Why the US keep failing homelessness and what is so special about Finland?

Odd Request.

I was sitting by the famous fountain on the UN plaza enjoying a warm day of the San Franciscan spring and great Internet reception when a person whom I would call Mark approached me with a very unusual request.  Shaven, clean and stylishly dressed gentleman in his 40’s Mark looked anything but homeless, but many years of experience with street personalities taught me that they are no less diverse than a society which created them and can be dressed in any way or style.

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Last Saturday, over 150 members of different campaigns, projects, and coalitions fighting against the violence of policing and imprisonment attended a half day summit at City College of SF Mission Campus titled Joining Forces Against Policing and Jails in San Francisco. The powerful gathering was organized by the No New SF Jail Coalition, and sought to strengthen connections between organizations to better address the interlocking impacts of imprisonment, policing, surveillance, courts, and prosecution in San Francisco.

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 My leg has been giving me problems my whole life. It is my right leg. If you were facing me, it would be the left one you see, if we were facing each other. I have had stitches, and I have had a 3rd degree burn, (proudly not going to the doctors, healing it with homemade concoctions) and I have severely stabbed myself. All superficial. The ankle break. That’s one of the reasons why I can’t walk now.

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Sitting on the corner

As people pass me,

They ignorantly toss me a coin ,

Out of  Garage comes a baby and his entourage,

AKA his parents,

3 teenage girls walk out of Priceline,

Giggling up a storm,

This all happens while I’m sitting on the corner,

An older woman walks by and in hope of a coin or two ,

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“Since I’ve been in office, one of the things that has been hardest for me to deal with is what is going on in the Castro,” Sheehy said, referencing the issues of homelessness in the area. “Our response is always to call the police or the DPW (Department of Public Works) to find them a place to stay. We cannot solve the problem until we find places.”

— Supervisor Jeff Sheehy,

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This neighbourhood comes together to

Serve the community,

Long-time community,

Form bonds

Among themselves,

Feed the people,

North Oakland people

Free home-made

And donated food

On bowls & plates,

Free rides

To the hospital,

Free legal advice

Teaching the poor

About rights they

Never knew they had,

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