Yes. But it differs from say schizophrenia. Most people choose to consume drugs. They do so knowing they risk addiction. It is not like other mental diseases like schizophrenia, parkinson's or dimentia.

McKee once again shows how he's low-key a Republican. But hey, this is what people in the state wanted. Progressives are constantly shut down and people vote defensively here... nothing will ever change in this fucking state.

I work at Eastside Marketplace and I see so many homeless people who live in tents behind us on the bike path. It's very sad.

First time I saw them was at the Safari Lounge. I was doing my best Bukowski impression and they started playing and I was like WTF is this and left. A coworker told me the next day who they were and what they were about.

My most memorable moment seeing them was at AS220 on Easter or some other holiday. They had a life-sized stuffed Easter bunny (or Santa? I can't remember) which got destroyed by the end of the show. The whole crowd was littered with newspaper and cassette tape.

Not sure if it was this show or not by I had invited my ethnomusicologist friend to come and check it out thinking she might enjoy some out of the box music. She and all her friends left with their hands over their ears before I could buy a beer and get into the show.

Last time I saw them was in a warehouse show (Dave Beard's? I can't remember the name of the space) again on a holiday either Christmas or New Years. I got too wasted and the whole thing is like a water color painting in my mind.

Cannot understate how awesome it was to be 20-something in the mid 00s. Music scene in Providence was tops.

Drug addiction is a mental illness according to literally every doctor

We have space around the state (memorial hospital for example) where permanent housing could be easily established.

The state has the most money we’ve ever had and yet the state still can’t get out of its own way.

In addition to housing we also need to put some focus on workforce development. I realize not every homeless individual would be eligible for this but many could benefit from job carving.

This is just one example of creating a workforce and simultaneously addressing a sanitation issues: https://www.governing.com/work/harris-county-looks-to-expand-homeless-payment-program

It never is, it never is.

Rhode Island housing provided some of the funds to renovate the Superman’s building for affordable housing… don’t think that’s going to happen

Get a job; get a place to live. If you can't get either in a certain state then you got to move where you can get both. I have little empathy for people who make poor life choices then continue to make them then seek others foot the bill.

Now, if someone is legitimately plagued by mental illnesses (such as schizoprenia not drug addiction) or physical handicaps then I do have some empathy (especially if their families do not help them). However, people's families need to step up.

You have no right to live anywhere as you please. Either pay rent or mortgage or go somewhere else to do just that.

MATH THE BAND

Amazing band

Definitely wasn’t spent on vetting the RI Energy contract. We know that much.

The Mathewson St Church feeds the homeless for an early dinner from 330 to 500 PM on Fridays and from 700 to 900 AM on Sunday mornings. They have a need for help on most days.

You can find more information here: https://www.mathewsonstreetchurch.org/

Please register if it says so on the website. I'll be there to help out. Bring friends if you can, and let's build out this network that is trying to help the people who need it most.

i can assure that it's not being spent wisely or efficiently.

Glamping

As was I, and I work with people experiencing homelessness throughout the state so I know what I’m talking about thank you

Nope, not dumb, just someone that was there and watched as they were removed. Your stance and wanting for justice for the homeless is admirable and needed. But maybe go check out the parks around Kennedy plaza before you blow smoke about the state house lawn.

Do you know those people personally? Because I do and not a single person there was there on their “free time” who would decide to do this in the middle of December? Are you dumb?

$1000 tents? Those must be pretty high end

It's not false. And yes, protesting isn't garbage, I agree. But those people are not homeless. They were using personal time off from their jobs to camp on the state house lawn, in $1000 tents.

I work in Providence. I have unfortunately had to remove actual homeless people from city parks and city buildings. Those people on the state house lawn were not homeless.

That’s false and protesting isn’t garbage, find another post to talk this nonsense

The people removed from the state house weren't homeless, they were protesting or some garbage. This happened earlier in the year. Actual homeless people are sleeping in the parks. On the border of state and city property. Around India point park, Gano st park, behind East Market, off the bike path. Etc etc etc.

I agree with you on this…how can we just treat people like trash? Broke my heart when I walked around KP last week and saw homeless people huddled near doorways of buildings like come on man.

You’re absolutely right I’m just tired of the same political bullshit year after year you know

"Rhode Island has dedicated $221 million of the $1.1 billion in “American Rescue Plan Act” (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery funds it received toward affordable housing and homelessness prevention in its fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget. The investment builds on an initial allocation of $29 million for housing that was approved by state lawmakers in January 2022, bringing Rhode Island’s total investment to $250 million, or nearly one-quarter of the state’s ARPA allocation." -- National Low Income Housing Coalition

I wonder where that money is going.