S.F. Transient Authority

Hmmm. Where to begin. Other than it’s more like ‘Baghdad by the Bay” than it’s ever been, how about an admission of guilt. Yes, San Francisco has a homeless problem. For as long as I can remember. For the record, I’m born and raised San Francisco. I live and work in San Francisco. 25 years in the financial district. I’ve criss-crossed this city hundreds of times, in the form of ‘cruising’. By car, bus and on foot. Sunset to the Marina. Richmond to Potrero Hill. Downtown to Hunter’s Point. SOMA to the Mission. I’ve seen it all.

I’m here to tell you: “what we have here is a failure to communicate”. What we have here is not a homeless problem, at least, not in the capacity it has been made out to be. The problem is ‘transient’. Here are some observations to think about, since the majority of the general public either ‘don’t know or don’t show’.

First and foremost, we need to establish the difference between ‘homeless’ and ‘transient’. All transients are homeless. But not all homeless are transients. Transients are individuals who: prefer living on the street, have no desire to enter the workforce, and have successfully learned how to milk the system so they don’t have to enter the workforce. That very system is to blame for allowing it to happen. The two programs responsible are General Assistance and Welfare. Welfare works to a certain degree because it benefits low-income families. General Assistance, on the other hand, distributes monthly income to those who are homeless, and unemployed, and ineligible for unemployment insurance.

Transients choose to live on the street for various reasons. One is camaraderie. Safety in numbers. This, in itself, is a result of other circumstances. Shelters, for one. There are enough shelters with enough capacity to house every homeless in the City. The reason they are not filled is because of crime, violence, and the lack of support and the subsequent strong-arming by shelter staff. In addition, admission is set during a certain time, and entry-and-exit is not allowed after a certain time. For those living free on the streets, this is a major thorn in their side.

To be fair, a percentage of this transient population have issues regarding mental instabilities that prevent them from leading a normal life. This was a direct result of the release of hundreds, if not, thousands, back in the 80’s by then-Governor, Ronald Reagan. Nonetheless, one has to wonder why most settled in San Francisco, rather than outlying areas of the Bay Area. And where are they now? The people I see on the streets don’t exhibit any of the behaviors associated with mental incapacities. They keep to themselves, carrying on conversations like the rest of us. Every once in awhile, I’ll see an individual talking to himself, or screaming out loud at someone who is, basically, not there. Must have skipped his medication. The rest is drugs and alcohol.

But what about food? Food is free. You’ve got non-profit dining rooms. You’ve got various food retailers who will give around the time of closing, if you’re friendly and cool about it. You’ve got trash receptacles on every corner that contain leftovers from the rest of us. They’re supposed to be locked, but reaching in easily bypasses that obstacle. And that’s the vicious circle.

The real and true homeless are the ones who fill the daily/weekly hotels, the shelters, and either stay with friends who have room, or move back home with parents. For this class, it’s all about pride. I myself have been a victim, not once, but twice. Moved back home with Mom, sleeping in the family room area. No walls. No door. No privacy whatsoever. And daily confrontations with bro, who never moved out. But that’s his problem, not mine. Everything I owned was put in storage. But it was home. Until I found employment, and moved out. And that’s the difference. Homeless are making the effort, utilizing any and all services available. Transients couldn’t care less. Except when it rains. This is probably when the City takes attendance to gauge what the actual homeless population is. When it rains, the shelters fill to capacity. Go figure.

Here’s an example of transience in action. Witnessed firsthand. Over several years. A classic representation of the crisis at hand. The proverbial “for every cockroach you see, there’s a hundred you don’t see”. And proof that it can hit just as close to home as anywhere else. High school buddy. Friends, although estranged at times, for 25 years. Hated authority. Classic product of the environment. Divorced parents. Boarding school. Tardiness and absenteeism on a daily basis. Often quoted “Ends justifies the means”. Obviously, the end for him was the score.

It wasn’t obvious to me how the system was manipulated until the day he came over with a proposition, disguised as an emergency. Unemployed and sleeping on church steps by choice, his semi-monthly General Assistance check was in jeopardy. He needed to show proof that he was actively seeking employment, listing employers with whom he had applied, and contact information. The writing was on the wall.

He asked for the white pages. Then started listing employers at random. I asked how he could substantiate applications with these firms when none existed. He replied that the GA agency never checks, confirms or follows up on it. System failure. Then came the request to act as an employer to justify his application process. System failure. Subsequent to say, he was escorted from the premises and instructed never to return. It was at that point I realized he wasn’t the only one utilizing these tactics to gain benefits at the expense of the City, and ultimately, the taxpayers.

This was the very reason responsible for the “Care Not Cash” program instituted a few years ago. It met with controversy, obviously, but only from special-interest groups who are subsidized by non-profits, and have no real interest in the individuals they are charged with supporting. Sounds like an opinion, allegation or speculation, but it’s been documented. My friend would get his check and rather than use half of it for rent in a weekly hotel, he preferred the steps. Food was free from dining rooms. And his ‘cash’ went to drugs. Never lasted more than a couple days. The rest came from begging.

Homeless? Or transient?! It’s the cockroach conundrum. For every transient you see, there are homeless you don’t see. Consider this: all the homeless you see on the street, ask yourself, what are they doing? Are they preparing their resumes and calling prospective employers? Are they searching the want-ads or online for employment opportunities? Are they going from business-to-business filling out applications? Uh, I don’t think so.

And here’s the kicker: they may just be better off than the majority of us lower to low-middle class working people. I struggle day-to-day just to cover rent, utility bills and food. Many times I’ve had to decide which bill not to pay; which service I can do without for a two-week period. Twice in the last 12 years at my current residence, I’ve had my electricity cut-off. Fortunately, I had extension cords and multi-outlets available. Spread throughout my apartment like a spiderweb. And hooked up to the outlet in the hallway outside my apartment.

Today, Friday, in pouring rain, with traffic backed up, I walked 3 miles from my work to the cable company, to pay my bill, and avoid disconnection the next day. The service had already been interrupted. We do what we gotta do. And the homeless/transients do what they gotta do. But more importantly, don’t be fooled by the City’s claim about homelessness being a problem.

There’s a reason for the term ‘sanctuary’, used in the subtitle. It’s a reference to the tolerance given to the crisis. How many times have you walked by some kid who’s barely out of high school, and wanted to scream out, “Get a fucking job”? You may be surprised to know these youths are the same youths from 20 years ago, living the punk lifestyle. The connection: they come from middle- to upper-middle class families. Rejecting their upbringing and living the hippie/rebel lifestyle. Questioning authority and making their own rules. Outcasts of society. Transients of a different class.

On your way to work, do you see the same individual at the same spot, every morning? Do you contribute to this individual? Do you see others dropping change every day to this individual? Did it ever occur to you that these donations are supplemental income to what he’s already receiving from the City? And if he’s in the same spot everyday, all day, how can he be looking for a job? He isn’t. He doesn’t have to. You’re supporting him. This is his job.

I watched one guy every day, standing on a milk carton, soliciting handouts. Most passed, but many also felt sorry and dropped the change. One day while attending a Giants game, I saw this same individual. He was in the box seats. $100 pair of Nike. Brand name windbreaker and custom designer jeans. Was he asking for change from his neighbors? No. He was eating a hot dog and drinking a beer.

Homeless, or transient? You’ll have to be the judge. I can already tell. If you give to them out of sympathy, and they’re just sitting there, you are contributing to the problem. LaFever says if they aren’t working for it, as in playing an instrument or break- or tap-dancing, look the other way and keep walking. Don’t think you’re disappointing them or making them feel left out. That’s part of the game. I asked my friend what he did to generate sympathy, resulting in pocket change. He gave me the expression he uses. Raised eyebrows and a distant glance resembling the look of “how am I going to make it through the night”. He had his shit down. And so do all the others. Don’t believe the hype.