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m11cb t1_jcn6xvz wrote

It's sad that the city spent many thousands to tear down these tents while these people are cold and vulnerable instead of offering real housing. Only 1 person from tent city was placed in temporary housing. It's horrific whats being done (I read the report on @/newhavenhousingfund)

Shame on the city and the mayor. Don't want homeless people? Increase affordable and safe housing.

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HeadyRoosevelt t1_jcncx95 wrote

Did they only have one spot, or did only one person accept the temporary housing when offered?

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Theomancer t1_jcnsk8m wrote

anyone know where this tent city had been? from the looks of it, it was very recluse and out of eyesight

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BobMackey718 t1_jcnwflh wrote

It was in the south end of Edgewood Park, along the West River, kinda by the Westville Music Bowl but south of Rt 34. It’s not really a part of the park that people frequent and they weren’t bothering anyone, you could see some tops of the tents from the road but that’s about it.

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6th__extinction t1_jcon48c wrote

That’s not Edgewood Park, the site was the intersection of the Boulevard and Post Road.

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BobMackey718 t1_jcp68y1 wrote

I guess I thought that was still Edgewood Park over that way, it’s near the park at the very least.

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buried_lede t1_jcp85me wrote

West River Memorial Park? It’s all continuous anyway, with Edgewood Park

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6th__extinction t1_jcpdidq wrote

West River Park at the intersection of Ella T Grasso and Route 1 is not part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Edgewood Park.

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buried_lede t1_jcpemnb wrote

So what. It’s contiguous and people often mistake it for Edgewood

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6th__extinction t1_jcpga8p wrote

So Edgerton Park is not the same as East Rock Park, and East Shore Park is not the same as Lighthouse Point Park. These distinct places share similarities but they are not the same.

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buried_lede t1_jcpjb15 wrote

And the Mill River encampment in 2016 is not the West River encampment in 2023

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flytweed t1_jcrx7xr wrote

Technically it’s off Ella Grasso Blvd, bordered one side by Derby Av/RT 34 and other side by Post Rd.

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6th__extinction t1_jct47pf wrote

Are you telling me where West River Park is? The encampment was not on the Derby Ave side by 34, it was by the Post Road as I said above ⬆️

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m11cb t1_jcndeuu wrote

I'm under the impression only 1 spot was available, but the report didn't get into much detail.

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alamo911 t1_jcnjj3r wrote

NHI article said that social workers had been there all week and they offered to place everyone there. I think most of those people were there because they weren’t interested in help from the city in the past so I wouldn’t be surprised if only one took them up on their help

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buried_lede t1_jcnnvu3 wrote

The solutions, eg homeless shelters, are almost impossible to fit in with holding down jobs and so on and a lot of other things. They can bury you deeper into poverty. If you know the scene, you understand why they’d do almost anything to avoid them. Some of the people in that tent encampment have full time jobs. Homelessness is one of the very hardest conditions to dig out of. It’s hard to explain it unless you’ve been through it or worked closely with people in it. By bulldozing this place the city has added to its troubles, as this was stable and housing is scarce and too expensive

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numitoke t1_jcnnb8w wrote

No one wants to stay in the shelters because they have curfews.

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funtrial t1_jcoe39g wrote

> because they have curfews.

And bedbugs, and stressed-out staff, and others who are down on their luck who sometimes are not the kindest of individuals.

SOURCE: past volunteer work

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buried_lede t1_jcpck9j wrote

Yeah, that’s right because they’re partying and living the good life while you work for a living. Give me a break

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numitoke t1_jcpdex2 wrote

Early to sleep, early to rise. Sounds like a key to productivity.

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buried_lede t1_jcpeeag wrote

If you don’t understand it, you don’t. Go live in one and see how long you can keep it together at work. If you don’t know and continue to push your belligerent opinion, all you’re saying is you couldn’t care less, so why bother? Don’t you have better things to do ?

We get it. You are repulsed and hateful and don’t care. We’ll mail you a medal 🏅

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buried_lede t1_jcp8elq wrote

And push you out the door early - it is a rattling horrible experience that makes it hard to function, get work or keep work and dig out if it

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m11cb t1_jcnku8w wrote

The report I read was from a different source @/newhavenhousingfund. I am genuinely curious about what was offered by the city.

Also, seems like tent city was up for months and was a place for homeless community gatherings, and food & clothing shares, so I'm assuming they made whichever choice was more beneficial to them at the moment.

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fingers t1_jcopzi1 wrote

and mental health services

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buried_lede t1_jcp7m1j wrote

Although I agree on better mental health services, there are stereotypes that all homelessness is caused by mental illness which isn’t the case. No one wants to admit economics can drive you to the street — that violates all the “American Dream” narratives and that’s not allowed. In any case, housing first. Mentally ill or not, the immediate need is housing. Some of the people in tent city have full time jobs. In interviews you can see how articulate and capable they are

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fingers t1_jcrhikx wrote

> Increase

That's the verb I was adding to. Not all homeless people require mental health services, but if everyone have access to them we would have a much more healthy community.

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buried_lede t1_jcri9jd wrote

I agree completely but we need to adopt Housing First policies also.

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SweetMojaveRain t1_jco3clw wrote

A lot of homeless wouldnt be able to maintain a steady job and remain drug free to pay bills like that even if rent was cheap. You want less homeless, being back thr asylums tbh, they just closed them not realizing that without somewhere to keep the mentally ill, they just flit in between methadone clinics and hospital Emergency departments not ever getting the help they need.

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fingers t1_jcoq3rk wrote

How about Universal Basic Income? Can't work? You get money to live.

Can work but wages are shit because of capitalism? You get money to live.

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SweetMojaveRain t1_jcppfsj wrote

That….completely misses what im talking about. Even IF you gave them UBI and a rent controlled apt every month, some mentally ill homeless are not of sound mind enough to understand how bills and rent works. Some are just so far gone in their demons that theyd turn that apartment into a drug den and shoot the UBI up their arm. Its sad but true. Elicker had no choice here unless he wanted to turn new haven into skid row or like those areas of philly that look like World War Z.

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buried_lede t1_jcp9el0 wrote

First of all, it’s just a blatant lie that all homeless are drug addicted or mentally disabled, period, and those who are need housing not asylums. When asylums closed it was for good reason but they closed them without opening the housing and support services that were supposed to replace them.

Your comment is insensitive and ill informed. My generation grew up with the horrors of the asylums on the cover of news magazines every week until we finally shut them down. And you want to reverse a whole generation’s efforts because Ronald Reagan fucked it up by refusing to put the supports in place.

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