Bussed out........ How America moves its homeless

[turbinetree]

Quinn Raber arrived at a San Francisco bus station lugging a canvas bag containing all of his belongings: jeans, socks, underwear, pajamas. It was 1pm on a typically overcast day in August.

An unassuming 27-year-old, Raber seemed worn down: his skin was sun-reddened, he was unshaven, and a hat was pulled over his ruffled blond hair. After showing the driver a one-way ticket purchased for him by the city of San Francisco, he climbed the steps of the Greyhound bus.


He traveled 2,275 miles over three days to reach his destination: Indianapolis.

Cities have been offering homeless people free bus tickets to relocate elsewhere for at least three decades. In recent years, homeless relocation programs have become more common, sprouting up in new cities across the country and costing the public millions of dollars.

But until now there has never been a systematic, nationwide assessment of the consequences. Where are these people being moved to? What impact are these programs having on the cities that send and the cities that receive them? And what happens to these homeless people after they reach their destination?

In an 18-month investigation, the Guardian has conducted the first detailed analysis of America’s homeless relocation programs, compiling a database of around 34,240 journeys and analyzing their effect on cities and people.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2017/dec/20/bussed-out-america-moves-homeless-people-country-study


We are truly a third rate state system , this is just fucked up in so many ways

[MineralMan]

1. I don't think they force anyone to get on a bus.

If you're homeless and are in a place you'd rather not be, your options for going somewhere else may be non-existent. If you are in San Francisco without resources, and would prefer to be in Indianapolis, where family or other resources might exist, a bus ticket is your ride to that new place. Without that bus ticket, you're truly stuck where you are.

Now, if San Francisco were putting people on buses without those people requesting transportation, that would be another issue. I don't think that is the case, however.

I know that if I were stuck in some city without any money and had no way to get somewhere else where there were resources, I'd welcome a bus ticket.

From the story at the link:

Raber had been feeling sick, tired and depressed in San Francisco, and after three years living on the streets he decided to take his chances in Indianapolis, where he grew up. An old friend had offered him a living room to sleep in and told him there was a possibility of a job as a dishwasher at a nearby fine-dining fish restaurant.

“I’m just going to go back and work,” Raber said, and “save money, and just live”.

[JonLP24]

7. They could do a lot more to help homeless

Than giving a bus ticket. Thank god for HUD VASH who gave me a place instead of a bus ticket.

[MineralMan]

8. Here in the Twin Cities, homeless services are

very good. The vary from place to place. Sometimes, though, someone wants to go somewhere else, but can't. A bus ticket can help someone immensely. Each situation is unique.

[Irish_Dem]

2. The old psychiatric hospitals used to do the same thing, called Bus Therapy. nt

[procon]

3. The US lives in la-la land.

For decades we been cozened and lied to, convinced that every man, woman and child in this country could pull themselves out of poverty by their own bootstraps if they would just apply themselves to the task. We have been told to believe that harsh austerity works for the poor and generous incentives work for the rich... we have been brainwashed.

Of note; no American press would touch an expose like this, so it took the Guardian, a UK media outfit, to bring our shame home.

[dalton99a]

4. +1

Great job by the Guardian

[OxQQme]

5. There was a time in my life

that I would have gladly accepted such an offer.

Currently making my way solely on meager $1383/month SS payments into my bank account.
Mobil home park charging $542/month space rent.

I sometimes feel close to the "bus therapy".

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Any chance you could find a compatible room mate???

[Gabi Hayes]

9. Bused

[Gabi Hayes]

10. Bused

https://www.google.com/search?q=bused&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

[Gabi Hayes]

11. I just get buged by that word

[lpbk2713]

12. Ghandi said it ...

“A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

We are failing the test.