Historically, models of isolation and violence inflict deep harm on already targeted peoples: Indigenous, Black, racialized, disabled, criminalized people and drug users. Studies show that forcibly institutionalizing people creates worse outcomes than other forms of support. People already struggle to access voluntary treatment, counselling and bed-based services. This type of incarceration often reduces tolerance to substances, increasing the risk of fatal overdoses upon release, particularly when community-based supports are lacking.
You know why we’re at this stage?
Because citizens are sick and tired of being abused by criminals, and they’re doubly sick of being told they should feel compassion for the people who steal their stuff, break into their businesses, assault them and/or spoil every park and public space.
Sure, we shouldn’t do this specifically. But we should do something (housing, healthcare and–this is the unpleasant one–humanely incarcerating people who are an immediate harm to others and themselves) because doing nothing is going to eventually get us an electorate who will vote for Duterte-style methods.
Voluntary treatment sounds terrible to people who’s goal is to help addicts, but literally everyone else doesn’t care. They just want to stop being victimized, and telling them that it doesn’t really work as well, well, it doesn’t matter.
What’s extra depressing is I’m sure governments won’t spend money on this, either, since the problems of drug crime don’t really affect rich people, the taxes needed to pay for a solution–housing, healthcare or incarceration–aren’t something they’ll pay.
We’re at this stage because of the misperception that being unhoused makes one a criminal.
Most of the unhoused aren’t criminals. The ones who are are over represented in the public eye and cause people to think that all homeless people are the same. They aren’t.
Most criminals aren’t unhoused. Most addicts aren’t unhoused. Why are we only talking about addiction and crime as it relates to the unhoused?
The unhoused are 7 to 10 times more likely than the housed to be the victim of a crime.
Twice this summer, in my neighborhood people have rolled up in their pickup trucks on nearby encampments,doused the tents in gasoline (without checking if anyone was inside) and lit them on fire.
You think it sucks having your stuff stolen? Imagine having what little shelter and few possessions you do have being repeatedly burnt to the ground.
Essentially using poverty as an excuse to “treat” people against their will is dystopian.
Were at this stage because a bunch of rich shits lead us here