SFist: Newsom Announces 2009 Homeless Count

PoKonrad

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:09:04 -0800

This thing is really very silly in many ways: Last time 'round, they put out tester cars with bright orange signs to see approximately what portion of homeless people they accidentally skipped. They missed more than half the tester cars, so the City just decided to ignore the possibility of having missed some portion of the homeless population. Statistically *hella* sound. Like whoa. However! The greater the number of people are counted, the more money the City gets from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for homeless programs, the less we spend on these programs from the General Fund. So the count isn't just silly: It's silly &… hrmm… impactful?

apossum

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:51:55 -0800

This is a great idea that has been a long time coming. In order to effectively advocate for services, organizations need good estimates as to the numbers of homeless. Any SFian would agree that there are "a lot of homeless". But actually knowing how many is needed to better use the limited resources that exist. NYC has been doing this for a few years. I encourage you to volunteer to help. Public service in the hizouse!

RonAlbertson

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:20:29 -0800

Soylent Green is an interesting solution.

missiondweller

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:47:59 -0800

I actually recognize the homeless guy in the picture. He's usually in or around Powell st Bart/Muni station. Its almost scary how you get to sort of know them or are just so used to seeing them.

antfaber

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:40:16 -0800

A bi-annual homeless person is someone who is homeless every 2 years. They should count the people who are homeless more or less than that, too.

fizzandpop

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:28:43 -0800

That's what I said.

elihu_hernandez13

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:23:16 -0800

I thought McCain was the one who didn't know how many houses he had? Obama was sworn in. Besides, the announcment of counting people, was announced last week

suckafree

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:13:50 -0800

we need to post cops at the mighty dog and caltrain stations. i've heard/read that they did this during the depression to stop new homeless folks from coming to town. that may be our only hope of ever getting a handle on this problem.

fizzandpop

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:07:15 -0800

I think it's catch and release. I was going to make a beautifully crafted comment about the irony of Newsom counting the homeless on the same day that we're inaugurating a president who can't even count the amount of houses he has, but you people elected the wrong guy and the symmetry of my argument is all to shit.

elihu_hernandez13

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:01:11 -0800

Corrections: The count starts at 7pm-Midnight E-mail: homelesscount@sfgov.org BTW: How can Newsom "continue in the right direction" when all he has done is to HINDER someone from exiting homelessness. He has cut services AND funding. Shelters are turning people away on a nightly basis with no where else to go. Let's see, he ignored the voters on Prop L (Poverty Court) and still try and go through with it. The voters have spoken. Homelessness means "no home" A count is a wonderfull idea but, if the Mayor is going to continue to ignore the voices of his constituests, then all are lost... He realy wants to be Gov. of California? Didn't Arnold already f**k that up for us?

withak

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:52:55 -0800

Do they get tagged after counting? Or is there some other way to make sure everyone gets counted only once?