On Sun, 21 Feb 2016 09:30:17 -0700, Don Y
wrote:

On 2/21/2016 8:02 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:
Are there not a number of closed military bases around the country that
could be repurposed for housing the homeless kids and families? Heck, those
FEMA concentration camps could also be put to good use. o_O

Again, the "home" is just a symptom of the problem.
These kids have lost their original support systems.
Single parent, drugs, abuse, incarceration, etc. so they've
LEFT those environments ("Anything has got to be BETTER
than this!")

There are lots of places where they can get a roof over
their heads -- even if only tenuously. But, they need
encouragement and support to stay in school so *they* don't
end up as "societal refuse" -- contributing little and
requiring (support, crime, incarceration, etc.) much!

Do you expect their *teachers* to fill the role that their
parents haven't? Or, expect them to cling to others (of the
opposite sex!) in similar situations (and baby makes three)?

Expecting a "home" (housing) to solve the problem is akin to
outlawing guns to solve the "gun problem"! Or, outlawing
drugs to solve the "drug problem". It's too naive.
Sadly, with mental health issues thrown into the pot, there are MANY
homeless young people who will not stay in a shelter, or even a
supportive "home" - preferring instead to exist on the fringes -
sleeping on park benches and eating from dumpsters - or resorting to
crime to support their "lifestyle"

Any "rules"or "structure" sends them litterally heading for the hills.
If there is a restriction on drug use, a curfew, a requirement to
contribute in any way to their own welfare, through chores, attendance
at classes, counselling, etc - they prefer to live on the streets than
to comply.

Sad, but way too painfully true with too many examples too close to
home to ignore. And it gets worse, generation by generation