Planning on raising funds to end homelessness

[yellowdingo]

So I've decided to end homelessness. Thinking of selling an e-book for a dollar a download to buy shipping container houses for one acre homes. Maybe build a small city on a square mile.

[Andrew R]

Now figure out how to force those that are homeless by choice. Also laws will be a hindrance in america.

[A Man In Black]

Andrew R wrote:

Now figure out how to force those that are homeless by choice.

Yup! This is a major problem in the US. "Well, I'd like a place to live, but eh, don't really feel like it."

[Andrew R]

A Man In Black wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Now figure out how to force those that are homeless by choice.

Yup! This is a major problem in the US. "Well, I'd like a place to live, but eh, don't really feel like it."

No joking, some just don't want to live like most do. Some prefer what they see as freedom, some just want to be alone.

[thejeff]

And how many of those don't have untreated mental or substance abuse problems?
And what percentage of the homeless are they?

If, for example, we provided housing for everyone who wanted it, mental health care for those who need it and substance abuse treatment for anyone who needs it that we can get to take it, would we still have a homeless problem? There would probably be a few left, but deal with the 90+% first, then worry about the rest.

[Andrew R]

thejeff wrote:

And how many of those don't have untreated mental or substance abuse problems?

And what percentage of the homeless are they?

If, for example, we provided housing for everyone who wanted it, mental health care for those who need it and substance abuse treatment for anyone who needs it that we can get to take it, would we still have a homeless problem? There would probably be a few left, but deal with the 90+% first, then worry about the rest.

Would be nice but good luck funding that

[Gark the Goblin]

Yes yellowdingo I for one support your anti-homeless effort. perhaps if we all BELIEVE we can fix this problem!!11!1one!

[yellowdingo]

I'm catching flack for the idea - apparently I shouldn't just give away free homes - but rent them out cheaply - and not put them on an acre of land so folks can feed themselves - rather put 60 to an acre and herd them in like a caravan park.
And giving them one-share ownership that comes with owning the house so they can own the surplus lands to be rented to companies wishing to settle in the community and employ locals...like how capitalism works when the populace own the town and the companies just rent. Proper-like.

[Gark the Goblin]

Maybe you should have them able to sell illegal stuff so they can make some extra cash. You know, with companies coming in they might make some extra cash!

[Kobold Catgirl]

I am against the naive idea of improving the living conditions of humans.

[Andrew R]

yellowdingo wrote:

I'm catching flack for the idea - apparently I shouldn't just give away free homes - but rent them out cheaply - and not put them on an acre of land so folks can feed themselves - rather put 60 to an acre and herd them in like a caravan park.

And giving them one-share ownership that comes with owning the house so they can own the surplus lands to be rented to companies wishing to settle in the community and employ locals...like how capitalism works when the populace own the town and the companies just rent. Proper-like.

The problem is the codes make creating housing not very cheap at all. If we could get the government out of the way it might be doable. Also you used the term "caravan park" so im not sure where you are from, things might be different there...

[Shadowborn]

If the statistics in this image are accurate, you won't need to build any housing, at least in America. They're already there.

[thejeff]

It does sort of boggle the mind that we're able to have the simultaneous problems of homelessness and too many homes sitting empty and decaying.

It seems like there should be some way to get them to cancel each other out.

[Shadowborn]

thejeff wrote:

It does sort of boggle the mind that we're able to have the simultaneous problems of homelessness and too many homes sitting empty and decaying.

It seems like there should be some way to get them to cancel each other out.

There is, but since there isn't any profit to be made from it, it's not a viable option.

[Andrew R]

It is just the nature of the world, the owners of the houses won't just give them away and who is wiling to buy them, plus a lifetime of paying for upkeep?

[Andrew R]

thejeff wrote:

It does sort of boggle the mind that we're able to have the simultaneous problems of homelessness and too many homes sitting empty and decaying.

It seems like there should be some way to get them to cancel each other out.

Well squatting is possibly at an all time high, many states getting pressure to stop legal take overs

[A Man In Black]

Andrew R wrote:

The problem is the codes make creating housing not very cheap at all. If we could get the government out of the way it might be doable.

Sure, houses that are deathtraps are AOK! The hand of the free market will punish the, uh, contractors that you can't track down 10 years later when your home burns to the ground.

[Andrew R]

A Man In Black wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

The problem is the codes make creating housing not very cheap at all. If we could get the government out of the way it might be doable.

Sure, houses that are deathtraps are AOK! The hand of the free market will punish the, uh, contractors that you can't track down 10 years later when your home burns to the ground.

Or people could actually do for themselves and take responsibility. After all in all of human history not everyone has their house burn down......

[A Man In Black]

Andrew R wrote:

Or people could actually do for themselves and take responsibility. After all in all of human history not everyone has their house burn down......

They did take responsibility. They had the government set up a system to enforce and punish people who don't follow building codes. That's one of the things the government has always done better than the "free market": deal with externalities.

You're suggesting we do away with the working system to keep people from building firetraps and do...what, exactly? Have everyone everywhere train as building inspectors to inspect their own homes?

[Andrew R]

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be, free men doing for themselves, determining their own destiny

[Paul Watson]

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be.

A British colony?

[Ba Dum Tish]

Paul Watson wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be.

A British colony?

Ba dum tish!

[A Man In Black]

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be.

Except that building codes aren't what's driving up housing prices and keeping millions of homes vacant. Banks could eat their losses or the government could go on a spree of purchases/eminent domain claims, they just aren't.

[Andrew R]

A Man In Black wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be.

Except that building codes aren't what's driving up housing prices and keeping millions of homes vacant. Banks could eat their losses or the government could go on a spree of purchases/eminent domain claims, they just aren't.

So driving up prices is fine as long as some one else pays that extra cost?

[thejeff]

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be, free men doing for themselves, determining their own destiny

Then YOU are in favor of favelas and shanty towns. Shacks made out of scrap that the poor can afford, but at least they're not begging the favor of our lord the government.

Same logic. Let's not build strawmen here.

[A Man In Black]

No, forcing people to build homes that aren't death traps is more important than letting builders save a little money. Also, fiddling with building codes will do little to affect homelessness.

What sort of effects do perpetuate homelessness? Try getting a job without a fixed address or phone number. Try finding a home you can afford within walking/biking/transit distance of a job that will let you afford it. Burning poor people to death in electrical fires won't help with that.

[Andrew R]

thejeff wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be, free men doing for themselves, determining their own destiny

Then YOU are in favor of favelas and shanty towns. Shacks made out of scrap that the poor can afford, but at least they're not begging the favor of our lord the government.

Same logic. Let's not build strawmen here.

Except pricing the construction out of possibility WILL stop people from getting houses built, NOT forcing standards so high will NOT force people to go to scrap shacks and death traps

[thejeff]

Andrew R wrote:

thejeff wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be, free men doing for themselves, determining their own destiny

Then YOU are in favor of favelas and shanty towns. Shacks made out of scrap that the poor can afford, but at least they're not begging the favor of our lord the government.

Same logic. Let's not build strawmen here.

Except pricing the construction out of possibility WILL stop people from getting houses built, NOT forcing standards so high will NOT force people to go to scrap shacks and death traps

You're claiming current standards were preventing houses from being built and complaining that without those standards people could actually do for themselves and take responsibility.

Do I have that wrong?

Do you want the government to remove all building code standards? If so, you'll wind up with death traps. Not for everyone of course, but for those who can't afford better.

And who's talking about pricing out of possibility? Was anyone talking about raising standards further?

[Kobold Catgirl]

Paul Watson wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be.

A British colony?

THIRTEEN British colonies.

[Andrew R]

thejeff wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

thejeff wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

Then YOU are in favor of costly housing that the poor cannot afford and we the subjects begging the favor of our lord the government. I prefer what america was built to be, free men doing for themselves, determining their own destiny

Then YOU are in favor of favelas and shanty towns. Shacks made out of scrap that the poor can afford, but at least they're not begging the favor of our lord the government.

Same logic. Let's not build strawmen here.

Except pricing the construction out of possibility WILL stop people from getting houses built, NOT forcing standards so high will NOT force people to go to scrap shacks and death traps

You're claiming current standards were preventing houses from being built and complaining that without those standards people could actually do for themselves and take responsibility.

Do I have that wrong?

Do you want the government to remove all building code standards? If so, you'll wind up with death traps. Not for everyone of course, but for those who can't afford better.

And who's talking about pricing out of possibility? Was anyone talking about raising standards further?

I could build a comfortable and safe house with the money i have in my bank along with salvaged materials. Add in fees, licences and things i do not want or need and i could not come close. So they are certainly stopping me from having a house. and there are plenty more like me, especially in the off the grid/ self sufficiency movement. All it takes is personal responsibility , drive and knowledge to do for one's self. We would rather take care of ourselves than beg the gov to do it for us.

[A Man In Black]

How much will fire/building code inspection cost you? In dollars? I want to see some hard numbers here.

[Andrew R]

A Man In Black wrote:

How much will fire/building code inspection cost you? In dollars? I want to see some hard numbers here.

Then look it up, still money i don't have. And not "up to code" does NOT mean it will burn down anyhow.

[thejeff]

Andrew R wrote:

A Man In Black wrote:

How much will fire/building code inspection cost you? In dollars? I want to see some hard numbers here.

Then look it up, still money i don't have. And not "up to code" does NOT mean it will burn down anyhow.

No, I don't think anyone has claimed that not being up to code causes spontaneous combustion. It just means it's more likely to burn down.

Good luck getting home insurance, but you probably don't want that either.

So you want to be able to build a house ignoring the building codes and without any government inspectors or lisencing, right? Do you think that this should just be allowed for individuals who want to build and live in their own homes? Or should there be no codes even for those building houses for others or for sale?

Do you see no potential for abuse in that?

[A Man In Black]

So you have no idea what the regulations will cost, but you're sure, because it's the Big Bad Gubmint, that you can't follow them. I think this says less about regulation than your ingrained beliefs.

[Andrew R]

thejeff wrote:

Andrew R wrote:

A Man In Black wrote:

How much will fire/building code inspection cost you? In dollars? I want to see some hard numbers here.

Then look it up, still money i don't have. And not "up to code" does NOT mean it will burn down anyhow.

No, I don't think anyone has claimed that not being up to code causes spontaneous combustion. It just means it's more likely to burn down.

Good luck getting home insurance, but you probably don't want that either.

So you want to be able to build a house ignoring the building codes and without any government inspectors or lisencing, right? Do you think that this should just be allowed for individuals who want to build and live in their own homes? Or should there be no codes even for those building houses for others or for sale?

Do you see no potential for abuse in that?

I would rather see the same program i have thought up for food vendors. State certification, not required, but something that those who get it can post to show that they have been certified safe. So you can chance Bob's taco truck and home remodeling if you want or you can choose to go where they proudly display the certificate that the state has declared them safe. Your choice.

[Andrew R]

A Man In Black wrote:

So you have no idea what the regulations will cost, but you're sure, because it's the Big Bad Gubmint, that you can't follow them. I think this says less about regulation than your ingrained beliefs.

Is has to say that it is money i do not NEED to spend if they don't force me. If it is $1, $100 or $10,000 is immaterial, it is money i know damn well it is money wasted because they say so.

[Gark the Goblin]

This is a very silly thread.

[yellowdingo]

I'm sensing a lot of opposition to making homeless people not homeless

[A Man In Black]

Let's all move to Andrew R's utopia, where all the homeless have the materials, tools, knowhow, and wherewithal to build their own firetrap homes on flood plains (easier access to dump raw sewage and trash in the river).

Until then, can we talk about causes of homelessness in the real world?

[Gark the Goblin]

People don't like to give jobs or housing to people who are different.

[yellowdingo]

Maybe I should give these homes to single women.

[Spanky the Leprechaun]

I'll take a free house.

[Callous Jack]

yellowdingo wrote:

So I've decided to end homelessness. Thinking of selling an e-book for a dollar a download to buy shipping container houses for one acre homes. Maybe build a small city on a square mile.

Try using these.

[yellowdingo]

No thanks CJ. Any thoughts on where I might put this book? It seems that Kickstarter is only for Arts Funding.

[Urizen]

I'm sure there would be some interest here.

[yellowdingo]

Urizen wrote:

I'm sure there would be some interest here.

No thanks - 'crazy' isn't my thing.

I'm serious though. How the hell do I even get this out there to fund the end to homelessness?

I've translated it here to simplified Han using Google Translate.

[TOZ]

yellowdingo wrote:

No thanks - 'crazy' isn't my thing.

*double take*

[Rob Duncan]

yellowdingo wrote:

So I've decided to end homelessness.

This is a noble goal.

yellowdingo wrote:

Thinking of selling an e-book for a dollar a download to

That sounds like an interesting deal. May I suggest using Amazon's new Kindle Publishing Program?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000234621

You may wish to read this:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-register.html

And this:
http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/application.asp

And finally this:
https://www.myidentifiers.com/

yellowdingo wrote:

buy shipping container houses for one acre homes. Maybe build a small city on a square mile.

This is an interesting concept but requires a lot of infrastructure, permits, land, etc.

Perhaps there are local organizations that might be able to benefit from your enthusiastic support towards ending homelessness?

This might be a good place to start.
http://www.habitat.org

I think the spirit of the thread is that others see the ends as worthwhile but the means proposed not working out the way you intend them to.

Maybe try writing the book and getting a little "war chest" together first, and then see where you stand. Setting a goal ("I will use whatever money I get in 90 days to support X project") can be helpful in measuring your progress.

Best of luck.

[yellowdingo]

TOZ wrote:

yellowdingo wrote:

No thanks - 'crazy' isn't my thing.

*double take*

Smarty Pants... :P

[Gark the Goblin]

You don't understand, Rabbit. Yellowdingo hates the homeless
ness problem plaguing our world.