Remigration.

[Bonfire]

Do you really believe that your king cares about you? Or that he cares about God, for that matter?

He only cares about money and fame, using the White House to grift. Colossally stupid man. Intellectually and morally bankrupt.

 

[Ella]

Folks, a reminder no politics, keep the politicians and parties out of the discussion about policy.

 

[MMtwo]

I work in a field dedicated to ending homelessness and have done so since 2008. Setting aside politics and party lines, I’m grieving the imminent dismantling of bipartisan systems that provide Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for people who are chronically homeless. These are individuals facing some of the highest barriers to stability—often living with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders that require long-term treatment and support.

In short, the funding is being removed for PSH from HUD's CoC Program. That CoC program is being rolled into the ESG funding which will not support PSH.

Many residents in these programs have their housing costs covered and receive critical medical and behavioral health services. Without this support, they would likely return to living in tents, cycling in and out of jails, emergency rooms, and crisis systems.

If the moral responsibility to care for our most vulnerable neighbors—those with disabilities and long histories of homelessness—doesn’t move you, consider the economic impact. It is far more costly to leave people unhoused, criminalized for merely existing in public spaces, than to provide stable housing and support.

I am so mad, sad and disheartened. These are our most vulnerable people.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

As of today, there are now credible threats directly from the source of stripping citizenship from an American citizen, merely for questioning what is happening in their own country and speaking out, as is their right.

A clear violation of the First Amendment.
The one thing that in fact did make America great. And free.

This is what we were warning could happen once you erode Constitutional protection.

If you thought you were a protected class? You are mistaken. No one is safe. No one.

 

[Calliecake]

@MMtwo, You are not the only one who is sickened and feeling heartbroken by what is happening. We are Americans, caring for others and actually helping those in need is in my opinion at the core of what has made us a great country. I always thought these were our values, apparently I was very wrong. We as a society are only as well off as our most disadvantaged and vulnerable people are. I don’t understand what has happened to this country. We just gave multimillionaires and billionaires a huge tax break and programs to help those in need are going away. It’s unconscionable to me.

Many people who are working with our elderly population, taking care of those who need help, may be here illegally. People who contribute so much to our society should be valued, not afraid for their safety. Instead of showing support, gratitude and helping them become legal citizens, look at what’s happening. People who are kind, decent, hardworking people are being treated like criminals, while rapists, grifters and horrible people have top positions of power in this country. It makes me feel sick.

 

[LightBright]

I work in a field dedicated to ending homelessness and have done so since 2008. Setting aside politics and party lines, I’m grieving the imminent dismantling of bipartisan systems that provide Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for people who are chronically homeless. These are individuals facing some of the highest barriers to stability—often living with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders that require long-term treatment and support.

In short, the funding is being removed for PSH from HUD's CoC Program. That CoC program is being rolled into the ESG funding which will not support PSH.

Many residents in these programs have their housing costs covered and receive critical medical and behavioral health services. Without this support, they would likely return to living in tents, cycling in and out of jails, emergency rooms, and crisis systems.

If the moral responsibility to care for our most vulnerable neighbors—those with disabilities and long histories of homelessness—doesn’t move you, consider the economic impact. It is far more costly to leave people unhoused, criminalized for merely existing in public spaces, than to provide stable housing and support.

I am so mad, sad and disheartened. These are our most vulnerable people.

I’m curious about how the cuts to PSH will be directed. Does this mean money for NEW PSH to be built will be cut? Or are the cuts directed at funds for services of existing residents? Is this something states or cities can fund or are the cuts at a magnitude where the money can’t be made up by state or local funding?

25,000 of 75,000 California PSH recipients are in Los Angeles for example. There were 75,000 unhoused people in Los Angeles the last I checked, it increases YOY.

In Los Angeles, the largest permanent supportive housing project yet is a highly touted 17 story high rise that was just completed consisting of 298 studio apartments for homeless people, and four apartments for site managers. They built 302 studio apartments for $600,000 per unit. This is market pricing in LA. It appears that one group in Los Angeles, Woingart, (sp) is doing all the PHS development/new construction. Whats that about? Looks like a no-bid situation.

298 homeless people housed doesn’t touch the 75,000 person homeless number in LA. I’m seeing posts from residents that the actual support services in these buildings aren’t adequate. Maybe you see why the current programs might need a re-structure.

Is this an efficient and effective model? Are there studies showing the current configuration of newly developed PSH is working for residents?

What is actually being cut? Current funding seems to ensure a steady income for one developer in particular, if the LA model is what PSH expansion looks like.

High-rise supportive housing debuts at 600 San Pedro St. in DTLA

At a ribbon cutting ceremony last week in Downtown, Related California and the Weingart Center Association construction is in the home stretch of a high-rise affordable housing development from marked the completion of 600 San Pedro, a new permanent supportive housing

la.urbanize.city

Permanent Supportive Housing — Weingart Center

No one said building the future is easy, but we’re doing it anyway. The Weingart Center provides comfort and support to those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles through interim and permanent supportive housing with comprehensive wraparound services.

www.weingart.org

 

[MMtwo]

Callie that’s so well said. I do apologize for falling off topic, above. My response was a disappointment, but there are many going around now.
My heart breaks for everyone who is displaced.

 

[MMtwo]

I’m curious about how the cuts to PSH will be directed. Does this mean money for NEW PSH to be built will be cut? Or are the cuts directed at funds for services of existing residents? Is this something states or cities can fund or are the cuts at a magnitude where the money can’t be made up by state or local funding?

All Federal PSH funding, even funding that areas have chosen as the best solution in their area.

ESG, particularly in its older form, was already phased out in many areas because it proved less effective at producing long-term housing stability. Under this change:

• Permanent Supportive Housing funding would vanish—even for existing programs.
• Funding for strategic planning and coordination would disappear.
• The competitive improvement model would end.
• Local flexibility would be severely constrained.

As someone who worked at the CoC level for 14 years—supporting HUD data standards and system improvement—and now serves over 1,500 low-income and formerly homeless individuals, I want to be clear: This isn’t a self-interested concern. I’m alarmed by the dismantling of effective systems without a clear alternative plan.


This isn’t just about policy—it’s about people. I was once homeless myself, 25 years ago. The systems being undermined are the same ones that helped people like me find stability and purpose. And they continue to help thousands more today—especially those who don’t have a voice in political debates.


Please, let’s not unravel what works without a proven, thoughtful replacement. We cannot afford to gamble with lives.

Here is more information: https://endhomelessness.org/resourc...s-on-efforts-to-prevent-and-end-homelessness/

Again, my apologies for veering off topic.

Edited with chat gpt for coherancy.

 

[Calliecake]

@MMtwo, Your post was the well said post. I know all you do to help people. I know how deeply you touch peoples lives in ways that are simply immeasurable. I have the deepest respect for you and all you do to better people’s lives. You are the epitome of a good person. In my opinion, you have an added level of empathy. You feel the struggles of others on a deeper level that may not have been possible without your own life experiences.

 

[MMtwo]

You're very kind, @Calliecake. That time was a catalyst for sure. I'm still working on being a better human. As an introvert, I listen more than I say and I don't really get into the political fray. But for this particular topic, and people who have slipped through a crack. I will fight like a scrappy mama bear.

 

[Lookinagain]

It seems to me that money has become more important than people.

 

[yssie]

It seems to me that money has become more important than people.

What fascinates me about all of this is that a very large proportion of the people who voted against the current administration will financially benefit from the current administration - in many cases to a significant degree. Far more than they would have in an alternate outcome.

 

[Matata]

What fascinates me about all of this is that a very large proportion of the people who voted against the current administration will financially benefit from the current administration - in many cases to a significant degree. Far more than they would have in an alternate outcome.

How so yssie? The middle class is approx. 51% of the population and cuts to social services, rising prices, and the continuing erosion of that economic segment won't benefit much in the long term. The poor will suffer even more. The wealthy 1% (approx. 1.3 million households) holding approx. 31% of the nation's wealth won't suffer much and stand to gain the most as usual.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Not for nothing….
There are widespread reports of American citizens getting harassed in Mexico due to the policies being enacted here.

 

[yssie]

How so yssie? The middle class is approx. 51% of the population and cuts to social services, rising prices, and the continuing erosion of that economic segment won't benefit much in the long term. The poor will suffer even more. The wealthy 1% (approx. 1.3 million households) holding approx. 31% of the nation's wealth won't suffer much and stand to gain the most as usual.

I think we are marvelling at the same phenomenon. Data at the 400k/y+ seems pretty unreliable - I've not found sources I trust. [unfurl="false"]https://www.cbsnews.com/elections/2024/united-states/president/exit-poll/[/URL]

That so many people knew that the party they voted for would increase their taxes and voted "against their own wallets" anyway fascinates me. Humanity does almost always come second to money.

 

[ShinyPink]

@yssie It is a weird phenomenon. I knew my taxes would most likely go up, and I put that aside and voted for society as a whole and helping people. It benefits me if people are taken care of and treated like humans, with dignity and respect. I am surrounded by those who did the opposite.

 

[LightBright]

@yssie provides a great resource in that link she shares above, thank you. Check it out everyone.


I voted for reforms.

As a GenXer, I’m in the majority of my generation who voted for reformation. Maybe I’ll start a thread on this to see if anyone has ideas or experiences about why some of GenX feel this way - we are practical, we value stability, we are skeptical and self reliant. This translates to how we vote (and what we perceive is important).

To give you an idea of how my generation of peers think: when we were actually homeless multiple times in our lives, we called it looking for a job and looking for an apartment while living in the YWCA or we invented the term “couch surfing” because most of us did it for months while we were waiting for a break. This is what a lot of us did. Our parents weren’t involved.

I did not vote to treat people badly of course. Some of the things I’m seeing from ICE are not acceptable, and I hope for reforms very soon on that process.

But I did vote to put light and heat onto the status quo of federal programs and policies that seem to be a source of self enrichment for both politicians and illegal economies.

I provided an example above, of why sometimes decisions that politicians make with their federal grants benefit their friends. I provided a link that no one seems to have read.

Another idea: search “LAHSA corruption” on X for information on how local politicians are using federal funds designated for housing for the poor, as a piggy bank.

Also, please listen to a recent hair-raising interview on Tucker Carlson Network on the current economies operating in Maine. This interview (look for it) centers around the liberal idea “you are welcome here”. And “kindness is everything.” Be careful what you wish for.

All of these unfortunately are sponsored by big hearted people who can’t understand why the other side thinks the way we do. If you put an emphasis on helping people with no questions asked, instead of looking at natural consequences or even where the money comes from or is flowing, then you open our country up to an array of problems.

 

[Calliecake]

@LightBright, This may come off as argumentative and I’m really not trying to be. Nothing that has happened the last 6 months is a surprise. There won’t be reforms on how ICE treats migrants. This administration loves cruelty. The cruelty was a big part of why many chose him. How many examples of cruelty do you need to see before you believe this to be true? I’ve seen enough examples to last me a lifetime.

I won’t watch anything Tucker Carlson is involved in. When someone tells the world under oath they lie, I believe them.

 

[yssie]

I think that for a large portion of this administration's support base - as long as someone else is "getting what they deserve" and being treated worse than they themselves are (from their perspective) - stick it to 'em and if I have to suffer a bit as well that's okay. In the name of change. As long as they're getting stuck it to. Whatever the correct declension of stick it to em is.

So it becomes an excavation to the bottom. The worse you treat them, the more okay I am with being treated poorly cause they're still getting more of what they deserve.

This is just the beginning. The king is incentivized to make his treatment of his subjects crueler and crueler, since his base demands that other people hurt more than they hurt.

 

[AntiqueFreak]

I think that for a large portion of this administration's support base - as long as someone else is "getting what they deserve" and being treated worse than they themselves are (from their perspective) - stick it to 'em and if I have to suffer a bit as well that's okay. In the name of change. As long as they're getting stuck it to. Whatever the correct declension of stick it to em is.

So it becomes an excavation to the bottom. The worse you treat them, the more okay I am with being treated poorly cause they're still getting more of what they deserve.

This is just the beginning. The king is incentivized to make his treatment of his subjects crueler and crueler, since his base demands that other people hurt more than they hurt.

If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.

It’s always been this way!

 

[seaurchin]

@yssie provides a great resource in that link she shares above, thank you. Check it out everyone.


I voted for reforms.

As a GenXer, I’m in the majority of my generation who voted for reformation. Maybe I’ll start a thread on this to see if anyone has ideas or experiences about why some of GenX feel this way - we are practical, we value stability, we are skeptical and self reliant. This translates to how we vote (and what we perceive is important).

To give you an idea of how my generation of peers think: when we were actually homeless multiple times in our lives, we called it looking for a job and looking for an apartment while living in the YWCA or we invented the term “couch surfing” because most of us did it for months while we were waiting for a break. This is what a lot of us did. Our parents weren’t involved.

I did not vote to treat people badly of course. Some of the things I’m seeing from ICE are not acceptable, and I hope for reforms very soon on that process.

But I did vote to put light and heat onto the status quo of federal programs and policies that seem to be a source of self enrichment for both politicians and illegal economies.

I provided an example above, of why sometimes decisions that politicians make with their federal grants benefit their friends. I provided a link that no one seems to have read.

Another idea: search “LAHSA corruption” on X for information on how local politicians are using federal funds designated for housing for the poor, as a piggy bank.

Also, please listen to a recent hair-raising interview on Tucker Carlson Network on the current economies operating in Maine. This interview (look for it) centers around the liberal idea “you are welcome here”. And “kindness is everything.” Be careful what you wish for.

All of these unfortunately are sponsored by big hearted people who can’t understand why the other side thinks the way we do. If you put an emphasis on helping people with no questions asked, instead of looking at natural consequences or even where the money comes from or is flowing, then you open our country up to an array of problems.

Oh dear.

 

[LightBright]

People are alleging racism, jealousy and cruelty.

Just so we are clear, what do undocumented people living here indefinitely do for employment? Where do they live? How do they get healthcare?

If you are not a citizen, and not eligible for legal work in America and you have to maintain a clandestine presence, does that make you and your family more vulnerable and exploitable?

Finally, does anyone here know how much money each person who walks or swims across the border pays to off the books networks that exist both outside and inside America’s borders? Where does all that off the books money go?

When America stops teaching its young people skilled (unionized) labor in public schools at the same time it invites millions of sometimes highly skilled highly motivated undocumented immigrants here, what happens?

I think you will quickly see this is actually a human rights, economics and crime issue. As well as a national security issue and a future of our children issue. It’s also very much an environmental pollution, health and occupational safety concern.

“ However, CBS News and the New York Post reported that in February 2024, Border Patrol apprehended a monthly record of 189,922 individuals at the southern border, which averages to more than 6,500 encounters per day.”

If you don’t want to learn about what’s happening in Maine from the investigative journalist who knows more than anyone about the story, interviewed recently on Tucker Carlson, you can search many other news sources on the situation in Maine, including NBC. There’s a good article on ProPublica by Sebastian Rotella on the exact same thing happening in Oklahoma, but it’s four to ten times the magnitude. There are also articles on NPR (interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air) and NYT. Etc.

 

[Lookinagain]

Just so we are clear, what do undocumented people living here indefinitely do for employment? Where do they live? How do they get healthcare?

There is plenty of data on how much undocumented people contribute to the economy as well as to income taxes and social security. They do work, pay bills, pay rent, etc. They often get jobs by using illegally obtained, forged, or invalid Social Security numbers. Several states offer healthcare coverage to the undocumented. I think the number is around 14 states. There are also low cost clinics, and so since they are working, they have the ability to pay something. With the SS# they can rent.

here is just one example explaining the amount of taxes they pay.

Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Providing access to work authorization for undocumented immigrants would increase their tax contributions both because their wages would rise and because their rates of tax compliance would increase.

itep.org

The unlicensed marijuana farms were run by Chinese Nationals and several have been arrested. But I thought we were talking about the mass ICE deportations, mainly Mexicans and Central and South Americans. Not the Chinese. I haven't seen much news about Chinese deportations, although I'm sure those arrested and convicted for the marijuana farms will be, the Chinese haven't seemed to be the focus of ICE.