Solarpunk Urbanism

2334 readers

6 users here now

A community to discuss solarpunk and other new and alternative urbanisms that seek to break away from our currently ecologically destructive urbanisms.

Henri Lefebvre, The Right to the City — In brief, the right to the city is the right to the production of a city. The labor of a worker is the source of most of the value of a commodity that is expropriated by the owner. The worker, therefore, has a right to benefit from that value denied to them. In the same way, the urban citizen produces and reproduces the city through their own daily actions. However, the the city is expropriated from the urbanite by the rich and the state. The right to the city is therefore the right to appropriate the city by and for those who make and remake it.

Checkout these related communities:

[email protected]

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

1303

the purpose of a system is what it does (slrpnk.net)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

178 comments fedilink hide all child comments

(page 2) 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (13 children)

And what do you do with the mentally ill homeless who refuse services and help? Cause I'm my city those are the homeless that remain. And until people accept that some will have to be taken off the streets and forced into help, against their will, then we're always gonna have this issue.

My city provides great homeless services, but only if you ask or want them. If you're the guy who doesn't know or want help and running around the subway threatening and harassing people, you get to stay on the street and do as you want.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Well, having a home will help their mental illness because they'll be able to develop a circadian rhythm, sleep, not be constantly stressed. They are more likely to be able to take their meds on time. They can spend time on their phones to relax because they will have access to chargers/electricity. Very very few people are so mentally disabled they need assisted living, and those people don't usually stay alive on the streets.

And this time of year gets extra crazy homeless/street people because of sunstroke, heatstroke, and dehydration which they also would be able to avoid in a home. It's probably your same local homeless people, just some are allowed in libraries and places with AC, and the ones that aren't are getting extra agitated.

Like literally, cosplay homelessness in your city at peak heat times and no money. How would you cool off if you can't go in a store? Where is the nearest shade you can sit and rest in? How cool are you, really? Many city have designed infrastructure specifically so homeless can't cool off. That makes everything worse. Including with climate change for housed people.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You sound very idealistic. I have a cousin who is willingly homeless. He has places he can stay, jobs he's been offered. He doesn't want it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (4 children)

Well, I speak to a lot of homeless people. Maybe your cousin is trans or has some other identity issue or a disability that makes it hard for him to stay with people. What started him living on the street? Why did he initially move out of your aunt and uncle's house and at what age? Are they religious? Does he have trauma with caregivers such as sexual assault? How do you know he doesn't?

And fine, let him live on the streets and camp if he doesn't want free and clear housing. People camp all the time. He shouldn't be harassed for it. We are animals, we belong outside anyway if we so choose. I know people who have hiked for months across America. There are people who live in the middle of nowhere in Alaska. Why should people be prevented from living freely? Think throughout history - the idea is preposterous. The only reason we force institutionalization is to get slave labor.

load more comments (4 replies)

load more comments (12 replies)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

"So for 20 000 extra we can keep a cop on the payroll that will protect us when the people rise against us?"

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I am all for helping the homeless but these numbers seem misleading. Now I want to see how much if they also get all of the amenities that come with prison. 3 meals a day and (shitty) healthcare.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Housing - 10,050 Medicare average cost per beneficiary (2022) - 15,730

31065-10050-15730 = 5285 remaining for meals, three meals everyday for a year would be $4.83 per meal, low but doable. This assumes the government will be providing everything with no contribution from the individual. Lack of housing is probably the largest impediment to employment, no address or id for job apps, nowhere to shower and be clean, have clean clothes, etc. Addiction is another issue but safe stable housing would be a major help in getting clean as well. So some number of these people will be able to get back on track and start contributing to themselves and society at large.

I realized after typing I found Medicare instead of Medicaid, it varies by state but average cost per enrollee is 8651, so another 1400 is available in the equation.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

And that is probably on the low end. So even if we round up to $30,000, it's still less. And the people are better off. I have been a homeless drug addict. It's a rough life. The only reason I broke free from heroin/fentanyl addiction is because I went to prison. But I also wanted to quit. If someone does not want to quit, they won't quit.

Thank you for taking the time to research and do the math. You are a good person.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

In my city the annual cost of a bed and support was about $80,000/year, not sure what's different 😅

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

Your city obviously decided to employ psychologists in a 1 to 1 ratio.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Tldr of the source?

load more comments