http://wcbstv.com/local/church.homeless.shelter.2.871184.html

What good could this possibly accomplish?

11/22/2008 10:09:55 PM

The state consistently interferes with attempts to provide anything to the homeless. Here in Albuquerque, the cops kicked Food Not Bombs out of a park after complaints from nearby residents. Having poor folk around apparently scared the children.

11/22/2008 10:30:35 PM

^^ I don't know about "good" but its kind of obvious what it will accomplish:

Quote :

"The Department of Homeless Services said the city offers other shelters with the capacity to accept all those who have been sleeping in the churches. The city had 8,000 beds waiting."

If churches and private citizens provide this charity, then city services go unused, if city services go unused, they can't justify their current (or an expanded budget), if they can't justify a budget, they go unfunded, and heaven forbid a government program be unnecessary. Whether intentional or not, this is a policy which will increase people's reliance on the government and reduce the ability for private entities to be charitable and decrease the likelihood of future charity.

11/22/2008 10:55:51 PM

Quote :

"With temperatures well below freezing early Saturday, the churches must obey a city rule requiring faith-based shelters to be open at least five days a week -- or not at all."

Seems like they are just enforcing what sounds like a weird and stupid law. ^ You very well could be right, but I can't think of a reason a municipality would be so concerned with their homeless shelter budget so as to actively seek to put the competition out of business.

11/22/2008 11:15:29 PM