Re-habit transforming big box retailers to housing for the homeless. Someone must've read my mind. What an awesome idea! Agree/Disagree?
This would lead to many unintended consequences. What they are doing here in Salt Lake City is re-purposing older motels and using them for transitional housing.It also serves as a way to control drug use and prostitution as many of these older motels are used for these purposes. The VA is also doing this for homeless vets. It seems to be working out well. Here in Salt Lake there is a waiting list. What is needed is more funding.
Will not be done. Need private apartments with separate entrances, central heat/air. Bus/transit access within a block
Been through this locally
Any large building that is sitting vacant should be used to house the homeless. Why not use these buildings for a good purpose????? There are so many very poor and homeless people in our Country that need help. This would be a good way to help them.
And what about codes? Some places might be unsafe, hence the vacancy. Also, if they are privately owned, do you take the property from the owner?
@JackPedigo Where there is a will, there is a way. All these things can be dealt with in order to help those less fortunate than us.
Pennsylvania, or at least the section I live in, has done a fair job at repurposing abandoned large buildings. Senior habitat and low income among other uses.
Not just big box retailers but even churches and no longer used places as warehouses or schools. In Seattle there was a large school that was transformed into apartments for artists. It included an art studio. With the homeless crises in many cities housing projects for small homes for these people is increasing and now tiny homes is becoming ubiquitous.
However, I see a problem. On our island we also have a problem with affordable homes. A lot of wealthy people build 2nd and 3rd homes for vacation homes. The contractors here don't want to compete and their contracts are all the same, no bidding, cost + 6%, high rates for workers and on so this makes homes even more expensive. But we are a smallish community on a 30 sq. mile island which has a lot of small farms. I am concerned more, affordable housing will lead to sprawl. Also, there has, from the beginning, an problem with affordable housing and all the homes that are built to address this never seem to be enough. It is said one cannot build their way out of congestion. The more the affordable homes the more the demand.
@StarvingArtist I have my own thoughts and this subject was mentioned often by the group "America's Farmland Trust." However, also realize I am no expert. Yes, if you have the time I would like to learn. It is an issue we are starting to face here and our county puts together public meetings to get others ideas.
Agree but I was thinking about it the other day and it seems like it could be a slippery slope into just shacking all the poor people up in warehouses
Better and safer in so may ways than under bridges and in alleyways!