So fucking sick of people like this. They genuinely believe that every single homeless person in America is a hyper-visible, unmedicated schizophrenic who's too mentally ill to want to get off the street. Never mind that the vast majority are members of the working poor and live in cars, friends' places and transitional housing—doesn't get more invisible than that.
Universal housing would effectively solve the homelessness crisis and every counterargument is actually a supporting one if you have half more than half of a braincell. Yes, a lot of homeless people need additional (i.e. psychiatric) help, BUT THEY ALSO NEED HOUSING because poverty literally exacerbates mental illness. Yes, libraries shouldn't be treated as homeless shelters, which is WHY HOMELESS PEOPLE NEED HOUSING. Yes, a lot of people who're forced to live in squalor on a literal street corner smell, which is why THEY NEED HOUSING so they can have basic dignity and access to a shower.
these petty tyrannies that so-define american life must be a product of the "job creator" mythos. in america, being hungry and wanting somebody else to make you something to eat means you are a job creator. your needs and wants are basically the miracle of creation and others, the workers spending time in their lives to satisfy you, are expected to be grateful for the opportunity. it's completely ass backwards. lately, when i want to rail against it IRL, i say something like, "if i take a shit on the floor, does that make me a job creator? because somebody's gotta clean it up. i'll give them 50 cents. are they going to thank me for giving them the opportunity?"
i think there's something to pointing out how making work for other people isn't a praiseworthy virtue.