board of Supervisors does not want to seem like they are "tough on the homeless".

Stu Dudley

What does "tough on the homeless mean" in SF? In Florida, it means arresting them, or harrying them from pillar to post--which costs money but does no one any good, as it's just a miserable game of whack a mole.

That money would be better spent on solutions, of course.

I like, and try to support, groups that do one-on-one homeless outreach, getting to know the individuals and helping to figure out individually tailored ways to help them. Because there are almost as many reasons for homelessness as there are homeless people.

Homeless is a misnomer, it implies that lack of housing is the primary issue for most of the visible people living on the street. Lack of housing is an issue for many of the non visible homeless i.e. people living in their cars, couch surfing, living in shelters, etc. It is not the primary problem for those you see panhandling, passed out, or hanging out on the streets. Lack of ability (or willingness) to conform their behavior to coexist with others is a large issue. The services needed to get such individuals off the street permanently are enormous; an individualistic approach may work in towns with a small number of such individuals such as Charlotte, but in areas where there is a large population and a severe shortage of affordable housing like San Francisco Bay Area the solution is not so workable.

We are spending so much money cleaning up the Bush/Cheney mess in the Middle East and incarcerating minority group members that there is little left to address social ills, mend our decaying infrasctructure, or improve our failing education system.

HTtY

When I lived on the Waterfront in Boston, we had many homeless, some of whom begged, and many beggars, only some of whom were homeless.

Jack, who was homeless, wouldn't go to a shelter. Roger, who did go to shelters, sold the Boston Globe outside the Aquarium Garage and watched out for Jack. He didn't beg either. Many people who passed them every day bought food for Jack and sometimes Roger, though neither ever begged.

Jack slept behind some Jersey barriers that were part of the Big Dig. Every few months, he would check into Mass General and get cleaned up and sorted out.

One night, a rich girl from a western suburbs drove her BMW into one of the Jersey barriers. It flipped and landed on top of Jack, crushing him to death.

After the funeral, his family posted notices thanking the neighbors for taking care of Jack during all his years on the street and for coming to his funeral. They were a respectable family from a nice suburb and had followed every legal route to get him him home or at least under a roof. He was adamant.

What are you going to do?

SAB, all good points, especially this one: "Lack of ability (or willingness) to conform their behavior to coexist with others is a large issue."

Ackis, yes, exactly. And what a sad story, really.

well, good points except for adding that she was rich and driving a BMW, which are both irrelevant.

Are they? The symbolism is irresistible.

"well, good points except for adding that she was rich and driving a BMW, which are both irrelevant."

It is a Thing.

On June 15, this year, the Boston Globe reported:

"A graduate of Wellesley High School was among two men killed in a North End crash involving a BMW convertible that overturned early Friday, authorities said."

Same street, same time of night (2:45AM) and the driver was also from that "western suburb." I thought it worth mentioning, but I take your point.

I have good memories of a visit I made to Eureka 40 yrs ago. I wonder what they will o about their homeless. Even liberal cities in CA like Laguna Beach are quietly moving to export the homeless. Others like Oahu has even paid for plane tickets for their homeless to return to the mainland

Im not a sociologist or anything, but the homeless I know hate being homeless but enjoy the company of others that are like them. I feel a good long term solution would allow them to keep those parts of that community they enjoy...otherwise to often they eventually return back to the streets

Akislander, sorry if it sounded like I was picking on you. We all do that, not just you, but when I see it in print, it always causes a reaction!

I am planning to visit Eureka during my vacations. Can anybody suggest me places to visit in Eureka as I have never been their. I have planned for spending $ days their.

I presume you are kidding. I've never found anything interesting to do in Eureka, but others have: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...alifornia.html

The Carson Mansion is amazing, but visitors are not allowed inside.

HTtY