http://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/11/19/minneapolis-fire-homeless-camp-tents-burn-no-injuries
The fire chief says, "The city's offered up shelter for these folks," he said.
"I wish they would take it."
Earlier this year, a body was found in a ditch, decomposed, likely dying during
the April snowstorm.
http://www.twincities.com/2018/10/12/family-of-man-found-dead-in-st-paul-drainage-ditch-had-been-searching-for-him-for-6-months/
Family was unaware that this person had moved out of friend's house and into
encampment. The article reports,
"Bobo and his girlfriend had become homeless, though they had been staying with
friends. Ramey said she didnโt realize they had started living outside in an
encampment near where Boboโs body was found."
My father's mentally ill friend who recently died in a horrible accident
refused housing that the VA wanted to give him. Instead, he chose to break into
an abandoned farm house that had no heat, electricity or running water. A house
vacant for decades with mold, dust, animal droppings, decaying structure. He
lived there for weeks before being found out.
It is important to have adequate housing and shelter. If the city of
Minneapolis has indeed offered shelter, why would some choose to stay in the
frigid temperatures, building dangerous fires in their tents? Why would someone
choose an encampment over a house with friends? Why would someone refuse a one
bedroom apartment and choose an old farmhouse that is unsafe to live in?
There are likely addictions and mental illness involved in most of these cases.
No matter how much housing is built, this is a group of people that will not be
able to manage their lives unless they receive treatment, either through their
choice or through court ordered commitment.
First, awareness is key. Then, understanding. Then, we need to make a decision
as a society- do we want to force treatment on the people who are addicted or
mentally ill? Do we want to accept that some will just be "unsavable" and let
them live risky lifestyles? Is there something in between?