People Stay Homeless Because the Shelters Are So Damn Nice

[Ichingcarpenter]

Michael Bloomberg, man of the people, has an explanation for why the number of homeless people in New York City's shelters has jumped 18 percent so far this year: Hoi polloi have just never seen amenities like these. "We have made our shelter system so much better that, unfortunately, when people are in it — or fortunately, depending on what your objective is — it is a much more pleasurable experience than they ever had before," he said yesterday. "When we came into office, the shelter system was an abomination. People were driven around all night. The kids slept on benches. None of that happens again," — none! — "so there's less pressure on people to move out today." Oh, and maybe the economy a little bit, too, he noted.

More than 18,000 children, and more than 43,000 people overall, were living in shelters as of two weeks ago, numbers requiring the opening of nine new shelters in the last two months, the Times reports. All of them will presumably come with Whirlpools and complimentary eggs Benedict in bed, according to Bloomberg's billionaire logic.

But the mayor, despite his out-of-touch bumblings, likely knows full well what's going on, even beyond the glossed-over crummy economy:

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/08/bloomberg-thinks-homeless-shelters-are-too-nice.html

[Art_from_Ark]

1. I stayed at a shelter in San Diego once

The meal, which was served after hearing testimonials from several reformed alcoholics, consisted of a barely edible broth with hard cabbage and who knows what else. After that, there was community shower time, and then bed time-- several men in a room, with half of them coughing the whole night. Yep, it was a regular Waldorf-Astoria

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I would guess any shelter would be 'more pleasurable' than the curb.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. Probably beats a cardboard box, too.

[choie]

6. Having worked with the homeless

at soup kitchens over the last year, I can tell you that many do not stay in shelters because they (the shelters) are very dangerous.

[xchrom]

3. I have to shake my head in disbelief.

Reminds me of some of the more ridiculous claims made about the advantages of slavery or indentured servitude.

[Enrique]

5. "pleasurable experience"

that's hot.