Downtown Vagrancy - On the rise?

[Gaspar]

In college, it was a race to see how quick you could start drinking after donating during a blood drive.  Cheap date.

FIFY

[carltonplace]

Something different is going on. I've been in downtown for a long time and I've seen the seasonal increases before.

While I do see an increase in the number of actual homeless people, the groups out side of the Artists shop is different: they don't appear (on the surface) to look like they've been on the street for very long. They seem showered and laundered and they don't have any personal effects with them. They are just hanging out, throwing garbage everywhere.

[Gaspar]

Something different is going on. I've been in downtown for a long time and I've seen the seasonal increases before.

While I do see an increase in the number of actual homeless people, the groups out side of the Artists shop is different: they don't appear (on the surface) to look like they've been on the street for very long. They seem showered and laundered and they don't have any personal effects with them. They are just hanging out, throwing garbage everywhere.

Probably worth looking at data then.  Unemployment numbers have gone down (in the new way that government likes to calculate them) but the actual number of unemployed adults has remained static, and in many areas increased.  Part of this is due to an aging "boomer" population, but there have also be dramatic increases in the number of SS disability claims as long-term unemployment benefits run out.  Unfortunately, I know some attorneys that have just been swimming in this for the last few years.  Disability has never been easier to acquire because there are a flood of new "mood" disorders and other conditions that can now qualify.   

Much like a family member of my wife's (that I am not particularly proud of), if you are 43 years old and take a .25 Xanax a day for anxiety, you can qualify for full SS disability with a letter from your shrink (or your attorney's shrink) to the SS admin telling them that "work gives you panic attacks."  Your attorney will then get up to $6,000, and his/your shrink is "reimbursed" for his consult.

According to SS admin in 2011, nearly 187,000 Oklahomans of working age received disability benefits — a 73% increase since 2000.  http://newsok.com/oklahoma-watch-disability-programs-enrollment-continues-to-grow/article/3806795

According to the latest published statistics that number has risen nationwide by about 10% from 2011-2012 (last year for statistics).
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/2012/di_asr12.xlsx

Locally, we can see the breakdown of where those recipients reside here, so it seems that there are quite a few downtown. http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/oasdi_zip/2012/ok.pdf

It would be interesting to find out how many of these folks are actually housed, funded, and fed, but just don't have anything to occupy their time? 

It would be a great investigative report for some ambitious local news personality!

[TheArtist]

At the last Deco District meeting someone said it's approximately 40% that actually have housing, etc. but are there for free food.  The new police task force came to the Deco District meeting this last week and said there is actually an abundance of services in Tulsa.  Nobody is lacking help, there is a plethora of services and help, if they want to avail themselves of it.  As for food for example they say there is plenty and that they often find half eaten free food wrappers and such thrown on the ground.  A good number of the people come downtown for the free food and have housing and just to get into trouble selling drugs etc. often to the "real" homeless who have mental and or drug problems.  All in all sounds like a sad and frustrating situation.

[Gaspar]

At the last Deco District meeting someone said it's approximately 40% that actually have housing, etc. but are there for free food.  The new police task force came to the Deco District meeting this last week and said there is actually an abundance of services in Tulsa.  Nobody is lacking help, there is a plethora of services and help, if they want to avail themselves of it.  As for food for example they say there is plenty and that they often find half eaten free food wrappers and such thrown on the ground.  A good number of the people come downtown for the free food and have housing and just to get into trouble selling drugs etc. often to the "real" homeless who have mental and or drug problems.  All in all sounds like a sad and frustrating situation.

Perhaps if we stop feeding and housing them, they will go away?  Perhaps to Baltimore, or Key West?  ( only a few people will get that)

[Red Arrow]

Perhaps if we stop feeding and housing them, they will go away?  Perhaps to Baltimore, or Key West?  ( only a few people will get that)

Key West was a nice place to visit in the 60s and 70s.

[carltonplace]

At the last Deco District meeting someone said it's approximately 40% that actually have housing, etc. but are there for free food.  The new police task force came to the Deco District meeting this last week and said there is actually an abundance of services in Tulsa.  Nobody is lacking help, there is a plethora of services and help, if they want to avail themselves of it.  As for food for example they say there is plenty and that they often find half eaten free food wrappers and such thrown on the ground.  A good number of the people come downtown for the free food and have housing and just to get into trouble selling drugs etc. often to the "real" homeless who have mental and or drug problems.  All in all sounds like a sad and frustrating situation.

Thank you, that does make sense.

I noticed on Sunday that the park across the street from your store is now empty...and generally downtown seemed to have cleared and we were back to the regular set of homeless and grifters.

[Gaspar]

Key West was a nice place to visit in the 60s and 70s.

We stop there regularly when we go no cruises. Great place for a pub-crawl.  Unbelievable numbers of homeless in the winter.

[swake]

They may have moved south. There was a guy holding a sign asking for money this morning at 101st and Riverside and over the weekend I saw another guy with a sign at 96th and Riverside that was not just standing there but was walking up to cars stopped in traffic trying to get people to roll down their windows. He stared at me but I wasn't having any of it. I don't know that I have ever seen panhandlers in that area before.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Key West was a nice place to visit in the 60s and 70s.

You must have been there while in the military, and stayed half (or more) "lit" the whole time.  Many friends ex-military testify, over many decades - Key West has been Key West SINCE the 60's and 70's....not that bad...well, except for a kid-centric vacation!  I gotta get there - bucket list item!!


When you need a little bit of "escape time", go here and click web cams....in the evening, there is music!

http://sloppyjoes.com/index.php/cam_lp/

http://www.greenparrot.com/key-west-webcams

[Conan71]

They may have moved south. There was a guy holding a sign asking for money this morning at 101st and Riverside and over the weekend I saw another guy with a sign at 96th and Riverside that was not just standing there but was walking up to cars stopped in traffic trying to get people to roll down their windows. He stared at me but I wasn't having any of it. I don't know that I have ever seen panhandlers in that area before.

I saw a hobo camp just east of the river trail between 71st & 81st yesterday.  Dude even had his S-10 pick up parked next to the area where he had his tent.

[Gaspar]

I saw a hobo camp just east of the river trail between 71st & 81st yesterday.  Dude even had his S-10 pick up parked next to the area where he had his tent.

Urban campground.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Urban campground.

We have come full circle - this centuries' Hoovervilles!


For the high school graduates amongst us - quick history moment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooverville

[Gaspar]

We have come full circle - this centuries' Hoovervilles!


For the high school graduates amongst us - quick history moment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooverville

They are now called Obamaville.

[sgrizzle]

I found out that animal control isn't taking the off-leash pets away, they are handing out dog food.

Iron Bowl?