“The citizens of Modesto are infinitely weary of our seemingly intractable homeless problems and the apparent inability or unwillingness of our leaders to do much about it. The enormous amounts of money being thrown at homelessness have created interest groups who are seemingly more adept at grant writing than finding real solutions, and whose self-interest is inimical to those solutions.” David M Jamieson
Last Sunday, in an OP/ED column in the Modesto Bee, Modesto attorney David M Jamieson lacerated local authorities for failing to manage Modesto’s growing population of people with nowhere to go other than the city’s streets, parks, and other public places.
Jamieson made a distinction between long-term objectives like “permanent housing and a return of the homeless to productivity and to the workforce” and an immediate short-term goal which would “get people off our streets, out of alleys, out of doorways, out of our parks and away from our waterways.” He recommended three tactics for managing homelessness in Modesto — ensuring enough shelter spaces every night, permitting camping, and stricter enforcement of anti-camping laws in public places by, “arrest and incarceration.”
Given recent history, it’s very likely local authorities will be all-in on stricter enforcement of anti-camping laws. They may even add more shelter space by renting a building or two and filling it with cots or cheap beds. Even though it is by far the most cost-effective and humane tactic for managing homelessness, they will resist permitted camping.
While Mr. Jamieson represents a growing public realization that local authorities have failed to manage homeless numbers, he has yet to realize the last thing they will accept for this failure is accountability. In 2022, local authorities did make “accountability” the chief measure for managing homelessness, but they meant accountability for the mentally ill, the disabled, the traumatized and the destitute. They proceeded to escalate the tactic of chasing homeless people from place to place as the chief action for enforcement of their accountability standard.
Also in 2022, the Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury found that not only did local authorities and agencies lack accountability on homelessness, their expenditures of millions of dollars had not reduced homeless numbers in part because a myriad of government agencies and non-profits prevented a clear focus on the problem and lacked metrics for success.
By far the most damaging factor in local failures to manage homelessness is the inability, willful or not, to recognize homelessness as a humanitarian crisis. Rather than disaggregate homeless numbers into those who are mentally ill, physically disabled, traumatized from a history of molestation, rape, and abuse, working but too poor for current rents, and others homeless through no fault of their own, local authorities have been content to cite “bad choices” as causes for homelessness, while repeatedly claiming help is available for anyone who wants it.
In fact, the only immediate “help” most homeless people need and want is a safe place to keep their few belongings that is stable enough to keep out the worst of the wind and rain. That kind of help is readily available in the form of permitted camping on safe ground.
Instead of managing homelessness, authorities in Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto have done everything they can to duck the issue altogether. No one argues Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto have near enough shelter space for the city’s 1500+ homeless people; there is far less shelter space than homeless numbers and everyone knows it.
In fact, shelter living is so unattractive that most homeless people prefer the streets, even when punished by pounding rain and howling winds. Local authorities’ eagerness to shuffle “accountability” onto the shoulders of the most vulnerable among us is only one of many indications that they have little interest in managing a problem Mr. Jamieson calls, “the No. 1 quality-of-life issue in Modesto.”
The one thing that may spur action on homelessness is the growing public outcry represented by the Grand Jury’s and Mr. Jamieson’s cogent criticism of local government. Most will agree with him when he argues,
“Our citizens deserve better.”
I agree.. please something more has to be done to help these people..
Now is the time to start finding viable candidates for the 2024 local elections that will take accountability as a key responsibility of their position as an elected official!
What are the results of the Focus on Prevention program? Has there been a debrief or summary? Does this group still exist? There needs to be a camping solution ASAP.
One key point you failed to mention in your article is the impact of prop. 47 on crime and homelessness in our community. As a result of prop. 47 those homeless living on the street have the ability to survive by means of petty theft.
The City has no will to arrest and prosecute these people, and as long as that continues, the homeless problem will continue. Many of these people will not reach out for help, until they hit rock bottom, but as long they can survive on the street by committing theft, the problem will continue.
Prop 47 is flawed and presents a conundrum. Similar to your observations that it enables some homeless, arresting and prosecuting the petty theft impacts that individual’s ability to rent or purchase housing, or become gainfully employed, after they are released. Simply catching and prosecuting petty thieves means taxpayers are funding the prosecution and detention of these individuals anyway, often at a significant daily premium (a supervised prison cell), rather than if they had been provided shelter/campsite without the stigma of a criminal record. When Beard Brook Park and MOES where operational, MPD said calls or petty theft and public nuisance dropped dramatically.
John: If you have reliable data on the number of homeless people who “survive by means of petty theft,” please forward it to “thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net.” After eight years’ interacting with dozens of homeless people, I’ve only known of six or seven who regularly stole things. In those cases, only one came anywhere near being able to survive from the meager proceeds of petty theft.
John:
I hope you re-think your way through your conclusion that:
“homeless living on the street have the ability to survive by means of petty theft” and
“as long they can survive on the street by committing theft, the problem will continue.”
This is like saying, “if homeless people can get cash by recycling aluminum cans and plastic bottles, then we should stop the Bottle Bill- it causes us to always have homeless.”
In the Bee some weeks back, the article about Lupe V. pointed out that while homeless, she commuted to Tesla for weekend work. Should we ask Tesla to stop doing that?
Yours is a nonsensical reply. Your comparisons are false. You fooling nobody but yourself. Prop 47 is a disaster
A very good point that this author constantly refuses to address. He asks for “reliable data” to support your position but then quotes his “experience” as “proof” that he is right and you are wrong. He does not even seem to understand the contradiction in what he is demanding from you versus the “standard” he uses. I would say LOL but in reality it is sad
Mr. Bridegroom: My own experience is evidence, not proof. “Reliable data” that contradicts that experience would perhaps be considered “proof.” The point is, that reliable data has not been produced, nor will it be because it does not exist. Alex Murdaugh, Rush Limbaugh, and hosts of others too numerous to name were drug addicts who never became homeless, nor did they endure the vituperation and and calumny poor people suffer. Rush Limbaugh was feted as a hero and given the Medal of Freedom. As for contradictions, I would happily consider “reliable data.” You have none.
Agree
I would like to say “where is all the money they are saying they have to help the homeless??” I for one don’t see any change. Except for modesto getting a $800,000 plane they don’t need, a bypass no one drives on and Modesto bought themselves New Park Ranger trucks, new Fire trucks,…Really people, Modesto is not that big; lived here my whole life..I have lived on both sides of the streets
I don’t necessarily agree with this statement: “… local authorities have been content to cite “bad choices” as causes for homelessness.” I’ve often heard an acknowledgment from city/county leaders that it’s far beyond that and that the causes are complex. Nevertheless, there have to be cities/counties that are doing it right with programs we can emulate. I found two comments interesting when I was out doing the homeless count in January: One woman said MOES was awful and a young kid who was homeless and had just moved here from the Reno area said it’s impossible to keep a phone when you’re on the street because it’s always going to get stolen. I was surprised by the MOES comment, although, what would I know? And, echoing something from above: Has the county addressed the issues from the Grand Jury report?
Hello Mr. Clark: Maintenance of dumpsters and Porta-Potties at MOES was atrocious. Dumpsters overflowed and the interior of the Porta-Potties would have horrified a retired plumber. However, people flocked there because it was better than where they had come from. You will also hear complaints about Stanislaus County’s low barrier shelter, both from current residents and people who prefer the streets to the shelter. The fact is, we spend much more money chasing people from place to place than we do recognizing that homelessness is a humanitarian crisis. Our willingness to criminalize it speaks volumes. Homeless people vote with their feet; permit camping and you will not be able to keep them away; once there, they’ll complain but they won’t return to the streets. As for city/county leaders, I have seen very few public statements about the “complex” causes of homelessness, if any. One Stanislaus County Supervisor told me the “root causes” of homelessness are “bad parenting.” I have not published that comment because I do not wish to humiliate the man any more than he’s already managed to do by himself.
A good question would be to show an example of what the author proposes working and I define working as getting the druggies clean and back with their families and becoming productive citizens.
My dear Mr. Bridegroom,
It appears you were not following along to the logical conclusion, or you would not still be harping on drugs and those caught up with them.
Asking Eric Caine for the solution to only one of many symptoms of what ails society is entirely missing the mark. Especially as he has repetitively and excellently given reason to think drugs and those on drugs are NOT the sole reason for the huge swell of people without homes.
Statistics from many reliable sources show proof that being on drugs is NOT the root behind all homelessness. For some it may be one contributing factor, YES.
THE FACT IS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING. PERIOD. ADD TO THE FACT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO COVER THE GREED OF THE MANY WHO ARE OUT TO MAKE A LITERAL KILLING OFF THE BACKS OF THE UNGREEDY.
ADD TO THE FACT, MANY GREEDY ARE USING DRUGS, INCLUDING ALCOHOL. YET STANDS TO REASON THEY ARE NOT HOMELESS ARE THEY? NO, THEY OWN MULTIPLE HOMES AND CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS RENTS, WHILE USING DRUGS. THE DIFFERENCE MERELY, THUS FAR, THEY CAN HANDLE THE DRUGS.
ANALYSIS, DONE WELL, UNCOVERED THE FACT THAT THE HOUSING CRASH OF THE 2000 DECADE WAS DUE TO LACK OF ENOUGH HOUSES. PERIOD. THAT ENABLED GREED TO DO THE DASTARDLY DEED WHEREBY PEOPLE WERE FORECLOSED ON UNSCRULOUSLY.
NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED.
SAME GAME DONE WITH EXPERTISE VIA MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES, ONLY FEWER OF THEM, WHILE THE MIDDLECLASS HAS SLUMPED INTO BURGEONING DATA POINTS. AND THE STREETS CONTINUE TO FILL UP. WHERE DOES IT END? HOW SHALL THE TIDE BE STEMMED?
LET US ASK YOU, MR BRIDEGROOM, WHAT YOUR REMEDY IS TO GREED? LET’S HEAR YE OUT. HEAR YE, HEAR YE. NOT TIME TO BE SHY. UNLESS YOU REQUIRE TIME TO MULL IT OVER. I WOULD SUGGEST SO
reading the Financial Report and I came across the “Significant Events / Accomplishments.” It is stating that The Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART) offered services from 2,200 (2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report) to 2,800 (2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report). Why is there an increase of homelessness, yet we had rent assistance, increase in EBT amount? I am only 25 years old, I grew up in Modesto all my life. All the homeless people that are roaming around the streets are the ones doing drugs or drinking and not caring for themselves. How can we help them if they do not want to help themselves. We can’t emit them because they not considered mentally ill?
Hi Luis: By definition, the mentally ill are not capable of helping themselves, nor are the physically and mentally disabled. When prevailing wages are significantly lower than living wages, how can homeless people help themselves? Even with jobs, they can’t afford housing.
You make an excellent point that the author refuses to consider. He only wants to see them as victims of the system. In some cases they are. In most cases, as former homeless individuals will tell you, they are drug addicts who refuse help.