It seems like everywhere you turn there is a tent city that has popped up ITL in any sort of grassy/tree lined areas. Is it just me or has there been a surge in the homeless tent camps? I thought the city was trying to do away with these camps.

Any maroon colored tents?

Drive by Lyons @ McKee sometime.

Just like Austin

ElCheAg said:

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Any maroon colored tents?

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Ha I drove from Eado to downtown and did see an A&M tent or blanket last week

Could be worse!

I used to live near Washington/Studemont and would run near the bayou every night. One night HPD was riding the trail and I asked him, "what can be done about the homeless tent town under the bridge"? He laughed and said "what are we gonna do, ticket them"!

How do homeless people get tents?

steal

water turkey said:

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How do homeless people get tents?

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Chilifest leftovers

water turkey said:

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How do homeless people get tents?

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All of those feel good people that come in from OTL and feel like they are making a difference by donating tents they collected at their OTL church, stay at home moms clubs. They provide tents then go back to the suburbs while these people put up tents wherever they want.

There is now one on I10 east around the TC jester area on the grass incline between the interstate and feeder. This is by far the worst I have ever seen this tent issue.

There's an actual structure in place around 45/Allen Parkway/Memorial area, plywood walls and everything. Think I even saw a door. You can usually see clothes hanging on a clothesline.

I was just talking about this with some friends... It is a lot more exposed in winter months due to leaves being off trees, when we are back to our normal swampy green seasons, you don't see as many of them, but right now, you see them all down I-10, 59 and I-45 around the ring of downtown. Crazy coming in from I-10 onto 45 or taking Smith street exits, etc into downtown, you see a lot of them. Then under 59 are so many you can't count. I have also seen the A&M one, they had quite a bit of gear up last time I saw it under 59. Also been wondering who is giving them tents? I figured it was a feel good organization or a bunch of hippies ITL that do it "because everyone needs a home.." Either case, it is everywhere, it seems right now. I saw one under the "No Camping" sign under the freeway the other day...

big ben said:

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I used to live near Washington/Studemont and would run near the bayou every night. One night HPD was riding the trail and I asked him, "what can be done about the homeless tent town under the bridge"? He laughed and said "what are we gonna do, ticket them"!

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I might be in favor of something like this, just to scare them off...no way any police dept could turn down a bunch of toys like this...

ForeverAg said:

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water turkey said:

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How do homeless people get tents?

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All of those feel good people that come in from OTL and feel like they are making a difference by donating tents they collected at their OTL church, stay at home moms clubs. They provide tents then go back to the suburbs while these people put up tents wherever they want.

There is now one on I10 east around the TC jester area on the grass incline between the interstate and feeder. This is by far the worst I have ever seen this tent issue.

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Yup! The long and short of it is that well intentioned people are enabling this.

Buying them a tent, doesn't help the homeless, it makes being homeless easier. It fixes a symptom, but not the root cause. If you want to help, get to the cause.

I seem to recall folks complaining about a similar camp over by GRB. Turns out a church outreach mission group was bringing food everyday and someone was even renting porta-potties. Needless to say the camp was growing and the folks that lived by it, that worked by it, that wanted to walk their dogs, go for a run, etc weren't exactly to thrilled with the "charity work" being done.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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ForeverAg said:

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water turkey said:

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How do homeless people get tents?

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All of those feel good people that come in from OTL and feel like they are making a difference by donating tents they collected at their OTL church, stay at home moms clubs. They provide tents then go back to the suburbs while these people put up tents wherever they want.

There is now one on I10 east around the TC jester area on the grass incline between the interstate and feeder. This is by far the worst I have ever seen this tent issue.

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Yup! The long and short of it is that well intentioned people are enabling this.

Buying them a tent, doesn't help the homeless, it makes being homeless easier. It fixes a symptom, but not the root cause. If you want to help, get to the cause.

I seem to recall folks complaining about a similar camp over by GRB. Turns out a church outreach mission group was bringing food everyday and someone was even renting porta-potties. Needless to say the camp was growing and the folks that lived by it, that worked by it, that wanted to walk their dogs, go for a run, etc weren't exactly to thrilled with the "charity work" being done.

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Interestingly enough, a great illustration of how well capitalism works. Provide a product that people want at price they're willing to pay and you'll develop a consumer base in no time.

Port-a-cans, food, and shelter for free is a great price for something that pretty much all but the de-toxifying/still high and mentally disabled bums all want.

big ben said:

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I used to live near Washington/Studemont and would run near the bayou every night. One night HPD was riding the trail and I asked him, "what can be done about the homeless tent town under the bridge"? He laughed and said "what are we gonna do, ticket them"!

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Same way A&M gets rid of birds in the oaks. Start throwing fire crackers into their camp grounds until they leave. Maybe some tear gas.

Boo Weekley said:

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big ben said:

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I used to live near Washington/Studemont and would run near the bayou every night. One night HPD was riding the trail and I asked him, "what can be done about the homeless tent town under the bridge"? He laughed and said "what are we gonna do, ticket them"!

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I might be in favor of something like this, just to scare them off...no way any police dept could turn down a bunch of toys like this...

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Firehoses would be a better option. You can destroy the camps and clean the mess at the same time.