People's Park. Why many homeless people?

[Bianca Mora]

Don't they have a shelter for homeless people in Berkeley? In Washington D.C. they have one.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Bianca Mora

Don't they have a shelter for homeless people in Berkeley? In Washington D.C. they have one.

This is a good question. The City of Berkeley has some programs for the homeless, some of which are residential, but they're selective. Perhaps someone else could respond to the question of whether there are shelters for the general homeless population. Do the shelters in DC take anyone, even the mentally ill, who might be a danger to others? Are there no homeless there who have no shelter?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by shooting4life

It is scary how true this is. People who have only lived here think it is normal; that every place is like this.

I don't know whom you're talking about, here. I know plenty of people--older generations of Berkeley residents, who have been saying for 30 years or more that "Berkeley has gone to the dogs". The only people who would think the homeless situation in Berkeley is "normal" compared to elsewhere, would be people who aren't old enough to know any better: Millennials, and maybe a few late Gen-X'ers. if that.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Bianca Mora

Don't they have a shelter for homeless people in Berkeley? In Washington D.C. they have one.

There are about 3-4x more people that need space than there is space in the shelters across the region. And some people do not want to go to a shelter. Some are dangerous, unsafe and their stuff gets stolen.