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It’s not just the cops. When I was full time as a paramedic, we got called for “man down” or “cardiac arrest” or “sick person” or whatever on homeless people all the time. So now, we have to go and wake this person up who just wants to be left tf alone and make sure they aren’t actually dead or dying because they had the absolute gall to lie down where some dingus with a cell phone could see them. If you don’t think the emergency healthcare system isn’t also weaponized against the poor, you’ve got another think coming, it’s just not nearly as overt as with the cops.
So one time I was homeless during the winter and it was below zero while I was stuck outside. I stuffed my jacket full of newspaper and hid out in a breezeway, but I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through the night. It was really, really cold.
The first business that opened was a bagel shop, and it was still subzero when it did. I went in, sat down, and refused to leave. They threatened to call the cops, I told them to go ahead and threatened suicide so they’d PC me and bring me to the hospital. That happened. The ER gave me a warm bed for a few hours and fed me; probably saved my life, certainly my sanity.
I hope the last part of that story isn’t a complete fluke. Getting warm shouldn’t require a morbidly clever exploitation of the emergency medical system for the sake of survival. I certainly would have welcomed someone showing up hours earlier and offering me a warm bed.
Also the cop who kicked me out of the ATM I’d taken shelter in could have just, you know… not.
Ambulance service is fucking expensive. This is part of the reason why “give all the homeless houses” is the cheaper solution.
I’ve lived on the sidewalk and dealt with the dehumanization involved in that. It’s certainly ugly. But I’ve also seen people who are legitimately terrifying for good reason. Like, randomly pulling a knife in a Starbucks while arguing with someone who isn’t there terrifying. Both of those situations require empathy, but the latter maybe also requires someone with a taser in case guy decides to get stabby. Personally, I’d rather that someone not be a cop, but the options are kind of slim in that department.
It’s not all one or the other.
Pointing fingers at one another in outrage on the internet probably won’t be the thing that helps though. Go buy somebody lunch.
Yeah I’m not giving anyone free pass on being threatening to others.
I think it’s a bit gauche to describe a guy living on the street as having gotten a free pass.
Ever heard of context? I’m not giving them a free pass to harass or threaten others. Nobody should do that, irrelevant of their situation.
I think we’re visualising different people. Op’s post didn’t mention violence or threats at all. You’re taking about something different.
Although some people would view a dirty or mentally troubled or simply sleeping person, on the sidewalk as threatening.
